ReBONDing: From Russia with Love
Reevaluating the Sean Connery Era (1962 - 1971, 1983)
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (1963)
Directed by Terence Young
Written by Richard Maibaum, Johanna Harwood
Ian Fleming (novel)
Running Time: 115 minutes
Original Verdict:
A classic romantic adventure film with a startling opening of James Bond being killed. Includes the introduction of some of the first gadgets Bond is issued including the briefcase with hidden compartments. Also had another one of my Top 5 Bond Girls, Tatiana Romanova (Daniela Bianchi).
Rating: 5 out of 5.
THE REEVALUATION
The Cold Open: The film opens with James Bond being tracked by a blonde-haired man through a hedge maze. This man eventually kills Bond, shocking the 1963 audience until... the bright lights kick on, a mask is removed from who we thought was Bond, and we're actually watching a live training session at night on SPECTRE Island. It's a wonderful way to open the film, which apparently suffered from some narrative issues early on during production. Scenes were being written or re-written just days before filming, which caused more confusion when they were starting to piece the film together. All credit belongs to editor Peter Hunt, who took the first several scenes that were scripted and rearranged them in a way that (unintentionally) created the first pre-title sequence, which now a James Bond standard, and then shaped a clearer narrative after the credits. It's quite brilliant and has become one of my favorite cold opens of the entire series.
The Story: In the simplest of summaries, SPECTRE is exacting Revenge on James Bond for killing Dr. No. The more elaborate summary is SPECTRE agents Number Five, the chess-playing Kronsteen, and Number Three, the frighteningly-masculine Rosa Klebb, develop a ploy to create turmoil between British and Soviet relations. A young Russian operative (Tatiana Romanova) who is working in Turkey, contacts British Intelligence seeking defection in exchange for a stolen Soviet Lektor (a cryptographic device). MI6 and Bond willingly accept the offer, knowing that it's a trap. Mayhem ensues.
The Villain: From Russia with Love doesn't really feature a major villain in the traditional sense of the Bond franchise. Both Kromsteen and Rosa Klebb could be seen as the villains but, they're really just cogs in the mechanism that is SPECTRE. What we do get is get a glimpse of Number One (aka Blofeld). In reality, the main antagonist of this film is SPECTRE and the operatives working directly on its behalf.
The Heavy: Robert Shaw brings his own level of cool to the indoctrinated agent and assassin of SPECTRE, known as Donald "Red" Grant. He's patient, calculated, and controlled. Hiding in the shadows until he chooses to become a player in SPECTRE's chess game of revenge. Grant even goes to the extremes of saving Bond life during the Gypsie camp raid, just so he can perform his own justice later on in the film. One of my all-time favorites.
The Girls: Sylvia Trench makes her second and final appearance as the part-time Bond girl, but our main attraction in this film is Tatiana Romanova. Portrayed by Daniela Bianchi, Tatiana is just another pawn in this SPECTRE chess game. Her motives are to serve Mother Russia, unaware until late in the game that she's being used. Tatiana and the desire to obtain the Lector is what puts the plot in motion. There's an innocence about her that you cannot deny. Combin that innocence with her natural beauty, along with her onscreen chemistry with Bond, and Tatiana is irresistible.
The Gadgets: A briefcase filled with hidden goodies. What are those goodies, you say? The briefcase contains a tear gas bomb that detonates if it is improperly opened, a folding AR-7 sniper rifle with twenty rounds of ammunition, a throwing knife, and 50 gold sovereigns. All items successfully aid Bond throughout his mission and all of them are *gasp* realistic.
What Doesn't Work? Outside of a few mild infractions, I have no real issues with From Russia with Love. First is the overuse of the rear screen projection in scenes that seem completely unnecessary. My assumption is that these were used for budgetary reasons as it was with most studio films of that era. Why risk shooting the final scene in a gondolier in Venice when you can simulate it in Pinewood Studios? (Some of Hitchcock's greatest films are peppered with obvious rear screen projection.) Secondly, the film takes a little too long to get things moving to steal the Lektor. In spite of this, the delay is easily forgiven because Kerim Bay (Bond's contact in Turkey) is so likable that you want him in every scene.
Final Thoughts: John Barry's first full-length Bond score is a warm welcome here and is nothing short of brilliant. Filled with jazz influences, the brass-heavy score also introduced us to his alternate Bond theme entitled "007" (not to be confused with the "James Bond Theme" originally composed by Monty Norman). John Barry was responsible for arranging the "James Bond Theme," which I believe is what makes it so recognizable throughout the world today.
From Russia with Love succeeds on many levels. Whether it's the battle-like action sequence at the Gypsie camp or an incredible hand-to-hand fight between Bond and Grant on the Orient Express, the film boasts one of the most linear plotlines of any Bond film. It's a wonderful product of its time, strongly emphasizing the Cold War, and producing one of the best espionage films ever made. It still remains one of my personal favorites, even after all of these years.
Reevaluation Score: 5 out of 5.
James Bond will return...
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (1963)
Directed by Terence Young
Written by Richard Maibaum, Johanna Harwood
Ian Fleming (novel)
Running Time: 115 minutes
Original Verdict:
A classic romantic adventure film with a startling opening of James Bond being killed. Includes the introduction of some of the first gadgets Bond is issued including the briefcase with hidden compartments. Also had another one of my Top 5 Bond Girls, Tatiana Romanova (Daniela Bianchi).
Rating: 5 out of 5.
