SXSW doc on actor George Lazenby: the man who would be Bond - but once

Becoming Bond director Josh Greenbaum: 'The film really explores both sides of that -- how did he get the role and why did he walk away'

Note: this piece has been updated with the addition of Hulu's trailer for Becoming Bond (see below)

Actor George Lazenby totes a poster for "Becoming Bond," the documentary by Josh Greenbaum that focuses on Lazenby's life and most famous role. Saturday, March 11, 2017 Photo by Matt Carey

In the annals of movie history, George Lazenby is famous as the actor who got away from James Bond, or let James Bond get away from him.

Even those with only a limited familiarity with the 007 films probably know Lazenby as the man who succeeded Sean Connery, starring in 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service. He was an unusual choice to say the least -- an Australian by birth and a former car salesman and model with no acting experience. Of the primary actors associated with the role, he's the only one to play Bond a single time. 
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There was over three thousand guys they saw and 300 on film. There's no test that even comes close. And I beat out actors. I was the only non-actor, so it was kind of unusual, the whole thing that was happening to me.

  --George Lazenby on the testing process for the role of James Bond

How he became Bond, and especially why he only appeared in one of the films has remained cloaked in some mystery, perhaps appropriate for the world's greatest putative secret agent. But the truth comes out in the upcoming Hulu documentary Becoming Bond, directed by Josh Greenbaum. The film just celebrated its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas. (It's set to premiere on the Hulu streaming service on May 20).

George Lazenby at the world premiere of "Becoming Bond" at the SXSW Film Festival March 11, 2017. Photo by Matt Carey

To see Lazenby now, at 77, is to understand how he got cast as Bond almost 50 years ago. He's a striking presence, funny, and exceptionally handsome even as a septuagenarian. 

​These are the top quotes from Lazenby and Greenbaum on the arrivals line at the State Theatre on Congress Avenue.
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It's the biggest thing I supposedly did in my life and as you know I was never in mind to be an actor. But to be James Bond, [I thought], 'Oh, I'll be that.'

  --George Lazenby, on playing Bond

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It's one of those things that's unusual in your life and you can't get away from it. Somebody will go, "You're George Lazenby, aren't you?" Even though you try your hardest just to be incognito for once in my life after the film. But it doesn't work and you gotta just take that as it comes. It's not bad, a bit of fame here and there, right? Sometimes helps.

  --George Lazenby

George Lazenby at the world premiere of "Becoming Bond" at the SXSW Film Festival March 11, 2017. Photo by Matt Carey

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It opened a lot of doors. [One time a] Cop pulled me over and said, "Oh, you're George Lazenby. Get out of here!" And he wouldn't give me a ticket. That part was good. The other part was you couldn't really have any privacy. You always had to watch what you're doing or there'd be a camera around somewhere.

 --George Lazenby

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This was the biggest film test in history -- the part I got. There was over three thousand guys and they saw 300 on film. There's no test that even comes close. And I beat out actors -- I was the only non-actor. So it was kind of unusual, the whole thing that was happening to me.

  --George Lazenby on being cast as Bond
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Josh Lawson (right), who plays George Lazenby in recreations within the documentary "Becoming Bond." Next to him is the man he plays. March 11, 2017 Photo by Matt Carey

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He remembers specifics. He's got an incredible memory. Lines of dialogue. What someone was wearing. What the room looked like. And so it instantly clicked for me like, wow, this would be such a powerful way to do reenactments. Fun, creative, comedic reenactments at times so they're not overly dramatic, overly stylized... I was excited to do something new with it.

--Director Josh Greenbaum on his desire to reenact scenes based on George Lazenby's memories

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I wanted to reenact all these scenes with actors like Josh Lawson and he [George] wasn't quite sure but it ultimately came down to building up enough trust that he took the leap and I'm really grateful that he did.

--Director Josh Greenbaum on convincing George Lazenby to participate in the documentary
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Director Josh Greenbaum at the world premiere of his documentary "Becoming Bond" at SXSW on March 11, 2017. Behind him is Josh Lawson, the actor he cast to play George Lazenby in recreations. Photo by Matt Carey

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Hesitation? Yeah, I did. I talked to these guys for days before I said, "Let's do it." Just to see what they had in mind. But I had no idea it would turn out like this.

--George Lazenby on being asked whether he felt hesitation about doing the documentary

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I wouldn't sign a Bond contract. I walked away [in 1969] thinking it [the franchise] was over because it was hippie time. Make love, not war. And I thought I'd get any film I wanted.

  --George Lazenby
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A still image of George Lazenby from "Becoming Bond." Courtesy Hulu

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The film really explores both sides of that -- how did he get [the role] and why did he walk away. 

  --Director Josh Greenbaum

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It's confidence maybe mixed at some point with hubris... He wasn't an actor so he didn't desperately want [the part], in that way that you get careful. So he was just bold and that's what enabled him to get it.

  --Director Josh Greenbaum on why George Lazenby was chosen to play Bond
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George Lazenby at the world premiere of "Becoming Bond" at the SXSW Film Festival March 11, 2017. Photo by Matt Carey

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He's just an honest, authentic guy. He included all the highlights and lows of his life, warts and all. 

  --Director Josh Greenbaum on George Lazenby

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No all documentaries are meant to entertain, they're meant to tell a story, right? Well this has got both and I think it will work... I hope you get a giggle.

  --George Lazenby on Becoming Bond
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George Lazenby at the world premiere of "Becoming Bond" at the SXSW Film Festival March 11, 2017. Photo by Matt Carey