Dr. No (1962)

"The first screen adventure for agent 007 - Bond, James Bond."

Directed by Terence Young
Produced by Harry Saltzman, Albert R. Broccoli
Screenplay by Richard Maibaum
Johanna Harwood, Berkely Mather
Based on "Dr. No" by Ian Fleming
Starring: Sean Connery, Ursula Andress, Joseph Wiseman, Jack Lord
Music by Monty Norman
Cinematography: Ted Moore
Edited by Peter R. Hunt
Production company: Eon Productions
Distributed by United Artists
Release date: 10 October 1962 (United Kingdom)
Running time: 109 minutes
Country: United Kingdom
Budget: $1.1 million
Box office: $59.5 million

"Dr. No" is an action adventure thriller film directed by Terence Young and written by Richard Maibaum, based on "Dr. No" by Ian Fleming. It's the first installment of the "James Bond" film series which follows Secret Agent James Bond who seeks answers in a case involving the disappearance of a colleague and the disruption of the American space program.

Cast

• Sean Connery as James Bond
• Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder (spoken voice by Nikki van der Zyl and singing voice by Diana Coupland)
• Joseph Wiseman as Dr. No
• Jack Lord as Felix Leiter
• Bernard Lee as M
• Anthony Dawson as Professor R.J. Dent
• John Kitzmiller as Quarrel
• Zena Marshall as Miss Taro
• Eunice Gayson as Sylvia Trench (spoken voice by Nikki van der Zyl)
• Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny
• Peter Burton as Major Boothroyd
• Timothy Moxon as Strangways (voiced by Robert Rietty)
• Reginald Carter as Mr. Jones
• Yvonne Shima as Sister Lily
• Michel Mok as Sister Rose
• Marguerite LeWars as photographer in bar
• Dolores Keator as Mary

Here we go - the first installment of the "James Bond" film series with my favourite agent 007 performed by Sean Connery. Although the picture looks mostly naive and funny (hello, special effects of 60s), it's one of the best in the franchise and therefore it becomes a must-see.

Advantages

• Sean Connery as James Bond
• Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny
• Yvonne Shima as Sister Lily

Disadvantages

• Too pretentious

"Strangenesses"

• Seems like James Bond is absolutely immortal

Clue Moments

• "Three Blind Mice"
• Cape Canaveral
• The airport
• The cyanide-laced cigarette
• Quarrel
• Dr. No
• The reactor's cooling vat

Commander James Bond, CMG, RNR—code number 007—is a fictional character created by the British journalist and novelist Ian Fleming in 1952. He portrayed Bond as a tall, athletic, handsome secret agent in his thirties or forties; he has several vices including drinking, smoking, gambling, automobiles and women. He is an exceptional marksman, and skilled in unarmed combat, skiing, swimming and golf. While Bond kills without hesitation or regret, he usually kills only when carrying out orders, while acting in self-defence and occasionally as revenge.

Following Connery's portrayal, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig have assumed the role in twenty-six feature film productions. These screen versions have retained many traits from Fleming's depiction, although some of Bond's less fashionable attitudes have been dropped, such as racism, homophobia, retaining the services of a maid, and in the more recent films, smoking. Despite playing the same character, there have been notable differences among the portrayals. 

Soundtracks

1. John Barry - James Bond Theme
2. John Barry - Kingston Calypso 
3. John Barry - Jamacian Rock 
4. John Barry - Jump Up 
5. John Barry - Audio Bongo 
6. John Barry - Under The Mango Tree 
7. John Barry - Twisting With James 
8. John Barry - Jamacia Jazz 
9. John Barry - Under The Mango Tree 
10. John Barry - Jump Up 
11. John Barry - Dr. No's Fantasy 
12. John Barry - Kingston Calypso 
13. John Barry - The Island Speaks 
14. John Barry - Under The Mango Tree
15. John Barry - The Boy's Chase
16. John Barry - Dr. No's Theme
17. John Barry - The James Bond Theme
18. John Barry - Love At Last

Quotations

* * *

James Bond: I admire your courage, Miss...?
Sylvia Trench: Trench. Sylvia Trench. I admire your luck, Mr...?
James Bond: Bond. James Bond.

* * *

Dr. No: The Americans are fools. I offered my services, they refused. So did the East. Now they can both pay for their mistake.
James Bond: World domination. The same old dream. Our asylums are full of people who think they're Naploeon. Or God.

* * *

Dr. No: I'm a member of SPECTRE
James Bond: SPECTRE?
Dr. No: SPECTRE. Special Executive for Counter Intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge, Extortion. The four great cornerstones of power headed by the greatest brains in the world.
James Bond: Correction. Criminal brains!
Dr. No: The successful criminal brain is always superior. It has to be!

* * *

Miss Moneypenny: James! Where have you been? I've been searching all over London for you.
[Picks up phone]
Miss Moneypenny: 007 is here sir.
[Slaps Bond's hand away from the papers on her desk]
James Bond: Moneypenny! What gives?
Miss Moneypenny: Me, given an ounce of encouragement. You've never taken me to dinner looking like this. You've never taken me to dinner...
James Bond: I would, you know. Only "M" would have me court-martialed for... illegal use of government property.
Miss Moneypenny: Flattery will get you nowhere - but don't stop trying.

* * *

James Bond: Good evening, sir.
M: It happens to be 3 a.m. When do you sleep, 007?
James Bond: Never on the firm's time, sir.

* * *

Sylvia Trench: When did you say you had to leave?
James Bond: Immediately... almost immediately.

* * *

James Bond: One takes cyanide, another would let her arm be broken, neither will talk. Who puts that sort of fear into people?

* * *

James Bond: Both hands on the wheel, Mr. Jones, I'm a very nervous passenger.

* * *

James Bond: Tell me Miss Trench, do you play any other games?

* * *

Worker: What happened?
James Bond: I think they were on their way to a funeral!

* * *

Dr. No: That's a Dom Perignon '55, it would be a pity to break it
James Bond: I prefer the '53 myself...

* * *

Felix Leiter: You Limeys can be pretty touchy about trespassing.

* * *

Photographer: You'll be sorry! You'll all be sorry, you rats!

* * *

Honey Ryder: Have you any idea what they'll do with us?
James Bond: No idea. No door handles or windows, either.
Honey Ryder: It's a prison, then.
James Bond: Mink-lined, with first-class service.

* * *

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

next From Russia with Love (1963)