137 replies to this topic

[Dalton's Wendy]

To Lounge Lizard and Dalton's Wendy.

Actually, "Dr. No" fits right into the yellow-peril theme, that's the problem.  Although Red-China was threatening in the latter part of the period, that was a rather rascist period in popular culture.

Unquestionably so, but one must bear in mind that it was a mere 17 years after the end of World War II, and hostilities with the Japanese. As you say, Red China was not a concern until the latter part of the Sixties, with Chairman Mao's big move with the Cultural Revolution. The big threat in the early Sixties was the Soviet Union.

To put it in such terms however, sounds like I'm judging a story based on modern sensibilities.  However, using such terms as Chigroes--Chinese Negroes--for the killers of Strangways and his secretary (who's name escapes me), is problematic.

Again, Stephen, I concur with you. But then, what do we do with Gone With The Wind?

The movie went even further with a reggae flavored version of three blind mice, instead of the now hackneyed 007 theme music.  I always suspected Fleming was a pulp fan, but his being a fan of Sax Rohmer is new to me.  Was Fleming also a fan of Leslie Charteris?  My favorite Saint is George Sanders.

George Sanders -- one of my all-time favourite actors (outstanding in All About Eve and Rebecca).

Actually according to Dave Karlen's "Licensed to Thrill," online article, on the history of the James Bond comic strips appearing in The London Express in 1957, the strip Bond was patterned after both Robert Taylor, and Gary Cooper.

Two more dreamboats -- both of whom would have made great Bonds!

The result was a James Bond that looked like Sean Connery, five years before the first Bond movie, and less like Hugh Fraser, that Ian Fleming hired artist conception looked like.

Ah, but have you ever seen the comic strips drawn by Horak? They look just like Timothy Dalton!

[Stephen Spotswood]

I have seen Horak's James Bond, and it does look like Timothy Dalton, but with a muscle tone more like George Lazenby. Does anyone know if there is a current James Bond comic strip, one hopefully available in the US?

[Agent MrPPV]

No way is Dr. No the best, but I'll agree that Dr. No set off the series to be what it is today. For Your Eyes Only and The Spy Who Loved Me without a doubt.

[Stephen Spotswood]

In case I was unclear, I'm referring to the actor Hugh Fraser who played Captain Hastings opposite David Suchet's Poirot.

Edited by Stephen Spotswood, 29 November 2005 - 05:11 PM.

[JKD68]

I agree with Loomis. Dr. No has never been topped. It just flows so perfectly from scene to scene. Never a wasted moment.
FRWL & Golfinger are close, but come up just short.

[Qwerty]

I have seen Horak's James Bond, and it does look like Timothy Dalton, but with a muscle tone more like George Lazenby.  Does anyone know if there is a current James Bond comic strip, one hopefully available in the US?

There are the current Titan reprints, available in the UK and US at the moment, but no Bond comic strip going at this very moment.

[Colossus]

Dr.No and From Russia with Love are my top 2 favorite Bonds. Goldfinger is a tad behind. Always been like this for me.

[Kit4na]

I never really enjoyed DR No. Why? Well the story isn't THAT good. There are no good one-liners, no gadgets. If the story would've been as good as FRWL it would've been a pretty good movie. FRWL is one of the only movies I really enjoy without it having any special chases,..

[spynovelfan]

I never really enjoyed DR No. Why? Well the story isn't THAT good. There are no good one-liners

Nonsense of the highest order!

DR NO:
It's a Dom Perignon '55. It would be a pity to break it.

BOND sits down.

BOND:
I prefer the '53 myself.

Come *on*!

[Turn]

I never really enjoyed DR No. Why? Well the story isn't THAT good. There are no good one-liners

Nonsense of the highest order!

DR NO:
It's a Dom Perignon '55. It would be a pity to break it.

BOND sits down.

BOND:
I prefer the '53 myself.

Come *on*!

Exactly. Though it's pretty sparse compared with some of the other scripts, DN still packs more wit and interesting dialogue than anything done in the past 25-30 years or so (no, a P&W shot here would be just too easy).

