Is From Russia With Love the BEST Bond Film?
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- Опубліковано 7 сер 2023
- In the ongoing debate of which Bond film is the best, this video delves into the reasons WHY this may be the best 007 outing ever. I discuss a renewed watching experience that left me both shaken an stirred but also very contemplative about the impact this film has had on the entire franchise. Whether you love this movie, or its lower in your ranking list (gasp), you will enjoy this fun and sometimes funny video....
#jamesbond #007 #seanconnery #thebondexperience #fromrussiawithlove
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When David is not running an advertising and marketing company, his hobby is The Bond Experience which is primarily a video blog where he discusses Bond experiences and the people and brands that help to create those experiences...
The mantra of living like Bond, one moment at a time emanates from a concept of experiencing the joy of collecting small moments in life that add up to amazing journeys and stories....whether it's through style, locations, literature, fitness, and the movies themselves the world of Bond is explored through its people and their stories.
Ultimately though, The Bond Experience channel is a celebration of the James Bond franchise and the many people that form a true community. Our core mission is to create a strong connection in the Bond community amongst all the fans, regardless of interest or demographic.
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The Bond Experience is not affiliated with any James Bond copyright holder and is an unofficial entity. - Навчання та стиль
As a child I thought it dull, but as an adult, it shares top spot with Casino Royale. The movie feels intimate, grounded, realistic.
Which one?
Agreed. As a child it seemed slow. It's been no.1 for many years now though.
Exactly!
Pretty much exactly how it went for me too.
@@FehadBilgramiChannel11967 the goated one
What I love is when Bond combines a gadget with his wits. The briefcase didn’t save Bond by itself, he used body language so fool Grant into opening it himself and took advantage of his moment to strike. He didn’t just press a button and win.
So glad you pointed this out. Being older, i notice more things like that. Connery’s purposely showing body language/the way he says “i’ll have a look”, rushing for his briefcase made it look like he was maybe going to grab a walther, thus making Grant want to open it himself.
@@mcniff1012 Not sure if that was Fleming’s genius, as I never read the book so I dont know how the fight went down then, but whoever did write that idea props to them 100%
…the pauses, the lighting, the camera angle. It was all focused on ordering a red wine with fish, and Bond mentioned it minutes later.
FRWL is definitely my #1 Bond film. No hesitation! I think it combines everything that makes Bond great: A pretty faithful Fleming adaptation, Sean Connery on top form, my favourite set of supporting characters, classic John Barry score and the whole Orient Express sequence.
Good points!
This was the first Bond film I ever saw. The reason? It was my Dad's favourite, and he sat me down when I was 7 or 8 and we watched it together on TV. It means so much to me.
Yes. Bond in its purest form
This one, Licence to Kill, The Living Daylights, OHMSS, and Casino Royale are my favorites
Love your film choices, I love Dalton’s Bond.
you sir have great 007 taste!
While Thunderball is my favorite Connery film, I absolutely agree that FRWL is a quintessential Bond movie, the story, the gadgets, the locations and solid acting just really makes it great. Awesome video David!
FRWL and Thunderball are my favourite overall Bond films. Great choices.
Best one liner in FRWL has to be when Bond says 'I`d say one of their aircraft is missing' after he takes down the SPECTRE helicopter.
It was this film being on Netflix that made me really understand how much I liked Bond. That's why it is my second favorite.
You are right in terms of how critical it was to what came after. The producers had collateralised the first 2 movies profit wise with the studio to get the deal to make them. The story is taut with well fleshed out characters for Bond to relate to shot in great locations. Always been No 1 for me.
Agreed Russia with Love is one of my favourites. Everything works together the storyline,, music characters are very realistic. Daniela Bianchi is once of the most beautiful and feminine Bond Girls that has ever been, I loved Pedro Armendáriz too. Bond was at his most masculine and brutal too. Just what you expect from James Bond.
The list of goodness is endless!
Pedro's performance was astonishing really, considering how ill he was.
You touched on something that l've always appreciated about Connery as Bond. He oozed a sense of impending danger in some circumstances that no other actor has ever come close to.
RE-RAAANK!!! Even if everything stays the same it's still great to hear you comment on every film and provide new insight to consider the next time I'm re-watching them. Also whole-heartedly agree on your new appreciation for FRWL, even the song has jumped up in my rankings and one of my go to's if I'm in the mood for a Bond track.
“Cemented” is the right word for me. Age 10 in 1963, my first Bond movie in a theater. Walking out of the air-conditioned theater into the bright hot sunlight I felt I could conquer the world lol. There’s nothing that matches “the fight scene on the train.” FRWL set the gold standard for me.
