Main Cast: Sean Connery, Daniela Bianchi, Pedro Armendáriz, Lotte Lenya, Robert Shaw
Release Year: 1963
Country: UK
Run Time: 125 minutes
Plot
From Russia With Love, the second in the series of James Bond films, is the film that solidifies all the Bond film elements into a formula -- the action sequences are intensified and lend greater tension to the proceedings; John Barry's inimitable score makes its first appearance; Q is seen for the first time; and Sean Connery as Bond has nailed down his role as 007 -- accentuating Bond's stylishness and sophistication, while toning down his cold-bloodedness. In From Russia With Love, the bad guys don't want to take over the world. They want something more mundane -- a Russian decoding device. Assigned to the mission of stealing the decoding device are No. 3, former KGB agent Rosa Klebb (Lotte Lenya), and No. 5, Kronsteen (Vladek Sheybal), an expert chess player who has plotted every move of the mission. Kronsteen's plan requires using Bond's weakness for women as an element in acquiring the decoding device. Once Bond obtains the decoding device from Russian cipher clerk Tatiana Romanova (Daniela Bianchi), SPECTRE muscleman Red Grant (Robert Shaw) is to forcibly take it from Bond and kill him. But Bond suspects a trap. Being Bond, however, he can't resist the lure of a beautiful woman. So, flaunting danger, Bond travels to Istanbul to meet Tatiana. The centerpiece of this 007 feature is the thrilling fight to the death between Bond and enemy agent Red Grant aboard the Orient Express. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
Review
Perhaps the definitive James Bond film, From Russia with Love firmly established the series' now-familiar combination of outrageous action, femme fatales, fantastic gadgetry, and tongue-in-cheek suavity. Sean Connery deepens his Bond characterization, imbuing the persona with the smirky confidence that future audiences would come to expect. Director Terence Young's climactic showdown is one of the best action sequences of its kind, with thrilling combat choreography and expert editing. Though Dr. No may have been the first Bond film, Russia marked the inaugural appearance of the hip, flashy credit sequence, as well as Desmond Llewelyn in the role of Q. All in all, Russia is one of the sharpest entries in the perennially popular franchise. ~ Matthew Doberman, All Movie Guide
Sidney Cain - Art Director, Syd Cain - Art Director, Michael White - Art Director, John Barry - Conductor, Jocelyn Rickards - Costume Designer, David C. Anderson - First Assistant Director, Terence Young - Director, Peter Hunt - Editor, John Barry - Composer (Music Score), Lionel Bart - Songwriter, Monty Norman - Songwriter, Ted Moore - Cinematographer, Albert R. Broccoli - Producer, Harry Saltzman - Producer, Freda Pearson - Set Designer, John Stears - Special Effects, Johanna Harwood - Screenwriter, Richard Maibaum - Screenwriter, Don Lusher - Musical Performer, Ian Fleming - Book Author
