From Russia with Love

To avenge the murder of one of their men Dr. No, international crime syndicate SPECTRE have Soviet spy-mistress Rosa Klebb (Lotte Lenya) and lunatic Red Grant (Robert Shaw) execute a plan to murder British agent 007, James Bond. 

"From Russia with Love," released in 1963, is the second James Bond movie, and still one of the best. Kim Newman stated in her review, "It opens with a classic piece of misdirection as Connery’s super-agent is found in the middle of a dangerous mission, and then swiftly killed by hard man Robert Shaw – but this turns out to be a test run with a Bond lookalike, and we’re into a diabolically clever scheme to lure 007 to his doom and only incidentally serve the strategic interests of the Soviet Union." 

Newman goes on to say, "It’s a long chase scene, studded with memorable set-pieces: the hair-pulling gypsy cat-fight between (Vida) Aliza Gur and (Zora) Martine Beswick, Bond tumbling to the fact that the villain is only impersonating an English officer and gentleman because he orders the wrong wine with fish (and then throttles him with a trick briefcase), Hitchcockian cat-and-mouse with an attack helicopter, and an attack by the wonderful Lotte Lenya with a poisoned shoe." 

Daniela Bianchi isn't one of the more memorable Bond girls, which is sad because her character is supposed to have been picked for the mission due to her appeal to Bond, but Bernard Lee and Lois Maxwell continue to further their regular roles as M and Miss Moneypenny and Desmond Llwewllyn makes his first appearance as Q. 

Seen only in shadow, the boss of SPECTRE, cat-stroking Blofeld is played by Anthony Dawson and dubbed by Eric Pohlmann – but he would not be seen in "Goldfinger," Blofeld's rancor with Bond would be a continuing story arc from "Dr. No" to "Diamonds Are Forever." Newman mentioned, "Monty Norman’s Bond theme recurs, but we also get the first Bond hit song – Matt Monro’s balaleika-scored title number." 

This is one of the franchise's best, and if the dated action can be excused, this is also an intense cold war movie. See it if you have already seen "Dr. No," since it's also, an amazing movie, and if you liked "Dr. No." In fact, all of the Bond movies that star Connery are some of the best, but we'll see more on that further in the week. 

Check in tomorrow to look at the next entry in "James Bond Month."