• In many ways it’s the quietest Bond movie- closer to a thoughtful le Carre novel than some of the extravaganza’s the series would produce- it’s not ingenious in the narrative but it’s thoughtful—even shrewd and not as bombastic
  • It was Connery’s favorite—he’s not yet jaded/bored and he’s more confident than No in 1962- he’s really superb here
  • Begins, like the rest, in medias res— Shaw kills the fake bond (which we don’t know)
  • Still no opening song but the Barry score is enough to carry us
  • Strong locale shooting again—instead of Jamaica we’re in Venice and Istanbul—solid establishing and exterior work
  • Maps for Travel, Connery (Last Crusade) and Shaw (Jaws) clearly inspired Spielberg and Lucas, Indiana Jones
  • Great fish comment about red wine by both Connery and then Shaw’s rebuttal- “you might know all the right wines but you’re the one on your knees”- he’s an intense figure and very worthy adversary. It’s a great fit as well and their long dialogue sequence in the train is a highlight of the film
  • Strong R- close to HR– superior to Dr. No