268 replies to this topic

[DaveBond21]

As I have said on another thread, I love Blofeld in this.

We never see him, yet he is terrifying. We only see his hands, stroking a cat, and feeding fighting fish. This is very unsettling.

Our only opinions of him are based on his voice, his orders and the looks on the faces of his subordinates. Kronsteen is a Chess Grandmaster and strategic genius, and Klebb is a cold evil killer. Yet look at their faces!! They are absolutely terrified of their boss and the very thought of failure makes them tremble.

This is why he is my favourite villain. He doesn't get involved, he scares his staff into doing everything for him. And there's just something wrong about someone who can be like that with people, and yet so delicate with a pet.

[golrush007]

FRWL is without doubt my favourite Bond film. The plot is great - the screen adaptation actually improves on the novel in my opinion (FRWL is my fav novel as well). I think all the elements are spot on in the film. The same is true for GF as well, but I prefer the more serious tone of FRWL.

As I mentioned in the 3 favourite FRWL scenes thread, the music by John Barry adds a great deal to the film. It is not as grandiose as his later scores (especially TB) which is just right for this film. My review of the score can be found on my website.

As DaveBond21 pointed out, Dawson's performance of Blofeld is fantastic. The fact that we don't see his face makes him even more menacing. Although Telly Savalas was my favourite Blofeld performance, Dawson's Blofeld was perhaps the more frightening of the two because of the mystery surrounding his identity and the the various other elements pointed out by DaveBond21.

I think it is doubtful that EON will ever be able to make a better Bond film than FRWL. It is stylish, thrilling, exciting and best of all, very Fleming-esque.

[Judo chop]

I think it is doubtful that EON will ever be able to make a better Bond film than FRWL.

I think you're right. Not without doing a period piece at least. 60's spying just has a cooler ambience than new millenium spying. It just does.

Hopefully QOS will oust CR for the #3 spot on my all-time faves list, possibly even beating out TB for the #2. But I really don't think any modern film will have a chance of topping FRWL.

[DaveBond21]

I think it is doubtful that EON will ever be able to make a better Bond film than FRWL.

I think you're right. Not without doing a period piece at least. 60's spying just has a cooler ambience than new millenium spying. It just does.

Hopefully QOS will oust CR for the #3 spot on my all-time faves list, possibly even beating out TB for the #2. But I really don't think any modern film will have a chance of topping FRWL.

I agree, but as you say, it's a product of its time. I don't think a Bond film should ever try to copy FRWL. But if they get close to being as good, then they would be damn fine movies!

[DaveBond21]

Any other fans?

[00Jaws]

For sure!

What i love the most about FRWL is the whole atmosphere. The Cold War, the locations, the actors and Barrys great score make it so atmospheric.

My favourites scenes are Kronsteen's chess match, Grant in the Bulgarian taxi, Bond and Tatjana in the Hagia Sophia, Bond and Kerim under the Russian consulat, Blofelds order, and the whole train scene.

[Tybre]

Any other fans?

Personally From Russia is my favorite Connery era film. Love the whole film way too much to even pinpoint a favorite moment. It's just great. Which is a bit odd, because personally I think the FRWL book is one of Fleming's weaker ones...

[sharpshooter]

personally I think the FRWL book is one of Fleming's weaker ones...

To me it's Fleming's best. It's a really well written and constructed thriller. A perfect balance of action and character.

[Fan]

The best Bond film. The people in this thread who are putting Goldeneye above it are insane.

[Manticore]

I love From Russia with Love.

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

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

I am ! The best Bond film in my opinion. And of course the best Sean !
The book is perfectly adapted for the screen. The cast is fantastic. Lotte Lenya and Walter Gotell are my favorite villains,Blofeld is invisible, so he's perfect !
The sequence in the Aston with the beautiful Tilly, when Sean look at her..."Charming sport" !
Excellent action sequence : the attack of the gispy camp ! And the gipsy fight of course !!

The best 007 film, second Casino Royale.

Enjoy here :

Edited by Manticore, 15 May 2009 - 06:47 AM.

[00Jaws]

The sequence in the Aston with the beautiful Tilly, when Sean look at her..."Charming sport" !

That's Goldfinger.

[Manticore]

Shame on me !! But of course it is ! Shocking. Positively shocking !

[Fan]

The sequence in the Aston with the beautiful Tilly, when Sean look at her..."Charming sport" !

Huh?

[S.P.E.C.T.R.E_Agent_44]

From Russia With Love
Still Stands As On Of My Favorites.

Kerem Bay, And The Gypsy Camp Were Great !