Man I absolutely love your channel. A great combination of class and passion. Love hearing your unique perspective
I've always loved this one. My favorite Connery outing, with Thunderball being a close second.
My favorite top 5
1 On Her Majesty's Secret Service
2 Thunderball
3 Goldfinger
4 From Russia With Love
5 Dr. No
One of my favorites, also great video. Now I want to rewatch it again.
Also, I find it interesting that my favorite Bond actors (Connery, Dalton, Craig) all list From Russia With Love as their favorite Bond film.
It’s
You bring an amazing amount of enthusiasm and excitement to Bond fans around the world. Even at the events we aren’t attending in person, your coverage helps us experience much of the fun as well. Thank you for sharing your passion with us!
THANLS FOR INFO!👍
David… This was an excellent review! So on target! This is why you are literally “thebondexperience” so knowledgeable and your insight on looking at this film is spot on!
Great video David. Very entertaining and informative....now I wouldn't say that 'From Russia With Love' is my favorite James Bond film of all time personally (I'm more partial to both several Roger Moore & Timothy Dalton Bond films myself...them both being the Bonds I grew up with and I tend to rank some of their Bond films slightly higher over some of Connery's Bond films - that's just me though) BUT in my own personal opinion, F.R.W.L. is one the best 60s, cold war espionage, spy thrillers of all time (both within the Bond series and of other spy related films that came out around that time as well). Still, without any doubt, it is a very good Bond movie. The action is entertaining, Connery is in top form here, his leading lady was hubba-hubba, his other co-stars were memorable, Red Grant gave me the chills and was a worthy threat to Bond, the plot is top notch & well paced and the Bond formula really came together there for an intriguing spy adventure. I have zero issues with including it in any James Bond movie marathon that I may rewatch. I rank it as one of my top 10 James Bond films within the franchise. Just my two cents 😁✌️
Great video as always. I really enjoyed this movie and is my favourite 007 novel.
Definitely one of the best. The train fight with Robert Shaw is a classic and very intense, even by todays standard.
I will say it's my favorite. Just classic spy thriller all the way. I've always loved the gritty look and feel of it. Was only the second bond film as the trailer stated, but for me connery is arguably PEAK connery here. Already comfortable in the role like a tailored suit
David, you are the man! Thanks for another great video. Please consider interviewing the For New Eyes Only guys from the VHS Files channel. They are doing a very good show where one die hard Bond fan goes through each film in order with a friend who is a film buff but has only seen the Craig movies and View To A Kill. It’s a fun concept and a highly entertaining and underrated show
As always, a great discussion! You make so many good and valid points. And I have to admit, From Russia With Love is way up there on my list of favorite Bond movies. Thanks again for another fun video!
my favourite since child, wish they'd shot a couple more of these serious thrillers before the bondmania led the films to Bigger than life territories. congrats for your Epiphany and your channel!
You made me very happy aa FRWL has been my top Bond movie ever since I watched it, like you, in the right format and circumstances. And it has a rewatch potential way higher than any other film in the franchise.
It took a long time, but YOU finally understood :).
Just got tickets for the James Bond Spectacular at Indigo 02 on Sunday 15 October.. looking forward to it! Hopefully will be able to come over and say Hi and get a picture together! All the best David! Karim
I frequently rotate from FRWL to OHMSS as number one in my top five list. Skyfall is a third followed very closely by Casino Royale.It's very telling that the films that follow Fleming's source material the closest are the best films (Skyfall notwithstanding.)
Skyfall still checks out. Sure its not based on a Fleming plot, but Bond's characterization is pulled from Fleming hard. Bond's depression early on also felt pretty YOLT to me.
@@TheT3rr0rMask I agree.
Hey Daivd, saw your video and decided to rewatch FRWL and for me what a treat. For context we were up at our lakehouse and we had a grey day of weather and I decided to put this on and though the weather improved it kept us watching. For me I loved the setting in Istanbul, the spywork in the hotel, the lurking presence and phsycality of Red Grant, Bond's jovial ally in the film Kerim Bey, having Q branch and some callbacks to Dr No, and seeing the Orient Express. Daniela Bianchi was mesmerizing but I found after they got on the train her character became just a damsel in distress. I asked those who watched it with me what they thought and they did find the plot a little hard to follow and the disliked the slowness of the spectre scenes. To that they said why didn't Grant kill him earlier or what was the gypsy camp all about, why was the killing of Kronsteen so slow, the fish werent that scary. For me I could follow it fine and it was okay to get lost in the movie but I can understand how someone could get confused with what Spectre was trying to accomplish and it can be hard to top the killing of Spectre agents seen in later films or the exotic settings of spectre bases. My biggest criticism is it could be tightened up a little although I love explosions I am not sure the boat chase was necessarry after the helicopter sequence or maybe they could have combined the two. Definitely one of my favourites but like you not sure I would put it on the top.
