From Russia with Love (1963)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Terence Young

Writers:

Richard Maibaum (screenplay)
Johanna Harwood (adaptation)
(more)

Release Date:

27 May 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

The world's masters of murder pull out all the stops to destroy Agent 007!

Plot:

James Bond willingly falls into an assassination ploy involving a naive Russian beauty in order to retrieve a Soviet encryption device that was stolen by SPECTRE.

Plot Keywords:

Russian | Spectre | Istanbul | KGB | Decoder

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Sean Connery	...	James Bond
Daniela Bianchi	...	Tatiana Romanova
Pedro Armendáriz	...	Ali Kerim Bey (as Pedro Armendariz)
Lotte Lenya	...	Rosa Klebb
Robert Shaw	...	Red Grant
Bernard Lee	...	M
Eunice Gayson	...	Sylvia Trench
Walter Gotell	...	Morzeny
Francis De Wolff	...	Vavra - Gypsy Leader (as Francis de Wolff)
George Pastell	...	Train Conductor
Nadja Regin	...	Kerim's Girl
Lois Maxwell	...	Miss Moneypenny
Aliza Gur	...	Vida
Martine Beswick	...	Zora (also as Martin Beswick)
Vladek Sheybal	...	Kronsteen
Lisa Guiraut	...	Gypsy Belly Dancer (as Leila)
Hasan Ceylan	...	Foreign Agent
Fred Haggerty	...	Krilencu
Neville Jason	...	Kerim's Chauffeur
Peter Bayliss	...	Benz
Nusret Ataer	...	Mehmet (as Nushet Ataer)
Peter Brayham	...	Rhoda
Desmond Llewelyn	...	Major Boothroyd
Jan Williams	...	Masseuse
Peter Madden	...	MacAdams - Chess Player
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dorothea Bennett	...	Woman on Bridge in Venice (uncredited)
Bedri Çavusoglu	...	Police (uncredited)
Elizabeth Counsell	...	Woman in a Punt (uncredited)
Michael Culver	...	Man in a Punt (uncredited)
Anthony Dawson	...	Ernst Stavro Blofeld (uncredited)
Arlette Dobson	...	Istanbul Hotel Receptionist (uncredited)
Moris Farhi	...	Gypsy (uncredited)
William Hill	...	Captain Nash (uncredited)
Barbara Jefford	...	Tatiana Romanova (voice) (uncredited)
Muhammat Kohen	...	Mosque Tour Guide (uncredited)
Julie Mendez	...	Girl Dancing During Opening Titles (uncredited)
Eric Pohlmann	...	Ernst Stavro Blofeld (voice) (uncredited)
Jaqi Saltzman	...	Woman on Train (uncredited)
Bob Simmons	...	James Bond in Gunbarrel Sequence (uncredited)
Nikki Van der Zyl	...	Receptionist (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Terence Young

Writing credits
Richard Maibaum		(screenplay)
Johanna Harwood		(adaptation)
Ian Fleming		(novel)

Produced by
Albert R. Broccoli	....	producer
Harry Saltzman	....	producer
Stanley Sopel	....	associate producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
John Barry

Cinematography by
Ted Moore		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Peter R. Hunt		(as Peter Hunt)

Casting by
Weston Drury Jr.		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Syd Cain

Costume Design by
Jocelyn Rickards

Makeup Department
Basil Newall	....	makeup artist
Paul Rabiger	....	makeup artist
Eileen Warwick	....	dresser

Production Management
William Hill	....	production manager (as Bill Hill)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David C. Anderson	....	assistant director (as David Anderson)
Terence Churcher	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Freda Pearson	....	set dresser
Michael White	....	assistant art director
Roger Cain	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
John Chisholm	....	props (uncredited)
Ron Quelch	....	production buyer (uncredited)

Sound Department
C. Le Mesurier	....	sound recordist (as C. le Messurier)
Harry Miller	....	dubbing editor
John W. Mitchell	....	sound recordist
Norman Wanstall	....	dubbing editor

Special Effects by
Frank George	....	special effects assistant
John Stears	....	special effects
Wally Armitage	....	special effects (uncredited)
Jimmy Harris	....	special effects (uncredited)
Garth Inns	....	special effects (uncredited)
James Snow	....	special effects (uncredited)
Jimmy Ward	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Cliff Culley	....	matte artist (uncredited)
Roy Field	....	visual effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Peter Perkins	....	stunt work arranger
Bob Anderson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Peter Brace	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ken Buckle	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jack Cooper	....	train fight double: Robert Shaw (uncredited)
Gerry Crampton	....	stunts (uncredited)
Leslie Crawford	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Cummings	....	stunts (uncredited)
Peter Diamond	....	stunts (uncredited)
Cliff Diggins	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Dunne	....	stunts (uncredited)
Max Faulkner	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tex Fuller	....	stunts (uncredited)
Sol Gorss	....	stunts (uncredited)
Richard Graydon	....	stunts (uncredited)
Arthur Howell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jimmy Lodge	....	stunts (uncredited)
Peter Perkins	....	stunts (uncredited)
Peter Perkins	....	train fight double: Sean Connery (uncredited)
Terence Plummer	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dinny Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Nosher Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terry Richards	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jack Sholomir	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Bob Simmons	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Bob Simmons	....	train fight double: Sean Connery (uncredited)
Rocky Taylor	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bob Kindred	....	camera operator: second unit (as Robert Kindred)
John Winbolt	....	camera operator (as Johnny Winbolt)
Ray Hearne	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Simon Ransley	....	clapper loader (uncredited)
John Shinerock	....	focus puller (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ernie Farrer	....	wardrobe master
Eileen Sullivan	....	wardrobe mistress

