268 replies to this topic

[DaveBond21]

I love From Russia with Love.

It's a great Bond movie and probably my favourite.

Here are the elements I love about it:-

Connery - he is on top of his game here.

Blofeld - the scariest Bond villain, just from his voice. Look how scared Klebb and Kronstein are of him!

The Cold War plot - realistic and down-to-earth. This is a real espionage film.

The chess match

Kerim Bey - probably Bond's greatest ally

Tatiana's choker!

The Gypsy Camp battle

The fight with Grant on the Orient Express

The boat chase

The helicopter terrorising Bond

Rosa Klebb's shoe


Who else loves FRWL? Name your favourite elements of this movie. Please fans only, let's celebrate this classic film!!

[00Twelve]

Alright, I'll go with you...

Connery - I agree, on the top of his game in this film. Not uncomfortable, and not yet self-aware.

Tatiana - Absolutely beautiful. I have always preferred brunettes, but she is the poster girl for beautiful blonde Bond girls. (Like the alliteration?)

Grant - So good, they just have to keep cloning him. Hans (YOLT), Kriegler, Necros, Stamper, they are all Grant seen through a dim lens.

Blofeld - While TB may have the most accurate Blofeld in terms of character, this Blofeld is the one that set the cinematic standard. Too bad they went the bald route, but I understand.

Kerim - The quintessential non-Felix ally. Such a lovable character.

Gypsy sequence - Where has the culture gone since these old days?

Gypsy girl fight - Period.

Prelude to the fight - Some of the best, most tense moments in all of Bond. So well written and well acted. Really makes you clench your cheeks.

The fight - Wow. Who knew fights were allowed to be this raw in 1963? The stomp on the back-kick in the face combo plus the repeated slamming into the doorframe is some of the most inspired unarmed combat choreography in film. Even today. Only the Trevelyan fight comes close in Bond, IMO.

The plot - The days when espionage was espionage. The Cold War was in full swing, and this film took the greatest advantage of that conflict, IMO. Not with warheads or space capsules, but spy secrets, codes, and reputations. And as a cinematic bonus not in the original story, we see SPECTRE in its heyday, before Bond began to break it apart.

The locations - This is where the exotic locations really took off in the Bond films, exploring a region rarely seen in such a good light today...Eastern Europe. Plus, there's Venice. Ahhh....Venice.

Non-gadgetry - While I LOVE the DB5 and countless other gadgets that have graced the screen in the movies since this one, the peak of believable gadgetry occurs here. The attache case is simple, practical, and relatively down to earth. So much so that it is a standard issue to all MI6 field agents and not just Bond.

The helicopter/boat chase - Harrowing action scenes without too much over-the-top-ness. Unless you count the atomic fireball of four gas canisters!

Last, but not least, this film seems much more of a direct sequel to the preceding film than any two Bond films that followed. And yes, that includes OHMSS and DAF. This seems the EXACT same man, in the EXACT same world. LALD and TMWTGG come close.

For these and more reasons, FRWL edges out GF as my favorite Bond film. Not that we need a whole thread just to sing its praises, but I can't help it. I love this film. Keep it coming, fanboys!

Edited by 00Twelve, 19 October 2006 - 05:37 AM.

[DaveBond21]

Thanks 00Twelve. Another excellent post.

I agree with you on all points, of course. I think it was time we had a good discussion about the merits of FRWL, so thanks for summing up your favourites there.

[SecretAgentFan]

And don

[Lancaster]

Got to mention the pre title sequence. This is such a clever and haunting way to introduce the film. People seeing this for the first time must have beleived that was Bond. Then the shock when he is killed and the lights go on. It then ends with a shot of the swinging face and bursts into John Barry's excellent theme. Sets up the whole film.

Also love the mention of Dr. No - as stated above, this is the same Bond and a direct follow on.

[Colossus]

Always was and is my favorite film. It holds all the elements i treasure. It's all perfect, sometimes i have dreams about it. This is Connery Bond in top form, he was so in Dr. No, but here he is most confident, not even Goldfinger which seemed more like a family film had it and a slight too suaveness to be realistic. The 'journey into danger' feeling of Dr. No is mirrored here, only instead of in the primitive tropics, it's set in the 'wild west' of the Cold War, in the ancient gate to Asia, Istanbul. What was a calm backdrop to Dr. No is now the complete opposite -- of franticness and energy, the perfect compliment to Dr. No.