THE REEVALUATION
The Cold Open: The film opens with James Bond being tracked by a blonde-haired man through a hedge maze. This man eventually kills Bond, shocking the 1963 audience until... the bright lights kick on, a mask is removed from who we thought was Bond, and we're actually watching a live training session at night on SPECTRE Island. It's a wonderful way to open the film, which apparently suffered from some narrative issues early on during production. Scenes were being written or re-written just days before filming, which caused more confusion when they were starting to piece the film together. All credit belongs to editor Peter Hunt, who took the first several scenes that were scripted and rearranged them in a way that (unintentionally) created the first pre-title sequence, which now a James Bond standard, and then shaped a clearer narrative after the credits. It's quite brilliant and has become one of my favorite cold opens of the entire series.
 |
| Rosa Klebb's interviewing techniques need some improvement. |
The Story: In the simplest of summaries, SPECTRE is exacting Revenge on James Bond for killing Dr. No. The more elaborate summary is SPECTRE agents Number Five, the chess-playing Kronsteen, and Number Three, the frighteningly-masculine Rosa Klebb, develop a ploy to create turmoil between British and Soviet relations. A young Russian operative (Tatiana Romanova) who is working in Turkey, contacts British Intelligence seeking defection in exchange for a stolen Soviet Lektor (a cryptographic device). MI6 and Bond willingly accept the offer, knowing that it's a trap. Mayhem ensues.
- Fun Fact: In Ian Fleming's novel the cryptographic device is called a Spektor.
The Villain: From Russia with Love doesn't really feature a major villain in the traditional sense of the Bond franchise. Both Kromsteen and Rosa Klebb could be seen as the villains but, they're really just cogs in the mechanism that is SPECTRE. What we do get is get a glimpse of Number One (aka Blofeld). In reality, the main antagonist of this film is SPECTRE and the operatives working directly on its behalf.
The Heavy: Robert Shaw brings his own level of cool to the indoctrinated agent and assassin of SPECTRE, known as Donald "Red" Grant. He's patient, calculated, and controlled. Hiding in the shadows until he chooses to become a player in SPECTRE's chess game of revenge. Grant even goes to the extremes of saving Bond life during the Gypsie camp raid, just so he can perform his own justice later on in the film. One of my all-time favorites.
 |
| "My orders are to kill you and deliver the Lektor. How I do it is my business. It'll be slow and painful." |
The Girls: Sylvia Trench makes her second and final appearance as the part-time Bond girl, but our main attraction in this film is Tatiana Romanova. Portrayed by Daniela Bianchi, Tatiana is just another pawn in this SPECTRE chess game. Her motives are to serve Mother Russia, unaware until late in the game that she's being used. Tatiana and the desire to obtain the Lector is what puts the plot in motion. There's an innocence about her that you cannot deny. Combin that innocence with her natural beauty, along with her onscreen chemistry with Bond, and Tatiana is irresistible.
The Gadgets: A briefcase filled with hidden goodies. What are those goodies, you say? The briefcase contains a tear gas bomb that detonates if it is improperly opened, a folding AR-7 sniper rifle with twenty rounds of ammunition, a throwing knife, and 50 gold sovereigns. All items successfully aid Bond throughout his mission and all of them are *gasp* realistic.
 |
| In Sylvia's defense, Bond's chest hair is irresistible. |
What Doesn't Work? Outside of a few mild infractions, I have no real issues with From Russia with Love. First is the overuse of the rear screen projection in scenes that seem completely unnecessary. My assumption is that these were used for budgetary reasons as it was with most studio films of that era. Why risk shooting the final scene in a gondolier in Venice when you can simulate it in Pinewood Studios? (Some of Hitchcock's greatest films are peppered with obvious rear screen projection.) Secondly, the film takes a little too long to get things moving to steal the Lektor. In spite of this, the delay is easily forgiven because Kerim Bay (Bond's contact in Turkey) is so likable that you want him in every scene.
Final Thoughts: John Barry's first full-length Bond score is a warm welcome here and is nothing short of brilliant. Filled with jazz influences, the brass-heavy score also introduced us to his alternate Bond theme entitled "007" (not to be confused with the "James Bond Theme" originally composed by Monty Norman). John Barry was responsible for arranging the "James Bond Theme," which I believe is what makes it so recognizable throughout the world today.
From Russia with Love succeeds on many levels. Whether it's the battle-like action sequence at the Gypsie camp or an incredible hand-to-hand fight between Bond and Grant on the Orient Express, the film boasts one of the most linear plotlines of any Bond film. It's a wonderful product of its time, strongly emphasizing the Cold War, and producing one of the best espionage films ever made. It still remains one of my personal favorites, even after all of these years.
Reevaluation Score: 5 out of 5.
James Bond will return...
Great summary Nathan... now you have to bring it over so we can watch it again.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dad! All you need to do is say when.
DeleteThis is one of the best of the Connery era as everything works well and nothing is really over the top absurd yet. Plus you can't beat a straight up hand-to-hand fight between Grant and Bond on a moving train. They tried to recapture that with Craig in Spectre fighting Hinx, but it simply wasn't close to the same. One note - Pedro Armendariz, Sr who played Kerim Bey was terminally ill with cancer at the time of shooting. He actually committed suicide 4 months before the film's release. Very sad. I really liked his character. His son, Pedro Armendariz, Jr would appear in 1989's License To Kill as President Hector Lopez.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't aware of this until I re-watched the making of documentary on my DVD. I always love discovering the behind-the-scenes trivia. It's a sad story.
Delete