I’m going to watch it again this evening you have sold it to me!
I appreciate your review and reflection. It's in my top 5!
I would submit that many of the characteristics of this film (like the danger you feel at times) are similar to how I feel about The Living Daylights (which I know you're not that high on).
By the way, I totally agree with you in Quantum of Solace. I'm one of the few who kinda loves that movie.
well they made FRWL into a video game so it must be great :)
First time here, but is that a SMP on Bond bracelet I “spy” on your left wrist, David? Well done.
This was my first Bond film I saw in the theater, I’ve always loved it!
Thanks for a great vlog as always. From Russia With Love is certainly a favourite, Goldfinger will always be #1 for me as it was the first Bond movie I saw in the theatre, but From Russia with Love ranks right up there for me with OHMSS.
The train scene. My god. Perfection.
Always loved it! Even as a teen, I felt this was likely more realistic than most. I think Rosa Klebb's shoes are the most under rated gadget and most realistic. I think it's always been in my top 5. Once I heard the backstory of Pedro Armendarez's filming despite his illness, and Peter Hunt's editing magic to make the story work on the commentary, I had even more respect for it.
My Dad took me to all the Connery Bond double-bills at the cinema in the 60s (many times!).
He always thought I would find FRWL dull, but I loved it (even as a 7-year-old). The associated toys and games in the 60s were so special. Still love FRWL as my #1 Bond film today. There is something so special about Dr No and FRWL.
Hi David, love your work and your commentary on Bond. I've loved the book and the film of From Russia with Love for yonks, and I would argue that it is the nexus of Fleming and Connery getting Bond right!
Your linking From Russia with Empire is spot on. The quality of number 2 determines the trajectory of any franchise. If you can overcome the sophomore slump, your future prospects are exponentially better.
Last night I watched FRWL and Goldfinger back to back, and I was surprised how much more invested I was in FRWL. It’s been my second favorite Bond film behind Casino Royale for a while, and Goldfinger has always been in my top ten. Both films are fantastic in their own ways and I am always excited when I get to watch them.
Thanks Dave. I love this movie 😊
My personal favourite
Great video! I❤ FRWL!
just rewatched from russia with love 2 days ago. truly one of the great. bond wouldn't be bond without that one. don't know about top 3 but definitely in my top 5
Great video, as always! David, don't forget to do with Calvin Dyson "Goldfinger" & "DAF" & "LALD" & "TMWTGG" & "TSWLM" & "NSNA" Fan Debate/Discussion! *** Now, about FRWL(1963). Everything you said is true. FRWL is a very important James Bond film. Great film. However, it's not in my Top-10. I'm so sorry! I don't know exactly what's wrong with it... Maybe that gypsy camp scene bothers me too much? Maybe the movie is too serious overall? Or too old fashioned? One thing is for sure: it has too many climaxes/endings... *** My Top-10 is: 1965, 1967, 1969, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1995. *** By the way, when you, David, make a new Top-25, don't overestimate Daniel Craig this time, okay? "Spectre"(2015) and "NTTD"(2021) are the worst Bond movies ever!!!
I'd say yes, it's Sean Connery at his absolute best acting and it's the most Cold War spy thriller the movies ever got. It's the movie that formally introduced us to SPECTRE, gave us the first real and maybe the best Bond henchman, Red Grant, gave us the best Bond girl, Daniela Bianchi as Tatiana, and gave us maybe the best Bond ally ever, Karim Bey. The movie is a solid 10/10.
Now you need to talk about Live and Let Die. It celebrating 50 years anniversary. From Russia with Love is my personal favorite of Sean Connery. Always liked it when I was little boy, wow, it’s so intriguing and great espionage story.
"It just isn't your day, is it?" - one of my favourite one-liners 😂
It’s been my number 2 forever. That may change in a good way!
Currently sitting pretty at #4 in my rankings - but as you (repeatedly) mentioned - ranking Bond films is a movable feast.
I'm rewatching it even as I type this. My top 8 are:
8: Goldeneye
7: Octopussy
6: For Your Eyes Only
5: Dr. No
4. From Russia With Love
3: Tomorrow Never Dies
2: The Living Daylights
1: Thunderball
absolutely my favourite 007 film. Great script, paint, editing and you're right, all the tropes are here. Watch it and drink it all in viewers!!!