Editorial Department
Ben Rayner	....	assembly editor

Music Department
John Barry	....	conductor
Monty Norman	....	composer: James Bond theme
Vic Flick	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)
Sidney Margo	....	music contractor (uncredited)

Other crew
Trevor Bond	....	assistant title designer
Albert R. Broccoli	....	presenter
Robert Brownjohn	....	title designer
Frank Ernst	....	location manager
Ilhan Filmer	....	production assistant: Istanbul (as Ilham Filmer)
Kay Mander	....	continuity
Harry Saltzman	....	presenter
Captain John Crewdson	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)
Maureen Newman	....	assistant production accountant (uncredited)
Golda Offenheim	....	production office (uncredited)
Golda Offenheim	....	production secretary (uncredited)
Charles Russhon	....	military liaison: Turkey (uncredited)
Charles Russhon	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Bob Simmons	....	body double: James Bond, in opening sequence (uncredited)
Captain Cyril Sweetman	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)
Terence Young	....	body double: Pedro Armendáriz (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Danjaq
• Eon Productions

Distributors

• United Artists Corporation (1963) (UK) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1964) (USA) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• C.B. Films (1964) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1964) (Norway) (theatrical)
• Park Circus (2009) (UK) (theatrical) (re-issue)
• Tuschinski Film Distribution (1964) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (as Nova)
• United Artists (1963) (Australia) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1964) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1964) (France) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1963) (Italy) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1970) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2000) (Australia) (DVD) (Special Edition)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1974) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (video)
• CBS/Fox Home Video (1983) (USA) (video)
• CBS/Fox (USA) (laserdisc)
• Criterion Collection, The (USA) (laserdisc)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (1981) (USA) (TV) (cable television)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2000) (UK) (DVD) (Special Edition)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• RCA (1981) (USA) (video) (Selectavision videodisc)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (2006) (worldwide) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Australia) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (UK) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• Warner Home Video (1983) (Australia) (video)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Pinewood Studios  studio
• Studios CTS  music recorded at (as CTS Studios London)
• Lowry Digital Images  pristine digital restoration: 2006
• United Artists  current copyright proprietor

Also Known As:

Ian Fleming's 'From Russia with Love' (UK) (complete title)

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Russian | Turkish | Romany

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Iceland:12 | Ireland:PG | West Germany:12 (nf) | Germany:16 (DVD rating) | South Korea:15 | Brazil:12 | New Zealand:PG | UK:PG (2008) | Finland:K-16 (uncut) (1984) | UK:PG (video rating) (1987) | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Finland:(Banned) (uncut) (1964) | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (original rating) | Peru:14 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (original rating) | USA:GP (re-rating) (1971) | UK:A (original rating) (cut) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1964) | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

"The Canals", Venice, Veneto, Italy

Company:

Danjaq

Trivia:

The headquarters of criminal spy organization SPECTRE in this film is actually the main office administration building of Pinewood Studios.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Russian consulate is placed over the Byzantine cisterns in the old city. Actually it is located in the "European" Beyoglu district.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Morzeny: [after Grant kills a look-a-like Bond] Exactly one minute, fifty-two seconds. That's excellent.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Intelligence Men (1965)

Soundtrack:

From Russia With Love

Bond as a spy, rather than an action hero

After the success of Dr. No, it was only a matter of time before James Bond returned for his second installment of espionage and adventure. Of course, it wasn't until the phenomenal success of Goldfinger that the Bond series really took off, and established the formula soon to be followed by every subsequent 007 movie and virtually every other action movie. But 'From Russia with Love' proved to be an equally effective, if slightly quieter little film, with more focus on the undercover espionage portion of James Bond's occupation, and less of the glamorous saving the world which would later become daily routine for him.

In fact, one of the things that makes 'From Russia with Love' interesting is that it is a 007 movie made before the "Bond movie" formula was established, and noticeable differences in the storyline can be seen. 'Russia' is more of a slower film, with fewer action sequences and more focus on Bond actually being a spy rather than an action hero. This leisurely, tension-building storytelling likely would have garnered terrible reaction in the 90s, but 'From Russia with Love' is still a very strong, if less formulaic addition to the Bond series.

Another noticeable difference is that Bond himself is much less the star of the show than is usually the case. Much more focus is placed on the supporting characters of the story, including minor characters such as chess master Kronsteen (Vladek Sheybal) who likely would simply have been eliminated from the story had 'Russia' followed the standard formula more closely. And for once, Bond isn't completely all knowing, capable of solving any problem independently - he teams up with the wise Kerim Bey (the charming Pedro Armendariz, his last film role) who shows Bond the ropes of Istanbul. But more standard story elements from the Bond formula are still present, such as menacing villains Rosa Klebb (the terrifying Lotte Lenya) and hit-man Red Grant. (an utterly intimidating and menacing Robert Shaw, the film's standout) And of course, there is still a slew of beautiful women for Bond to seduce, especially Russian decoding clerk Tatiana Romanova, played by the immensely gorgeous Daniela Bianchi. Also watch for a tense boat chase near the film's climax, the kind of stunt frequented by future Bond films.

So 'From Russia with Love' is really a quieter, more suspenseful addition to the Bond series, with more focus on Bond doing some actual spying rather than explosions every five minutes and Bond saving the world from some elaborate scheme. It may drag at times, and may not prove quite as exciting as today's audiences might hope, but Connery is at the top of his game here as 007, and his opposers are genuinely menacing and intimidating. For those wishing the Bond franchise would place more emphasis of the espionage portion of Bond's occupation, 'From Russia with Love' should prove the perfect film for them.

-8/10