Following up a smash hit can be a tough thing to do. Over and over we see sequels try desperately to match the awesomeness of their predecessors, only to be disappointed time and again by lackluster efforts. Thankfully for the fledgling Bond series of the 1960s, this was not the case at all. In fact, for a while the series simply seemed to be getting better and better, triumphantly becoming a mega-franchise with 1964’s Goldfinger and somehow matching that success in 1965 with Thunderball, which became the standard bearer for the “epic” 007 films up until probably 1977’s The Spy Who Loved Me, which re-established the series’ pop culture supremacy over every other espionage series.
It’s possible though, that none of that success might have been reached if Dr. No’s follow-up, From Russia with Love, was not a major hit. Fortunately, not only was the movie a success at the box office, but today it is seen as a beloved entry in the series by both critics and fans alike. For several reasons the movie simply stands the test of time, even as the series moves closer to its fifth decade of existence in the public eye, perhaps most importantly because it remains the most tense Cold War espionage thriller of the entire series, and features the franchise’s most intriguing and compelling acting.
Hats off has to go to Sean Connery here, as he makes Bond the most human he will ever be onscreen until perhaps Daniel Craig’s performance in Casino Royale in 2006.
It’s simply amazing to watch him here be an actor as much as an action hero, as Bond must walk into a trap he knows is set for him and must pretend to fall for a Soviet Embassy Clerk named Tatiana Romanova (Daniela Bianchi) in order to secure a Russian decoder called a Lektor, all the while slipping through Communist and terrorist fingers. The key for Connery’s Bond here is that he has to tone down his usual roguish screen persona in order to convince not only Tatiana, but the audience as well that he actually cares for the Russian beauty, otherwise, he’d just come off as a bit of a wretch himself. Fortunately, he toes the line wonderfully.
The movie’s villains here are all first-rate. The introduction of Bond nemesis and S.P.E.C.T.R.E leader, Blofeld (Anthony Dawson) is a terrific touch to the series, as he is shot only from behind, building anticipation for the villain’s final reveal three films later in You Only Live Twice. Also incredible is Lotte Lenya as S.P.E.C.T.R.E. agent Rosa Klebb, a former commander of Russian Intelligence who infiltrates them in order to try and set up Bond. Finally, there is Robert Shaw’s Red Grant, who despite his diminutive size compared to Bond heavies such Jaws and others, is one of the most imposing villains to ever be in a 007 picture.
Grant’s final train-car fight with Bond might actually be the single best hand to hand fight of the entire series, and one of the best close-quarters fights ever put on screen. This thing is a masterwork of action by director Terrance Young, and editor Peter Hunt, along with the principles and their stuntmen. The timing and brutality of the fighting is something that audiences were probably not expecting in the 1963, but even in this post-Matrix–Kill Bill–Bourne world, the fight still holds up.
If that’s not enough, the movie is packed with other amazing Action sequences, from a truly combustible boat chase to a Helicopter sequence purposefully reminiscent of the famous crop duster scene from Hitchcock’s North by Northwest. Thing is though, even though the action is amazing in this picture, it may not be the thing that you truly remember. From the brilliant script to the film’s touching love scenes aboard the Orient Express, this Bond picture nearly has it all.
The film even has one of the most memorable settings of any 007 feature, the gorgeous locations of Istanbul. As Bond traverses the beautiful underbelly of the city, guided by the unforgettable Pedro Armendáriz as Ali Kerim Bey, we as an audiences are taken through a tale of international intrigue worthy of films such as Carol Reed’s The Third Man or any of the Bourne films. From Russia with Love is a grownup’s Bond movie, and those expecting the goofy antics of the Moore or even the Brosnan era will be sorely disappointed.
That’s not to say that many of the series’ familiar trappings are not present. The franchise’s signature title sequence and Desmond Llewelyn’s Q both appear for the first time here, as well as giving us the earliest appearance of a Q gadget, a deadly briefcase with a ton of surprises. Still, while these elements help to create that homey feel you get from a 007 picture, it’s the terrific tale of adventure itself that will keep you coming back to it. From Russia with Love is truly one of Bond’s finest moments and hopefully generation after generation will discover it again and again, no matter who plays Her Majesty’s greatest secret agent in theaters.
Only one word could describe the print on this disc; gorgeous. From Russia with Love has absolutely, positively never looked better than it does on this Blu-ray disc. The fine detail here is absolutely incredible, especially when getting to see the breathtaking locales of Istanbul and other locations. For another example of this clarity, check out the famous pre-credit teaser from the movie when (spoiler) a double for Bond is killed by Red Grant. Now, while the person playing Bond is obviously Connery, the way that they’ve made him up looks a little off, as to suggest that this is a man in disguise, which is supposed to be the point. On this beautiful print, this nuance is more pronounced than ever, helping not only the visual experience, but the storytelling going on as well.
As for the sound, this disc is a thing of beauty. The score again is as beautiful as ever, but the dialogue, which sounded a little tinny on the Dr. No BD is full and vibrant here. Technically, just like the movie itself, From Russia with Love is an improvement on an already wonderful start from Dr. No.
Audio Commentary featuring Director Terrence Young and members of the Cast and Crew – Much like the Dr. No commentary, this one is packed with different Bond historians, cast and crew members. This again is great for getting terrific background on the film’s production, as people like Director Terrance Young, Composer John Barry and others give their recollections of experiences on the movie.
Ian Fleming: The CBC Interview – Released right after the death of Ian Fleming, this vintage interview with Bond’s creator is fascinating. It’s interesting to hear Fleming talk frankly about sex in literature and defends how elegantly he portrays sex in his books. This is really good stuff.
Ian Fleming & Raymond Chandler – This is an audio conversation between these two literature titans. They discuss the nature of both British and American thrillers and how Bond and Phillip Marlowe differ from each other on the page. Again, this is a fascinating look into the minds of these two men.
Ian Fleming on Desert Island Discs – This interview has Fleming talking about his experience in the military and how those experiences helped bring him to writing the James Bond novels.
Storyboards – This is an animated look that the film’s storyboards for the boat chase at the end of the movie. The storyboards look a lot like Tim Sale artwork, and this feature is surprisingly entertaining.
Inside From Russia with Love – Given the HD treatment, this documentary carried over from the first DVD Special Edition is terrifically entertaining, and goes into minute detail about every element of this production. The proceedings especially focus on the troubles the film makers had with putting together a script, which apparently went through several rewrites before the final masterpiece was put together, creating one of the best Spy movies of all time.
Harry Saltzman: Showman Featurette – This Featurette covers the life and career of Harry Saltzman, one of the two Producers who are responsible for bringing the 007 franchise to the screen, whose contribution to this series ended with The Man with the Golden Gun. Saltzman had a wild career that was full of huge success and titanic failures, which ended up causing him to sever his association with the series.
Original Trailers and TV Spots
Image database
Just as with Dr. No, From Russia with Love is a triumphant victory on Blu-ray for James Bond. The movie looks more beautiful here than it probably has in 45 years, if it even looked this good in theaters. Every single extra from the previous Ultimate Edition is also included here, giving you hours and hours of From Russia with Love to be had, and what a terrific time it is.
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MGM/20th Century Fox presents From Russia with Love. Directed by Terrance Young. Starring Sean Connery, Daniela Bianchi, Pedro Armendáriz, Lotte Lenya, Robert Shaw, Bernard Lee. Written by Johanna Harwood. Running time: 115 minutes. Rated PG. Released on Blu-ray: Oct 21, 2008. Available at Amazon.
