SPECTRE have plans to steal a decoder (the Lektor) from the Russians. They also have plans to humiliate the British Secret Service in retaliation for the death of Dr No. Rosa Klebb, a SPECTRE agent, is given control of this operation and recruits an unstable killer (Red Grant) and a Russian clerk Tatiana Romanova. Tatiana will defect to the British but only if James Bond, with whom she has fallen in love, will collect her and the decoder.
007 happily agrees to take the case and works with Ali Kerim Bay in Turkey. After attempts on their lives by SPECTRE 007 learns enough about the decoder to assure himself of its authenticity. He helps Romanova escape and they board the Orient Express.
Red Grant has tracked Bond however. Posing as Bond's aid Captain Nash, Grant presents perhaps the most calculating and sinister threat to James Bond in the entire series of films.
From Russia With Love is the last Bond film produced before the Bond formula was laid down by Goldfinger. Goldfinger upped the budget, humour and fantasy and from 1964 on the goal of every Bond film was to be bigger than the last. More spectacle, more gadgets and more money. From Russia With Love is very stripped down compared to the films that followed taking cues from influences like The Third Man and North By Northwest. Major set-pieces include a shoot-out in an atmospheric Gypsy camp and Bond's duel with a small helicopter. In its own way From Russia With Love is as gripping and entertaining as any of the Bond films that followed.
Robert Shaw as Red Grant is quite simply superb. We genuinely fear for 007 when Grant turns the tables on him in the train. Bond makes a wisecrack about Grant - posing as a cultivated English gentleman - ordering Red Wine with fish. "You may know the right wines," comes Grant's chilling reply. "But you're the one on your knees." Old fashioned suspense, absent from later Bond films, is very much in evidence in From Russia With Love.
Daniela Bianchi is endearing and beautiful as the female lead - light years above recent Bond actresses. And naturally Sean Connery is cool, unflappable, witty and every inch James Bond. I find it interesting that people often have a misconception about Connery being a relatively serious Bond - the series only turning to tongue in cheek escapades when Roger Moore took over. Actually Connery is very laid back, permanently amused and doesn't seem to be taking proceedings tremendously seriously. He's having fun.
From Russia marks the first advent of Q and we get our first shadowly impressions of Blowfeld. Ali kerim Bay also deserves a mention as one of the best allies in the series. We do genuinely care for his character and his fate.
From Russia With Love is easily one of the best films in the series. The Ultimate edition looks great and with Eon's vault of Bond material plundered for the extensive extras, no Bond fan should fail to have a copy on their DVD shelf.
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How does it compare to similar films?
Good
How does it compare to others by the same director?
Outstanding
Value for Money
Good
What format are you reviewing?
DVD
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