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Get By EmailMovie Notes: From Russia With Love
From Russia With Love: Three’s a crowd.
Starring Sean Connery, Daniela Bianchi
Directed by Terence Young
= 5 stars
Amazon link
Sean Connery (James Bond)
Daniela Bianchi (Tatiana Romanova)
I’m not a big James Bond fan but still find the movies reasonably entertaining. There’s enough of a mix between the standard Bond cliches (spy gadgets, car chases, nefarious evil-doers, hot babes) and unpredictable plot twists. I also like the contrast between the exotic opulence in the upper-class world Bond generally hangs out in (casinos, black tie dinners, yachts, exotic countries and locations) and the brutal yet efficient violence that threatens to break out at any moment. Anyhow, From Russia With Love from 1963 has all the classic Bond stuff, with the truly suave Sean Connery as Bond, 007.
Early on we are introduced to the creepy SPECTRE chief Blofeld stroking a white cat, who although he never shows his face, is obviously the inspiration for Austin Powers’ Dr. Evil. When we finally meet Bond, of course, he’s making out with a hot babe. There is a drop-dead gorgeous Russian blond Tatiana (Daniela Bianchi) who is set up to ensnare Bond. It’s really a treat to see this kind of sixties bachelor-pad type adventure play out, with mascara-enhanced babes, an over-the-top jazzy-loungey score by John Barry (that makes Bond checking for bugs in his hotel room sound exciting), and belly-dancing cat-fighting gypsies.
There are a few elements that reminded me of Hitchcock’s North by Northwest (namely the encounters on a train, and a helicopter trying to mow down Bond). So a bit of trivia-digging was in order, and it seems Hitchcock was once in the running to direct this Bond adventure, with Cary Grant as Bond and Grace Kelly as Tatiana. Now that would have been amazing, and it explains a few wink-wink moments in From Russia With Love as homage.
IMDB: From Russia With Love
Wikipedia: From Russia With Love
Rotten Tomatoes: From Russia With Love 96%
Categories: 5 Star Movies, General, James Bond, Movies :: Tags: ::
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[...] From Russia With Love [...]
From Russia with Love is a great Bond because it has the way James Bond is supposed to be. He has all the elements James Bond should have in that movie. Also one of my favorites
Hi Ben, very true, this is the archetype for future Bond films.
Thanks for visiting and commenting!
Robert Shaw as Red Grant was one of the all-time best Bond villains, too. He’s one genuinely scary dude, and that fight on the train was excellent cinema. Bond hasn’t become Fonzie (ie a superhero) yet either, and there’s still a bit of grit to both the character and the movie. Classy stuff, and easily one of the top five Bond films.
Yep there’s something about being trapped on a train with people trying to kill you that’s both suspenseful and romantic .
Sean connery is my fav bond all time. Till today, he is my idol. From Russia with love is marvelous. 10 votes from me!