DN is a film I find myself liking more and more as the years go on. Just the opposite of how I felt 15-20 years ago, when DN and FRWL were two of the films I'd watch less or buy on VHS than some of the others. T

hese days, people either don't think it has enough going on or are used to the high action and they discount it or give it respect because it's the first Bond film. I can only imagine how it was watching it new in '62 or '63

[Onyx2626]

Trying to imagine the impact of DN back in '62 makes the film better with each viewing.
I just found out about the [real life] stolen painting in Dr. No's hideout. That's cool.

The scene with Jack Lord where Quarrel changes his mind is subtle.
The afternoon tryst with Miss Taro is steamy.

[dunmall]

the one and only thing i do not like about dr no, even though it is of the times and all that, is my skin crawls when bond tells quarrel to "fetch my shoes" regardless of the man's race it sounds like he's talking to his pet dog.

But other than that Dr No is an incredible film, as for one liners my favourite is "Sargent, make sure he doesn't get away!"
I love Ursula and miss taro and sylvia 3 for 3!
Jack Lord is an awesome Felix and poor Quarrel I think the friendship between Bond and his allies is missing nowadays as well.

[Onyx2626]

The "fetch my shoes" line does break the escapist spell! Too much 1962 reality...

Where's the belligerent Wesley Snipes when you need him?

[Kit4na]

k there is a good line but i still think its a dull movie

[dunmall]

only one good line?!?!?!?!?

are you looking for shells?
no i'm just looking!

east, west just points on a compass each as stupid as the other.

world domination? same old dream...

i was the unwanted son of a german missionary and a chinese girl of good family.

what happened?
i think they were on their way to a funeral


and dull? come on, bond sings! one of the best fist fights ever! doctor no's lair! the shoot out with the dragon tank! Ursala!!!! the spider scene! the death of dent! bond sings!
Style class charm and sophistication from connery. it's all real not some bloated parody.

The special effects (minneture of no's lair) actually match the phyiscal stuff

plus bond sings!

what more could you want? lol it's near perfect

[Yitztak]

Despite the fact that I like FRWL a lot better, Dr. No is definitely a classic and well above most in the series. It flows well, has a good espionage tale and, dare I say, one of the best villains in the entire Bond series- intelligent and physically dangerous.

[Kingdom Come]

It's that far removed from the cinema Bond of the last 30 years that it doesn't seem like a Bond film. It and FRWL are to me, the worst.

[spynovelfan]

It's that far removed from the cinema Bond of the last 30 years that it doesn't seem like a Bond film. It and FRWL are to me, the worst.

Wow. Horses for courses. But how is DR NO far removed from the other Bond films of the last 30 years? It has:

The gunbarrel
The theme
A scene in a casino
'Bond. James Bond.'
Casual sex,
Flirting with Moneypenny
A scene with M
A Rolex
Felix Leiter
A larger than life villain
Who works for SPECTRE
Beautiful women
A sidekick who gets killed
Fantastic sets by Ken Adam
Dry one-liners, some of which could have been straight out of Moore films:
'Sylvia Trench: When did you say you had to leave?
James Bond: Immediately.......almost immediately'

This 'doesn't seem like a Bond film' to you?

[dunmall]

i guess he means that theres no over the top action scenes that are only there for the sake of it....no lengthy sequences that have no relevance to the plot...no salascious dialogue that sounds like it was written by a hormonally charged 14 year old...no speed ramps in the editing...

and to then say that FRWL is bad as well!! I mean my god the best cast ever assembled! Kerim Bay and Red Grant are worth the price of admission alone! that's before we get to John Barry's score!

Or could it be becuase these to films don't adhere to the "formula"?? The one where bond ALWAYS saves the world,the incomprehensibley silly death traps, all the stuff that austin powers parodies so well.

To be honest I hope and pray that CR will have even half the style of DR NO and FRWL, minor gadgets, great dialogue brilliantly shot and edited fist fights... i prefer the lower budgeted bonds.