But, What I Like Best About This Movie Is Grant. The Fight On The Train, And The Way He Made Himself Out To Be That Mi6 Contact At One Of The Stations, Just After Killing The Real One In A Matter Of Seconds. I Like The Way He'd Put The Black Gloves On Before Each Kill Too.


Grant :"Put Your Hands In Your Pockets, Keep 'Em There !"

Bond : "We'll Hows About A Cigarette ?"

Grant: "Not A Chance."

Brilliant !

[Tybre]

personally I think the FRWL book is one of Fleming's weaker ones...

To me it's Fleming's best. It's a really well written and constructed thriller. A perfect balance of action and character.

It is really well written and well constructed, but books like Live and Let Die and Dr No found ways of keeping me enthralled even at simple things like Bond eating breakfast. FRWL I nearly fell asleep near the end of Part One, and I dunno, I just found it generally more boring in terms of execution than the other books. But eh, to each his own.

[DR76]

What i love the most about FRWL is the whole atmosphere. The Cold War, the locations, the actors and Barrys great score make it so atmospheric.

I feel the same. One of the greatest strengths of FRWL has been its setting and atmosphere, along with the cast. With the exception of the film's last half hour, it has a great story as well.

Edited by DR76, 21 May 2009 - 04:35 PM.

[photographer]

I don't know if a link about this excellent John Timbers press material-page had been posted by anyone else here before.
If not you will 'love' this page.

http://www.topfoto.c...ve/default.html

Edited by the photographer, 11 June 2009 - 02:10 PM.

[DaveBond21]

For sure!

What i love the most about FRWL is the whole atmosphere. The Cold War, the locations, the actors and Barrys great score make it so atmospheric.

My favourites scenes are Kronsteen's chess match, Grant in the Bulgarian taxi, Bond and Tatjana in the Hagia Sophia, Bond and Kerim under the Russian consulat, Blofelds order, and the whole train scene.

Great scenes. I would add to that the wonderful ending with the boat chase followed by the helicopter attack.

[danslittlefinger]

My fav Bond film.

There is something so timeless about it and very atmospheric. The train scenes are chilling with Shaw. Both actors on form and totally holding their own in every scene.
Connery moves like a cat and the Tatiana/Klebb "Mother Russia" connection is quite titilating to watch.
The music is exhilirating and carries you through with fervour and terror.
The Cold War at it's best.

Christ I miss the Cold War.

[DaveBond21]

My fav Bond film.

There is something so timeless about it and very atmospheric. The train scenes are chilling with Shaw. Both actors on form and totally holding their own in every scene.
Connery moves like a cat and the Tatiana/Klebb "Mother Russia" connection is quite titilating to watch.
The music is exhilirating and carries you through with fervour and terror.
The Cold War at it's best.

Christ I miss the Cold War.

I agree with you there. And yes, the music is certainly stirring.

[Mike00spy]

My fav Bond film.

There is something so timeless about it and very atmospheric. The train scenes are chilling with Shaw. Both actors on form and totally holding their own in every scene.
Connery moves like a cat and the Tatiana/Klebb "Mother Russia" connection is quite titilating to watch.
The music is exhilirating and carries you through with fervour and terror.
The Cold War at it's best.

Christ I miss the Cold War.

I agree with you there. And yes, the music is certainly stirring.

Just watched it on Blu Ray.

Fans of the film HAVE to see it on Blu Ray.

Wonderful experience.

[Forward Look]

No 'Bond, James Bond' either.

Actually, he did say that famous line in FRWL, when he called the front desk to complain that the bed in his original room was too small.

My fav Bond film.

There is something so timeless about it and very atmospheric. The train scenes are chilling with Shaw. Both actors on form and totally holding their own in every scene.
Connery moves like a cat and the Tatiana/Klebb "Mother Russia" connection is quite titilating to watch.
The music is exhilirating and carries you through with fervour and terror.
The Cold War at it's best.

Christ I miss the Cold War.

I agree with you there. And yes, the music is certainly stirring.

Just watched it on Blu Ray.

Fans of the film HAVE to see it on Blu Ray.

Wonderful experience.

When economic conditions improve, and Sony/MGM decides to release a complete Blu-ray DVD box set of the entire Bond series. And, I'm probably not alone on this one.

[007Bond007]

Just watched it on Blu Ray.

Fans of the film HAVE to see it on Blu Ray.

Wonderful experience.

hows the extras on bluray , im thinking of picking up a copy.

[double o ego]

I've stuck with the original dvds because I'm hearing stories that certain things have changed for the SE and blurays i.e. the music and stuff.

[007Bond007]

From Russia With Love
Still Stands As On Of My Favorites.

