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George Lazenby to receive Lifetime Achievement Award
By: FSWL team
Published:
2019-08-27
2019-08-27
(Miskolc, Hungary, 27th August, 2019:) George Lazenby was born in 1939 in the small town of Goulburn, Australia. When he went to London as a young man he was able to surprise the world, not once, but twice! First, as a total unknown, Lazenby replaced Sean Connery in the iconic role of James Bond, beating out over 500 tested actors. And the second time, before the 1969 premiere of On Her Majesty's Secret Service, (directed by Peter Hunt), George said that even though he was offered a contract for a total of seven films, he would not play Her Majesty's secret agent again - essentially turning his back on one of the most lucrative deals the film world had to offer!
As a one-time 007, George Lazenby’s unique casting contributed to On Her Majesty's Secret Service’s cult status in film history: especially this year as we’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of that film and Mr. Lazenby's 80th birthday.
George Lazenby with Hungary-born actress Catherine Schell in a scene from On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
Leaving James Bond and international stardom behind, George Lazenby opted for European cinema. In 1971 he starred in Universal Soldier alongside Cy Endfield, a film that Lazenby also wrote and produced. This was followed by a giallo film directed by Aldo Lado, released in 1972 and now considered a classic: Who Saw Her Die?.
A year later, in Hong Kong, at the invitation of action star Bruce Lee and producer Raymond Chow, George contracted to star in three films with the famous Golden Harvest studio. Unfortunately his much anticipated film with Lee failed to materialize due to the star's unexpected death. Lazenby still filmed three movies at the Asian Dream Factory, the most successful being 1975’s The Man from Hong Kong. After working in Australia, he moved to Hollywood in the late '70s, filming projects with directors like Peter Bogdanovich and John Landis.
There are very few movie stars whose professional choices, rugged individualism and globe-trotting lifestyle made them a pop culture icon, but George Lazenby is certainly one of them! His remarkable life story - going from unknown Australian car mechanic to charming his way into one of the film industry’s most coveted roles was the subject for writer-director Josh Greenbaum's 2017 dramatic documentary, Becoming Bond, which premiered at the SXSW Film Festival, receiving numerous awards including the prestigious Audience Award. Becoming Bond also successfully aired on the American streaming service, Hulu.
James Bond actor George Lazenby is coming to Miskolc, Hungary
On 19th September 2019, the audience at the 16th CineFest International Film Festival in Miskolc will get a rare chance to see Who Saw Her Die? starring George Lazenby on the big screen.
And on 20th September, On Her Majesty's Secret Service also starring George Lazenby will be screened for the first time in Hungary in a digitally restored 4K version. After the screening, there will be a Q&A with George Lazenby when members of the audience will be given the chance to ask some questions.
Also, on 20th September, the actor will participate in a public masterclass at the festival conducted by Artistic Director Geza Csakvari.
George Lazenby will be presented with the CineFest Lifetime Achievement Award at the closing ceremony of the 16th CineFest International Film Festival in Miskolc on 21 September.
For more information on the 16th CineFest International Film Festival in Miskolc, Hungary - visit the official website.
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