[MarcAngeDraco]

It's that far removed from the cinema Bond of the last 30 years that it doesn't seem like a Bond film. It and FRWL are to me, the worst.

I will agree that DN and FRWL are pretty far removed from some of the recent films. But that's what makes DN and FRWL vastly superior to the recent films, IMHO...

[icecold]

I'll always say the first 4 are the best Bond films. I enjoy all the others, and Goldeneye is my favorite overall, probably b/c it was the first one I saw. But outside of that the only Bond films I really "love" are the first 4, TLD, and LTK. OHMSS and FYEO fall into the next category and the rest are just "there". Extremely entertaining? Yes. All containing memorable, special scenes? Yes, but overall nothing special to them.

Out of the first 4 I'd say Dr No is best, then FRWL, and then comes Thunderball and Goldfinger with a tie.

Edited by icecold, 26 December 2005 - 09:40 AM.

[Colossus]

YOLT is better than TB.

[Largo65]

i guess he means that theres no over the top action scenes that are only there for the sake of it....no lengthy sequences that have no relevance to the plot...no salascious dialogue that sounds like it was written by a hormonally charged 14 year old...no speed ramps in the editing...

and to then say that FRWL is bad as well!! .... the best cast ever assembled! Kerim Bay and Red Grant are worth the price of admission alone! that's before we get to John Barry's score!

Or could it be becuase these to films don't adhere to the "formula"?? The one where bond ALWAYS saves the world,the incomprehensibley silly death traps, all the stuff that austin powers parodies so well.

To be honest I hope and pray that CR will have even half the style of DR NO and FRWL, minor gadgets, great dialogue brilliantly shot and edited fist fights... i prefer the lower budgeted bonds.

I totally agree here, Dunmall! Spot on, dude! DR. NO ranks at #5 on my Bond Top Ten list. It is a solid adaptation until we get to those ridiculous ventilation ducts! Paging Saltzman and Broccoli: this is supposed to be a DEATH MAZE !!! I have a similar beef with FRWL: why didn't the Bond filmmakers keep Fleming's surreal encounter between Bond and Klebb? They replace Fleming's original scene with a deadly scuffle between Bond and a .... charwoman!??!

[Turn]

i guess he means that theres no over the top action scenes that are only there for the sake of it....no lengthy sequences that have no relevance to the plot...no salascious dialogue that sounds like it was written by a hormonally charged 14 year old...no speed ramps in the editing...

and to then say that FRWL is bad as well!! .... the best cast ever assembled! Kerim Bay and Red Grant are worth the price of admission alone! that's before we get to John Barry's score!

Or could it be becuase these to films don't adhere to the "formula"?? The one where bond ALWAYS saves the world,the incomprehensibley silly death traps, all the stuff that austin powers parodies so well.

To be honest I hope and pray that CR will have even half the style of DR NO and FRWL, minor gadgets, great dialogue brilliantly shot and edited fist fights... i prefer the lower budgeted bonds.

I totally agree here, Dunmall! Spot on, dude! DR. NO ranks at #5 on my Bond Top Ten list. It is a solid adaptation until we get to those ridiculous ventilation ducts! Paging Saltzman and Broccoli: this is supposed to be a DEATH MAZE !!! I have a similar beef with FRWL: why didn't the Bond filmmakers keep Fleming's surreal encounter between Bond and Klebb? They replace Fleming's original scene with a deadly scuffle between Bond and a .... charwoman!??!

I think the reason for the ventilation duct thing was the budget simply wouldn't allow for a death maze and all the things Bond encounters in it. It was a nod to Fleming without all the fantastic stuff. Besides, I'm not sure many people would have bought Bond battling a giant octopus, which a lot of people would have likely pegged as a rip-off of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

[Largo65]

Agreed - Saltzman and Broccoli certainly couldn't top that giant squid from the Fleming novel.

Edited by Largo65, 01 January 2006 - 09:58 AM.

