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So, you’ve been chosen to replace Sean Connery as James Bond.

First of all, congratulations! You’ve just become part of one of the world’s most storied film franchises. Fame and fortune - not to mention cars, women and the world’s finest toupe are now at your disposal. We hope you enjoy your time as James Bond, and have not in any way been influenced by the fact that your predecessor gave all this up because rabid fans kept trying to crawl in his windows at night.

Before we begin, let’s take a moment to review your credentials. I want to make sure I’m reading this right, because some of this can’t possibly be right.

You are Mr. George Lazenby, former used car salesman and male model from Australia. You certainly look the part, with all those muscles and that cleft chin. I can see why they liked you. It also says here that you stole one of Mr. Connery’s suits and barged into the audition room. They gave you the part despite your never having acted a day in your life. I assume you’re so brazen due to your background riding horses, swimming in the ocean, sweet talking the fairer sex, shooting guns and throwing knives.

Why, you could almost be James Bond yourself!

Let’s get you to a voice coach, teach you how NOT to walk like John Wayne and make you a millionaire. We’ll get around to signing that seven picture contract AFTER we make the movie.

I’m confident we in no way will come to regret that.

And...scene.

With minor embellishment from myself, that’s how that dude who was James Bond only once got to do it. Connery had indeed quit, and strapping Australian George Lazenby had indeed taken his place. The year was 1969, and the film was given a title not quite as long as the wait until your next birthday - On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. This would be the most ambitious Bond movie yet, based on Ian Fleming's 1963 novel of the same name. In it, Bond tangles with his nemesis, marries his equal (different person) and hits a room full of supermodels while wearing a kilt.

Let’s pause and expand on that. One day, while smoking cigars and speeding around awesomely in his expensive sports car, Bond (Lazenby) is passed by a beautiful woman in an even more expensive sports car. He follows her down to the sea where she attempts to drown herself - only to be rescued by Bond. For that, he is rewarded with an ambush. Again, because he is awesome, Bond utterly destroys his attackers in one of the most thrilling fight scenes of the early films.

For that, he is rewarded with the mysterious woman speeding away without her shoes, as well as one of the dullest opening title sequences in franchise history.

Yes, poor James Bond. The woman turns out to be (say it with me) The Fabulously Wealthy Contessa Teresa “Tracy” di Vicenzo (Diana Rigg, who is either the hot lady ninja from The (original) Avengers or that sassy old lady from Game of Thrones, depending on how long it’s been since your first birthday). It also turns out that her father Draco (Gabriele Ferzetti) is a big fan. He considers Bond to be the ultimate man - perhaps even man enough to tame The adventurous and independent Contessa and produce some children.

Sure, the sentiment is a little obsolete. If anything, Draco might point the finger at himself for not providing a more structured, communicative environment for his child. Then again, what do I know? No doubt it’s difficult being on time to all those piano recitals when there’s always someone needing to be beaten with a pipe or slowly lowered into a pit of scorpions.

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