I have to make every Bond caricature that was done here as my favorite of the series, the music (Barry, in my mind is in top form here), the villains (this gives the greatest feel of SPECTRE's global projection) -- the socializing and conflict between Grant and Bond is on mythic proportions culminating in the greatest fight of all time, two assassins at the peak of their craft, going at it with nothing but their wits and surroundings in a compact room onboard the legendary Orient Express. The locales (Istanbul truly envokes past eras of history), the Orient Express with the bleak South Eastern European landscape perfectly mirroring the tone of the 2nd Act, the girls, (containing my two greatest favorites) Tanya being just pure sensuality and for once not an ' equal to Bond' like so many overruning the series, and the friend -- none more warm and joyous than Kerim. The moments with him and Bond have a real warm-hearted feel that isn't shallow, whereas Bond is bedding new women regularly and in an 'on duty' formal friendliness with his helpers with quip jokes abounding, he's seen genuinely smiling and even laughing with Kerim, but it's not his sly smirk or a snooty laugh of other movies, no this is a humble laugh with a close friend, 'i'm already too much in debt to you.' 'How can a friend be in debt.' Speaks volumes about how close they are and lends to the third and rarest dimension of Bond. One of my favorite lines ever.

Each act of the movie is shorter than the last but there's a trade-off. With each act the exposition lessens and the conflict heats up, yet the action only becomes more dense within the timeframe culminating in the last act being practically nothing but pure action. Istanbul- the introductions of many, the side-conflict of the Cold War keeping the action, Orient Express- the 2nd act is always the darkest, and so is the case with our hero reduced to his knees at gunpoint before the most brutal and savage struggle, but not before having a charming and pleasant time with chipper 'Captain Nash' in the aftermath of an unfortunate tragedy, just one of another dark peril. The final act has a relentless chase after all gloves are off with SPECTRE's Plan B, and yet the movie ending in the most romantic of endings through the waters of Venice with Tanya no less, a fairytale.

Edited by Colossus, 19 October 2006 - 09:22 AM.

[Qwerty]

• A fantastic collection of villains
• Locations
• Boat chase
• Music
• Gypsy Camp
• And much more...

[bond_girl_double07]

In the fight, did anybody else notice that one of Robert Shaw's blows seems to actually connect with Connery's skull? I forget exactly which shot it was, but at some point Shaw comes down on Connery's neck and you see Connery's jaw snap and his face registers what looks like real pain.. I dunno, somebody else check it out and tell me if I'm wrong.. either way it's an amazing fight (more realistic than any fight I've seen on screen in the last 5 years at least), but I think it may have been more realistic than Connery intended

[Sydoe_00]

Oh my... From Russia With Love.... The title itself makes me squee in awe and happiness. What do you think I sign all my letters with?

• The title
• The musical score (especially at the titles)
• SPECTRE Island
• The first time we see a gadget from Q-Branch
• The pre-title sequence

However, I just can't seem to decide if it's my favorite. It's competition is Goldfinger.

[Tarl_Cabot]

No 'Bond, James Bond' either.

[00Twelve]

GOOD point! You've just given me another reason to call this my favorite. Thanks, tarl!

[Double-0-Seven]

This is one of my top 3 Sean Connery films. I love everything about it. The pre-titles sequence is simple, but very effective, and the action scenes are great. The helicopter dodging scene is one of my favorites in the entire series, as well as the fight between Bond and Grant. Overall, a phenomenal Bond movie.

[DaveBond21]

The stuntman Bob Simmons was almost hit by the helicopter aswell, wasn't he?

[erniecureo]

I agree with the previous posts. And the thing I like best about it is the almost perfect balance between believability and fantasy.

For example, chasing a guy in a helicopter is notoriously inefficient.

But I love the fact that the bad guys aren't trying to conquer the world--this is just about a code machine...a very important code machine, true, but a code machine. In other words, I can get into this movie much more than many of the others, because it requires very little suspension of disbelief.

And the fight scene...what can I add that hasn't already been said? Just the best cinema fight ever, period.

My favorite Bond film to date.

[carddoug]

one of the best. but not my favorite connery Bond film. i also like the pre title

Edited by carddoug, 27 October 2006 - 11:24 PM.

[Matt_13]

My favorite, and welcome to CBn carddoug.

