Dr. No

Dr. No (PG)

Grade: A-

• Directed by: Terence Young
• Produced by: Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli
• Screenplay by: Richard Maibaum, Johanna Harwood, and Berkley Mather.  Based on Dr. No by Ian Fleming
• Starring: Sean Connery (James Bond), Ursula Andress (Honey Ryder), Joseph Wiseman (Dr. No), Jack Lord (Felix Leiter), Bernard Lee (M), Anthony Dawson (Professor Dent), John Kitzmiller (Quarrel), Zena Marshall (Miss Taro), Eunice Gayson (Sylvia Trench), Lois Maxwell (Miss Moneypenny) 
• Cinematographer: Ted Moore
• Music by: Monty Norman
• Studio: Eon Productions
• Distributed by: United Artists
• Released: October 5, 1962
• Running Time: 109 minutes/1 hour and 49 minutes
• Language: English

"Bond...James Bond"

-James Bond

The first time I remember being exposed to James Bond 007, was when I was a child reading Ian Fleming's novels.  My dad had a huge volume of his works, so I read them all at school, or whenever I had spare time.  I didn't understand anything since the dialogue was too intricate for my young mind, but after being exposed to James Bond, I knew I would never forget the name.  Then one Saturday night, out of nowhere, I saw "Dr. No" on ABC.  I was confused because the film was nothing like I pictured it, but I watched it anyways, starting a love affair that still continues to this day.
  

"Dr. No" starts off with a British Intelligence Station Chief named Strangways, who gets ambushed and killed in Jamaica.  After British Secret Service gets news of this, they send their best Agent, James Bond 007, to Jamaica to investigate what happened.  He doesn't find much at first, but with clever tactics, he finds that everything leads to Crab Key and the mysterious Dr. No. 

I realize that I didn't say much about the plot, but that's only because not much happens in the "Dr. No".  I know that seems hard to believe, considering what all the recent Bond films have been like, but that's really the case.  It's the first film, so it's likely the filmmakers were just trying to get a feel for the series, and the Bond formula we're all so accustomed too.  Despite being unlike modern Bond films, there is a car chase, fight scene, and beautiful women, including the beautiful Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder.

The star of the film though is Sean Connery.  No doubt, we all know what a great actor he is now, but back then, he was basically unknown besides a few roles.  In fact, he was so unlike Ian Fleming's depiction of Bond, that he was almost passed over until fate changed things.  Everyone has their own preference of Bond, but true fans will always know Connery is the best.  He's sexy, suave, smooth, charming, but at the same time, you know he's knowledgeable and can kick your ass.  Not to mention, his dialogue and accent play well to the character, and he has unbelievable chemistry with everyone in the cast as they'll tell you.  "Dr. No" has some memorable moments, but none more memorable than this one (which reminds me of how Alfred Hitchcock introduces characters in some of his films).

The immortal introduction and soundtrack

So overall, "Dr. No" is a good Bond film.  Not great compared to "From Russia With Love" or "Goldfinger" because the villain doesn't appear much in the film (among some other small flaws), but it's a good introduction to the franchise.  I know some of you are wondering why I gave such a high grade to a "good" film, but my answer is because of the way the film made me feel then, and how it makes me feel now.  After seeing "Dr. No" as a child, I was obsessed with Bond to the point that I played James Bond at the playground more than tag.  Because I'm older, I'm not as addicted to Bond as I was then, but I still love it, and wish I could be him (or at least Sean Connery for that matter).  I know that's impossible, but I can still dream, and "Dr. No" was the first film to get me started on that.  The James Bond franchise may be 50 years old now, but "Dr. No" shows the attraction people have to him, and why he still matters to film lovers everywhere.