Kerem Bay, And The Gypsy Camp Were Great !

But, What I Like Best About This Movie Is Grant. The Fight On The Train, And The Way He Made Himself Out To Be That Mi6 Contact At One Of The Stations, Just After Killing The Real One In A Matter Of Seconds. I Like The Way He'd Put The Black Gloves On Before Each Kill Too.


Grant :"Put Your Hands In Your Pockets, Keep 'Em There !"

Bond : "We'll Hows About A Cigarette ?"

Grant: "Not A Chance."

Brilliant !

yes me too, the best bond villain of all time, really flemming-esque in away that most bond movies ignore.

[SpaceAgent]

I've stuck with the original dvds because I'm hearing stories that certain things have changed for the SE and blurays i.e. the music and stuff.

I've seen FRWL many many times over the years; it's my favorite Bond film. I have not noticed anything missing or changed on the Blu-Ray disc.

What I have noticed is that the Blu-Ray presentation is positively stunning. As I have said elsewhere in these forms about Dr. No: You have never seen the film look this good, not even if you saw a fresh theatrical print in 1963. Unless you were present when they filmed it and have better than 20/20 vision, it has never looked this good.

The extras on the FRWL Blu-Ray are all very good. The nicest thing about the Blu-Rays is that they took the great making of- extras (hosted by Patrick Macnee) and put them in high def.

I would probably second the notion that Casino Royale (2006) is the second best film in the series. Just watched that the other night and it is a wonderful piece of filmmaking.

[double o ego]

Oh no. So I might just have to buy the entire series...again but on freakin' blu-ray. Dammit!!

Anyway, I'm currently reading the novel of FRWL and I'm pretty satisfied with how the movie interprets the book, although I would have loved to see a few other things from the novel translated onto screen. Particularly, the consortium meeting of setting up Bond and MI6 with the restrained personal jabs that a few of the members throw at each other for past failures.

[Turn]

Anyway, I'm currently reading the novel of FRWL and I'm pretty satisfied with how the movie interprets the book, although I would have loved to see a few other things from the novel translated onto screen. Particularly, the consortium meeting of setting up Bond and MI6 with the restrained personal jabs that a few of the members throw at each other for past failures.

That would have been hard to do considering SPECTRE was substitued for SMERSH in the film. Still, I think that was set up pretty well.

The thing I would have liked to have seen make the film was more of Grant's bloodlust, like his having to go out and kill something during a full moon, although that probably would have come off goofy and cliched.

FRWL is my personal favorite Bond book.

[DaveBond21]

From Russia With Love
Still Stands As On Of My Favorites.

Kerem Bay, And The Gypsy Camp Were Great !

But, What I Like Best About This Movie Is Grant. The Fight On The Train, And The Way He Made Himself Out To Be That Mi6 Contact At One Of The Stations, Just After Killing The Real One In A Matter Of Seconds. I Like The Way He'd Put The Black Gloves On Before Each Kill Too.


Grant :"Put Your Hands In Your Pockets, Keep 'Em There !"

Bond : "We'll Hows About A Cigarette ?"

Grant: "Not A Chance."

Brilliant !

yes me too, the best bond villain of all time, really flemming-esque in away that most bond movies ignore.

That is such a tense and well-written scene. I too love the way that Grant puts his gloves on before a kill. Also the line "not a chance". That's quite jarring to the audience as we assume that Bond will get out of the situation quicker than he does.

[Mr. Blofeld]

From Russia With Love
Still Stands As On Of My Favorites.

Kerem Bay, And The Gypsy Camp Were Great !

But, What I Like Best About This Movie Is Grant. The Fight On The Train, And The Way He Made Himself Out To Be That Mi6 Contact At One Of The Stations, Just After Killing The Real One In A Matter Of Seconds. I Like The Way He'd Put The Black Gloves On Before Each Kill Too.


Grant :"Put Your Hands In Your Pockets, Keep 'Em There !"

Bond : "We'll Hows About A Cigarette ?"

Grant: "Not A Chance."

Brilliant !

yes me too, the best bond villain of all time, really flemming-esque in away that most bond movies ignore.

That is such a tense and well-written scene. I too love the way that Grant puts his gloves on before a kill. Also the line "not a chance". That's quite jarring to the audience as we assume that Bond will get out of the situation quicker than he does.

Indeed, but it also sort of harkens back to Dr. No, when Jones, Bond's treacherous driver in Jamaica, asks for a cigarette, which is actually a cyanide pill that Jones uses to kill himself; Grant might be expecting the same from Bond (Jones and Grant are both from SPECTRE, after all), so... "not a chance." I like it...