James Bond in review - Dr No (Terence Young, 1962)

"If you carry a 00 number it means you're licenced to kill, not get killed

[...] You'll carry the Walther"

It's that age old thing. When you're beginning what will inevitably become a film franchise, just how do you begin in style? A good director's guide would be to study the attention to detail, panache and charming subtlety brought to the proceedings in this first film adaptation of Ian Fleming's world famous secret agent. Dr No is the perfect cocktail of elegance, sophistication and glamour, with some great humour thrown in for good measure. When asked what were the three main ingredients of Dr No, director Terence Young was later quoted as saying "Sean Connery, Sean Connery, Sean Connery" which in all honesty is the general fan consensus. The truth however is that Connery was a relatively unknown actor prior to Bond; his biggest film, which producer Broccoli and his wife saw prior to casting him, was Darby O'Gill and the Little People in 1959. Fast forward just three years and Connery begins what will undoubtedly be the most profitable years of his career as the 007 that a generation remembers. From unknown to world famous character. It was Terence Young who was to thank for modelling Connery to fit Fleming's character persona of the novels. The man is debonair, a womaniser and utterly charming and this is well evidenced on screen.

Sean Connery introducing himself at the Chemin de Fer table with the immortal line

It is fair to say that films were not like this in the years preceeding its 1962 release. Women were not presented as provocatively as Miss Taro draped across a bed wearing only a towel or displayed with such vivacity as Ursula Andress' Honey Ryder, the benchmark for Bond girls to come, emerging iconically from the sea sporting that indelible multi purpose white bikini. Bond broke new filmic ground and the success of the first few Connery films is largely the reason for the massive popularity of Bond nearly half a century later. All the characters are very well rounded and nothing is over the top, especially where humour and lavish sets are concerned, as they would become in later entries in the series. Connery's portrayal of Bond is, at times, a little timid and unassured in his debut outing but that is understandable - the success or failure of the film would ultimately rest on his head, the protagonist, the man with his face on all the billboards. Connery manages to make an indelible mark on audiences and it's no real surprise that the film, made on what can only be described today as a shoestring budget of £1 million, made around 50 times this in ticket sales.

Ursula Andress is still the woman to beat as the beautiful Honey Ryder

Dr No is ultimately a pleasure to watch, particularly if you are watching it in its new HD transfer from Lowry. The quality is crisp, the style is quite inimitable and the passion of the filmmakers is infectious. Every penny was clearly well spent in making sure that Bond would live to 'die another day.' Bond mania was about to begin and it hasn't given in yet, thankfully.

James Bond will return... (in the next review)

Bob Simmons, stunt performer, doubles for Connery to achieve the first opening gun barrel shot of the series