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DR. No |
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Director TERENCE YOUNG Producers ALBERT R BROCCOLI & HARRY SALTZMAN
Screenplay RICHARD MAIBAUM, JOHANNA HARWOOD & BERKLEY MATHER
Director of Photography TED MOORE Editor PETER HUNT Production designer KEN ADAM
Music MONTY NORMAN
Starring SEAN CONNERY James Bond JOSEPH WISEMAN Dr. Julias No
URSULA ANDRESS Honey Rider EUNICE GAYSON Sylvia Trench JACK LORD Felix Leiter
ZENA MARSHALL Miss Taro ANTHONY DAWSON Professor Dent
With BERNARD LEE As M & LOIS MAXWELL As Miss Moneypenny
Release Date: UK 5 October 1962, USA 8 May 1963
Running time: 105 Minutes |
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Dr. No, the very first James Bond film. The one that started it all. Surely when Cubby and Saltzman's production got underway they would not have dreamed the film, and it's sequels, would be as successful as they were. The fact that virtually every studio they went to rejected them, because the content was "too British" and "too blatantly sexual", didn't help to raise their expectations. Finally United Artists gave them the green light, and the rest, as they say, is history... |
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Costing a mere 1 million dollars, production got underway in early 1962. Terence Young was hired to direct what would be his first of three James Bond films. First time out for the series, the film is a bit unpolished but shows much promise for what is to come. There are also many elements in the Bond world which appear here, in their earliest forms. For instance, the gunbarrel opening (Though missing the Bond theme, in its place are odd computer noises) , the infamous vodka martini: shaken not stirred, and the now immortal line "My name is Bond....James Bond." The fact that most of these things are not in Flemings novels and if they are they don't have the
same emphasis that they do in the films, is thanks to Young, Cubby, Saltzman, production designer Ken Adam, and screenwriter Richard Miabaum. Their vision of James Bond would carry on to this day, and it is them we have to thank for the way the films truly revitalized the cinema. |
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Sean Connery, a relative unknown, was cast as James Bond and it is remarkable that even in his first try he completely mastered the character. The first sight we see of James Bond, with the cigarette dangling in his mouth, the raised eyebrow, and look of absolute coolness, is the image most everyone thinks of when the name of Bond is mentioned. While Fleming had his doubts about Connery (A tough, football playing Scotsman) playing his Bond character (A cold, classy, Englishman). It is a well known fact that Fleming always imagined a young David Niven as James Bond (Niven would play Bond in 1969's dreadful spoof, Casino Royale). But once Fleming saw Connery's portrayal of Bond, his opinions quickly changed. As the posters said, "Sean Connery IS James Bond." |
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The rest of the cast is strong, but clearly are overshadowed by Connery. Ursula Andress' (Honey Ryder) acting capabilities leave much to be desired, though one cannot complain because she was hired due to a photo of her in a wet t-shirt, which Cubby saw. Eunice Gayson (Sylvia Trench) doesn't have much of an impact in the film, with the exception of her scene with Bond in the casino. On the other hand, Joseph Wiseman (Dr. No) is very strong and would set in stone the style of all future Bond Villains. Similarly, Jack Lord is extremely good in the role of Felix Leiter, it is a shame that he never reprised the role in future Films (Although the fact he wanted equal billing with Sean Connery surely had something to do with why he never played the role again.). John Kitzmiller's (Quarrel) performance is captivating but unfortunetly very dated (One of the few dated elements of the early Bond films). He is very much the stereotypical black man, and it can at times be painful to watch (When Bond |
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orders Quarrel to "Fetch [his] shoes" it is hard not to flinch).
Monty Norman's score is very much hit and miss. First of all, his "James Bond Theme" is one of the greatest pieces of film music in movie history, BAR NONE! (Although many believe it is John Barry we have to thank for this composition, but that's whole other issue...) But much of the rest of his score is bland and feels as if it was merely |
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taken from a generic "Movie Music" record. A few standout tracks are "killing the Guard" and "The death of Dr. No". Aside from that its pretty droll. |
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Overall, the film is good, but has not yet gotten into the flow that it has by the later films. The simplicity of the film is a good thing, especially compared to the later Roger Moore films. One very bothersome thing about the movie is how the first half feels like a great espionage/detective movie and
the second half feels like a science fiction "B" movie. Essentially, once Bond enters No's underground lair (*cough* Dr Evil...) the film takes turn for the worse. However, one extremely good scene comes toward the end of the film, when everyone is running for their lives before No's lair is blown up
in a nuclear meltdown. In this scene there is a great wide-angle shot of Bond running along the pier with Honey by his side, fighting some of Dr. No's men before climbing into a small motor boat and powering off. This entire shot (about 1 minute in length) has NO cuts at all! Impressive indeed. Another strong element of the film, is the art direction of Ken
Adam. Adam (Who is widely regarded as the greatest Set designer in history!)
built some extremely impressive sets for Dr.No, all the more impressive due |
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to the small budget of the film. Some standout examples are the control room
of Dr.No's and Dr.No's dinning room. These clearly show how the Bond films
put every penny on screen.Dr.No, the first of what would become a popular culture phenomenon of the 20th Century, would gross 60 million pounds worldwide during its run in the years of 1962 and 1963. The fact the pope and Soviet Kremlin condemned it only made it more popular to a rebellious generation. The Pope was disgusted with Bond's cruelty and sexual aggressiveness, and the USSR claimed that Bond was the personification of everything evil about capitalism. As a final side note, in an odd coincidence both Dr.No and The Beatles' debut single were released in the same week. Both of their impact's are still being felt today. |
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Rating
Teaser Sequence: None
N/A
Credits: Good for the first try, the way the blend into the start of the
film is great.
6/10
Theme Song: The James Bond Theme is probably the overall theme, and it is
still the best.
11/10
Music: hit and Miss.
5/10
Location: Jamaca looks like a tropical paradise. Sets the style for all
future Bond films.
8/10
Bond Girls: Ursala Andress cant act for a damn. But who really cares?
8/10
Villian: Dr.No set the standard for all other Bond villians to come. Only
flaw is the somewhat campiness.
8/10
Gadgets: er..umm. Nothing here. Does the hair over the door count?
0/10
Overall: Great for the first try, but seems very dated (a rarity for the
Bond films)
7/10 |
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Foreign Names:
Germany: James Bond Chases Dr.No
France/Belgium: James Bond Vs Doctor No
Italy: License To Kill
Spain: Agent 007 Vs The Satanic Doctor No
Japan: 007 is the Killing Number: Dr.No
Denmark: Agent 007: Mission: KILL DR.NO
Finland: 007 & Dr.No |
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