[SPECTRE ASSASSIN]

In the fight, did anybody else notice that one of Robert Shaw's blows seems to actually connect with Connery's skull? I forget exactly which shot it was, but at some point Shaw comes down on Connery's neck and you see Connery's jaw snap and his face registers what looks like real pain.. I dunno, somebody else check it out and tell me if I'm wrong.. either way it's an amazing fight (more realistic than any fight I've seen on screen in the last 5 years at least), but I think it may have been more realistic than Connery intended

Yeah i noticed that. But you know Connery was so used to brawling so much in the streets as a youngster, so that hit was peanuts compared to back then


I pretty much think that FRWL is the only timeless film from the series. i just hope that CR just has those same elements FRWL has.

[carddoug]

My favorite, and welcome to CBn carddoug.

thank you for the welcome

[Jericho_One]

I pretty much think that FRWL is the only timeless film from the series. i just hope that CR just has those same elements FRWL has.

My thoughts as well.

[DaveBond21]

Yes, I hope so too.


I think Casino Royale has the look of FRWL, Goldfinger, TLD and Goldeneye from the look of the trailer.

[MR. BOND 93]

The reason I liked FRWL was all the wonderful settings. The train, the maze, the church, etc.

Plus this one and Goldfinger featured Connery at his best.

[DaveBond21]

Plus this one and Goldfinger featured Connery at his best.

I agree. He was very comfortable in the role, but was not yet tired of it.

[steve234]

Got to agree with you Dave. It's a cracker of a Bond movie and for me the very best with possibly GF giving it a run for it's money.
This was the height of the cold war and as you say it was down to earth ,realistic and just really well done with a great cast and Connery at his best.
These days will never be matched. It's gone and cannot ever be recaptured because the time is different and the world has moved on.

[DaveBond21]

Thanks steve234, and welcome to CBn!

[RazorBlade]

I think FRWL is underappreciated. If only the francise had stayed the course set by this film...

[Jericho_One]

I think FRWL is underappreciated. If only the francise had stayed the course set by this film...

Definitely one of the films in the serie where the producers can still find two or three good ideas for the upcoming movies.

[bond_girl_double07]

I just rewatched this film this weekend.. and it's good - I mean really really good. I'm torn, it may eventually usurp Goldfinger as my favorite title

The setting of this film, I think, is what makes it so spectacular. Istanbul in '64 was a remarkable place to be, and I think the addition of so many interesting and vital characters (like Ali Kerem) makes this one of the most exotic of the series. I really like Tanya too, god help me. Really all she does the entire film is look really REALLY good and beg Bond for sex, but there's something about her that's endearing..

The plot is so clever too.. I LOVE that Red Grant basically stalks the shadows for an hour and a half.. by the time he finally actually interacts with Bond, you get this really suspensful sense of dread.. I wanted to scream "who are you, why have you killed like 40 people in the movie, and what do you want with 007" the entire time he was more than 10 feet away from Bond

I dunno.. I'd seen the film before obviously, but this time, having watched it in between Dr. No and Goldfinger, I was really impressed with it.. I don't like change, and I have some soul searching to do clearly


Ohhhh by the way.. I've been itching to do this all weekend and I know you're the crowd to help me with this little fantasy giggle giggle:


Can I borrow a match?

Edited by bond_girl_double07, 06 November 2006 - 12:53 AM.

[MR. BOND 93]

The setting of this film, I think, is what makes it so spectacular. Istanbul in '64 was a remarkable place to be, and I think the addition of so many interesting and vital characters (like Ali Kerem) makes this one of the most exotic of the series.

Exactly!

I also thought Red Grant played a big role in the film's success also.

[bond_girl_double07]

In the fight, did anybody else notice that one of Robert Shaw's blows seems to actually connect with Connery's skull?

Ok, I watched this scene very carefully over the weekend (multiple rewinds hehe) and it's right before Red Grant first attacks Bond in the train car.. both men are kneeling down looking at a map, and Grant slowly reaches into his leg holster and pulls out a gun. When he slams the butt of the gun into Connery's neck, you can see that he actually really hits him! Connery's jaw kind of snaps and he takes what looks like a very realistic slam to the floor. The next scene cuts to Shaw standing over Connery and it's over. My personal theory is that they had to cut that scene because Connery hopped up and was about to show Robert Shaw a world of pain

[DaveBond21]

I agree, bond girl double, that it's a great movie. That is why I started this thread. I think it is my favourite, although FYEO comes close.