It’s the first Bond film- and still one of the better half dozen or so. This one is largely like a mystery film with Bond as detective
Compared to the bigger set pieces and extravaganza that would follow the series this one is pretty sober (again in that comparison)—and again- in the upper echelon—not top 5 or so Bond but still-
Electric score by John Barry is a highlight of course (Ursula Andress was a big part of this as well in 1962 with her arrival near the end in a bikini)
Bond formula is there- this one starts with a murder in medias res in Jamaica
Great mythology creation by Young and Connery—rich characterization of the now iconic character- the music cuts in when he shows up, they show you his cards first (playing at a casino) and then up to Connery, tan, in an impeccable tux with his trademark “Bond, James Bond” intro to a woman at the table and the world
Love that it’s a product of the time- not only Kennedy era 60’s smoothness but the cyanide capsules and radio activity from the cold war era
Gorgeous location shooting in Jamaican locale
Connery is good here but not great yet- he’d get better in the next few- there’s a few scenes where he’s over eager actually
Love the “That’s a Smith & Wesson…and you’ve had your 6” scene and line.
Hard not to think of the Dr. Evil jokes and the “one million dollars” stuff- haha
Not overly beautiful but I admire the ambitious in the gaudy set designs
And I don’t want to call it overly intelligent but this writing is solid— it’s not camp at all like it would be in several bad films in the series—I love the “our asylums are full of people who think they’re Napoleon or God”
[…] Dr. No – Young […]