FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
UK, 1963, 110 minutes, Colour.
Sean Connery, Daniela Bianchi, Pedro Armendariz, Lotte Lenya, Robert Shaw, Bernard Lee, Eunice Gayson, Walter Gotell, Francis De Wolff, Lois Maxwell, Martine Beswick, Vladek Sheybal.
Directed by Terence Young.
From Russia With Love was the second James Bond film. What is now called the franchise began with Doctor No in 1962 with a young Sean Connery as a suave James Bond. Connery was to continue until 1971, reprising his role in 1983 with Never Say Never Again. However, there was an interruption when George Lazenby portrayed James Bond in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, 1969. Connery was followed by Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig.
In retrospect, this James Bond film seems quite restrained and straightforward. It remains close to Ian Fleming’s original novel.
The evil organisation SMERSH is taken over by SPECTRE. Audiences don’t see the boss of SPECTRE but see various agents, especially Rosa Klebb, portrayed in the now-classic performance by Lotte Lenya. Robert Shaw is the white-haired British villain who sets on Bond in order to kill him.
The film introduced some of the regulars for the future including Bernard Lee as M and Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny. Desmond Llewelyn also appears as the quartermaster, Q.
The film is exotic in its locations, especially in Istanbul and on train rides towards central Europe, culminating in Venice. The film has a musical score by John Barry as well as its regular James Bond theme and the popular song sung by Matt Monro, ‘From Russia With Love’.
1.The popularity of the James Bond films? The background of Ian Fleming’s novels? Sean Connery as James Bond?
2.The initial James Bond films, relationship to the novels? The interpretation of Bond, suave, the 007, the training? The use of Q as his quartermaster with the gadgets? Under the command of M – with the various meetings? And the infatuated Miss Moneypenny?
3.The locations, Turkey, eastern Europe, Italy? Istanbul and Venice? The world of the gypsies? The musical score, song?
4.The title, the background of SMERSH and SPECTRE? The head of SPECTRE? His commissioning Rosa Klebb? His other agents, especially Kronsteen? Their going to work, tracking down Bond? Trying to kill him?
5.Tatiana, her background, under the command of Rosa Klebb? Her cover in Istanbul? The meetings with Bond, falling in love with him? Eventually confessing the truth? Helping in his work? The meetings with Ali Kerim Bey, his role in Istanbul, the tunnels, his information about the Russian embassy? His periscope?
6.The adventures in Istanbul, the dangers, the attempts to kill Bond? The various toughs? Going to the gypsy camp, the vivacity, the enjoyment? The attack on the camp?
7.The background of Red Grant, prison, his being commissioned to kill? His appearance, his being on the train, the attack on Bond, on Tatiana? His final confrontation with Bond and his defeat?
8.Ali Kerim Bey, genial, friends with Bond, in Istanbul, the information, the periscope? Spying on the Russians? His helping Bond escape?
9.The train ride, the dangers, Bond with Tatiana? The attack by Red Grant?
10.M, the supervision of the case, Bond reporting to him, the information? The staff? The seeming end of the adventure?
11.Kronsteen and his failure, Rosa Klebb and her being commissioned to destroy Bond? Posing as the maid? The fight with Tatiana, the fight with Bond? The stiletto in her shoes? Her death?
12.The happy ending – the comparative restraint in Bond compared with his later persona as regards drinks, ‘shaken not stirred’, his womanising …? An entertaining film and looking at in retrospect, the understanding for the future success of the series?