[Obiwan]

I like Dr.No my first Bond movie to see, but i dont think its better than From Russia with Love. Thats just my favortie Bond movie of all time so far. Dr.No has a great villian and Joseph Wisman played the role quite well. The infamise Honey Rider my favorite Bond girl in all the movies. I just loved the way she came out of the water it was just perfect. Next Connery played Bond great. It was a great preformence on Connerys part. Had some witty lines, and some action to go along with any Bond movie.

[Kit4na]

what more could you want? lol it's near perfect

sorry but those lines just don't do it for me
btw im a pb-era lover maybe that explains it.. and I preffer action to dialogue..

Edited by Kit4na, 03 January 2006 - 12:06 AM.

[Harmsway]

Sparked by a recent conversation with Loomis in the QOS spoiler forum, I thought I'd resurrect this thread.

There is literally nothing wrong with it.

I disagree. It has a lot of lame-duck sequences, like the car chase, fight with Dr. No, or tank scene.

- Script and dialogue: every line is absolutely terrific.

It's pretty close. The dialogue crackles, though the story could be made more interesting. Bond doing detective work on radioactive rocks isn't exactly thrilling.

locations,

Eh, nothing special. Some of it's pretty enough, but these are hardly some of the most distinctive locales in the Bond canon.

set design,

The Adam style is in place, but the designs clearly suffer as a result of a big budget. They look cheap, not enchanting.

music....

By far the worst Bond score of them all. In fact, Monty Norman's Bond score is so appalling that it, more than any other factor, hurts the film. It was dreadful for the time and it's even worse now.

[Leon]

music....

By far the worst Bond score of them all. In fact, Monty Norman's Bond score is so appalling that it, more than any other factor, hurts the film. It was dreadful for the time and it's even worse now.

Perfectly true apart from the James Bond Theme which is indredible. I always felt John Barry's influence on that was a major help however.

The Adam style is in place, but the designs clearly suffer as a result of a big budget. They look cheap, not enchanting.

The M's office set is great and the round room with the huge circular skylight where Dent talks to Dr No is an incredible bit of design.

I think From Russia With Love is the best Bond film, but Dr No is one of my favourites also because despite it's helping of crummyness it deserves a lot of respect for what it did in terms of lighting the fuse for the franchise.

It's all well and good saying that doesn't count towards it's quality as a stand-alone film, but it's not easy creating some of the stuff that film did from scratch. The Bond theme, the gunbarrel, the style of it all including the characters translation from book to film etc.

It also does have some cracking good scenes in it including, still IMO, the finest introduction and "Bond, James Bond" in the history of the franchise.

Edited by Leon, 02 April 2008 - 09:42 PM.

[Loomis]

- Script and dialogue: every line is absolutely terrific.

It's pretty close. The dialogue crackles, though the story could be made more interesting. Bond doing detective work on radioactive rocks isn't exactly thrilling.

Well, I guess it all depends on what you're after. If you're looking for a big, brassy, zany James Bond spymania epic (and who among us isn't from time to time?), you should go for something like YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE. Or DIE ANOTHER DAY. But if you're looking for a very faithful adaptation of a Fleming novel, featuring 007 in all his chainsmoking, non-PC glory, DR. NO will sort you out as well as any other Eon flick and more so than most.

locations,

Eh, nothing special. Some of it's pretty enough, but these are hardly some of the most distinctive locales in the Bond canon.

What do you mean by distinctive? You mean like Blofeld's volcano lair in YOLT, i.e. the sort of thing you'd look at and instantly know (even if you hadn't seen the film) was "Bondian"? But Jamaica is pure Fleming, no?

By far the worst Bond score of them all. In fact, Monty Norman's Bond score is so appalling that it, more than any other factor, hurts the film. It was dreadful for the time and it's even worse now.

I kind of get what you mean, insofar as there's a lot of Norman's score that sounds as feeble and as dated as though it's from an Ealing Studios production from the 1940s. Still, "appalling"? "Dreadful"? Not when it introduces the James Bond Theme to the world, it isn't! I think you're being a wee bit harsh.