Although I tend to favour his performance in 1967's You Only Live Twice, Sean Connery himself has said that From Russia with Love was his favourite Bond film. This sequel to 62's Dr.No has all the ingredients of a great film - action, drama, passion, and suspense.
S.P.E.C.T.R.E has their eyes on a LECKTOR decoding machine and the come up with a plan where they can kill two birds with one stone. They attempt to lure James Bond to Istanbul using Tatyana Romanova, the beautiful Russian agent thinking she is working for her government. Britain, knowing it is likely a trap, takes the bait in hopes of retrieving the LECKTOR for themselves and so they send Bond off. Along the way, with the help of associates, Bond discovers the full plot and has to act fast to protect himself and Tatyana from falling into S.P.E.C.T.R.E's trap and also from hitman Red Grant, sent to retrieve the LECKTOR after it was in Bond's possesion.
Music from the film by John Barry
Not much is wrong with this film, the only exception being that because it is from the sixtees and not as adventureous as other Bond films from that era, it may seem a little boring or slow.
This film though, is very special in that it introduces Q-Branch to the world of Bond and it is great in developing character. Blofeld and his cat are seen for the first time also. This movie was the big film of "firsts" in the Bond series.
Connery has grown very nicely into the role and here we see that he fits the bill almost perfectly. A good supporting cast and a great locale help the movie along its slower parts. Such memorable scenes like the gun fight in the gypsy camp, the Orient Express trip and an "explosive" ending, to say the least, make From Russia With Love a great film and it should be considered so outside of the Bond realm also.
© 1998 amonte007@hotmail.com
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