From Russia with Love (1963)

"The world's masters of murder pull out all the stops to destroy Agent 007!"

Directed by Terence Young
Produced by Harry Saltzman, Albert R. Broccoli
Screenplay by Richard Maibaum
Story by Johanna Harwood (adaptation)
Based on "From Russia, with Love" by Ian Fleming
Starring: Sean Connery, Pedro Armendáriz, Lotte Lenya, Robert Shaw, Bernard Lee, Daniela Bianchi
Music by John Barry
Cinematography: Ted Moore
Edited by Peter R. Hunt
Production company: Eon Productions
Distributed by United Artists
Release date: 11 October 1963 (United Kingdom)
Running time: 115 minutes
Country: United Kingdom
Budget: $2 million
Box office: $78.9 million

"From Russia with Love" is an action adventure thriller film directed by Terence Young and written by Richard Maibaum, based on "From Russia, with Love" by Ian Fleming. It's the second installment of the "James Bond" film series which follows Secret Agent James Bond who willingly falls into an assassination ploy involving a naive Russian beauty in order to retrieve a Soviet encryption device that was stolen by SPECTRE.

Cast

• Sean Connery as James Bond
• Daniela Bianchi as Tatiana Romanova (voiced by Barbara Jefford)
• Pedro Armendáriz as Ali Kerim Bey
• Lotte Lenya as Rosa Klebb
• Robert Shaw as Donald "Red" Grant
• Bernard Lee as M
• Walter Gotell as Morzeny: SPECTRE thug who trains personnel on SPECTRE Island.
• Vladek Sheybal as Kronsteen
• Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny
• Desmond Llewelyn as Major Boothroyd
• Eunice Gayson as Sylvia Trench
• Francis de Wolff as Vavra
• George Pastell as the Orient Express train conductor.
• Fred Haggerty as Krilencu
• Aliza Gur and Martine Beswick as Vida and Zora, respectively
• Nadja Regin as Kerim Bey's lonely girlfriend.

Some scenes are totally overacted, that's true but venial - the film shot in 1963, don't forget. But Sean Connery as James Bond looks absolutely gorgeous and charming that makes him perfect agent 007. For me it's always been a pity that Bond girl is mostly a beautiful and naive character - Daniela Bianchi's Tatiana Romanova is by the same token.

Advantages

• Sean Connery as James Bond
• Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny

Disadvantages

• Too pretentious
• Some scenes are overacted

"Strangenesses"

• Seems like James Bond is absolutely immortal

Clue Moments

• SPECTRE
• Rosa Klebb
• "Station 'T'"

Soundtracks

1. John Barry - Opening Titles - James Bond Is Back - From Russia With Love - James Bond Theme
2. John Barry - Tania Meets Klebb
3. John Barry - Meeting In St. Sophia
4. John Barry - The Golden Horn
5. John Barry - Girl Trouble
6. John Barry - Bond Meets Tania
7. John Barry - 007
8. John Barry - Gypsy Camp
9. John Barry - Death Of Grant
10. John Barry - From Russia With Love
11. John Barry - Spectre Island
12. John Barry - Guitar Lament
13. John Barry - Man Overboard - Smersh In Action
14. John Barry - James Bond With Bongos
15. John Barry - Stalking
16. John Barry - Leila Dances
17. John Barry - Death Of Kerim
18. John Barry - 007 Takes The Lektor

Quotations

* * *

James Bond: Pardon me, do you have a match?
Kerim's Chauffeur: I use a lighter.
James Bond: Better still.
Kerim's Chauffeur: Until they go wrong.
James Bond: Exactly.

* * *

James Bond: There's a saying in England: Where there's smoke, there's fire.

* * *

Kerim Bey: Ah, the old game: give a wolf a taste and then leave him hungry. My friend, she's got you dangling.

* * *

Tatiana: Horrible, horrible woman.
James Bond: Yes, she had her kicks.

* * *

Rosa Klebb: Training is useful, but there is no substitute for experience.
Morzeny: I agree: we use live targets as well.

* * *

Kerim Bey: All of my key employees are my sons. Blood is the best security in this business.

* * *

James Bond: How can a friend be in debt?

* * *

Donald "Red" Grant: Is any of the opposition around?
James Bond: Not in any condition to be worried about.

* * *

James Bond: I hope you're not... disappointed.
Tatiana: I will tell you... in the morning.

* * *

[after tying up Benz with his own suit]
James Bond: I'm not mad about his tailor, are you?

* * *

You may see the trailer here.

Plot: 7/10

Entertainment: 8/10

Acting: 7/10

Originality: 8/10

Music and Sound: 7/10

7/10

previous Dr. No (1962)

next Goldfinger (1964)