Sort of funny how Call Me Bwana, whose poster plays a key role in FRWL, was produced by Broccoli: a case of the co-producer placing his own product in another one of his films...
This is one of the films that has grown on me with time
Completely agree! For me, FRWL comes right after CR as the top two Bond films. They are the only ones I consider to be “perfect”, transcending their genre and maintaining a classic, timeless feel.
Agreed fully, it's a very slick, dark and sophisticated film almost gothic in look and suspense. I love it and that early Bond Universe.
OHMSS and FRWL have been my top 2 since 1998 when I first got into Bond
David, before that Star Wars analogy popped up I was thinking that From Russia With Love is the Empire Strikes Back to Dr No’s Star Wars (A New Hope).
FRWL is one of THE very best Bond films in mine and a lot of of peoples opinions. It’s right up there. Sean looking as good as he ever has, Red Grant being one of the best badass baddies (whilst reminding me of my dad) and a story that is as good as any Bond story put to screen. Love this film. Amazing!
The best Bond film for sure! Has been in my number 1 spot for years now. Great to hear the love for it :)
This is easily top 4 for me. I was a late start to the series. I remember Spike tv playing the Bond movie marathons on thanksgiving and Christmas. I spent so much time watching them and falling in love with the franchise, especially From Russia with Love. In 2002, at 16 years old, there was just something cool about watching Bond checking his hotel room for bugs with the bombastic Bond theme playing. To this day I still kick this movie on during the holidays and brings me back to being that 16 year old kid watching it for the first time.
I like the one with Jaws 🤖 🤣 my fave
I think it's a pretty faithful adaptation of one of Fleming's better novels, even with the addition of SPECTRE. The movie does lean on North by Northwest. Many note the helicopter attack on Connery and its similarity to the cropduster sequence of NxNW. But From Russia With Love borrows another technique. In NxNW, Cary Grant finally gets caught up by Leo G. Carroll on the tarmac of the Chicago airport. Rather than have a lot of explanatory dialogue, screenwriter Ernest Lehman had a lot of airplane noises. The audience already knows what Leo G. Carroll must be saying. In FRWL, the audience witnesses the recognition phrase twice. So when it comes into play two more times (Grant intercepts Capt. Nash, Grant then impersonates Nash to Bond), we get train station noises because we *know* the phrase.
Great video. FRWL has always been one of my favorites. It’s a terrific movie that you don’t have to be a Bond junkie to enjoy. It has all the Fleming Cold War elements and Connery at the peak of his cool. Exotic locations, great clothes, beautiful women (underrated Bond girl), train battle, suspense, a villain equal to Bond, etc. To me the top three are OHMSS, FRWL and Casino Royale.
I think as ideas are kicked around and period piece Bond is noted you realize the importance of this film. Why set Bond in the past if not for the Cold War espionage? This film captures that better than any Bond movie, I believe.
Thanks for making your case. I was already on your side but it’s good to note for those fans who are younger or may have just forgotten FRWL.
Interesting to put the movie in context of the time at release and the sequence in the series. It made me reflect that FRWL perhaps defined the Bond movie format. I also like to consider if it has stood the test of time. Is it still relevant today despite it’s age? I’ll have to re-watch it to find out! Is there anyone who likes a view to a kill?
It’s in my top five for sure.
It definitely feels the “classiest” out of all of them it that makes sense. Its just perfect quintessential 007 that has everything youd want in a spy film in general. Sean Connery always said this one was his favorite which is saying quite a bit considering he didnt like playing bond so much after a while, basically to the point of resentment toward the character 😂
I wouldn’t say it’s the best film of the franchise but for me it definitely does the best job of capturing the sense of espionage and intrigue of the Cold War era, really what Fleming would have envisaged the character to be in many ways. Definitely in my Top 5 though. Great video as always David
Nice Gingham Shirt, David!
From Russia With Love is hands down the best Bond film of all time (and not just my personal favorite). It has everything a Bond film should have.
I’d say FRWL & GF are the “yin & yang” of what a Bond film should be. Neither has all the elements… but together they cover and set the tone for these elements.
#truth
Absolutely correct !!!,
I’m away in Lindos on holiday and reading the old books and I’m halfway though this book and so far it’s very similar to the movie unlike say Moonraker which I read last week
It is also my favourite Bond movie 🎉🎉❤😊 I always thinks it’s so sad when Kerim Bay died..
David, thanks for the introduction for what I hope will be a string of videos on this movie.
If you are old enough to have seen the movie when it came out (or shortly after the premiere in my case), it was jaw dropping.
It was also the one closest to the Fleming novel- other than the ending. It is easy to forget that Col. Klebb wins the fight with Bond, wounds him and the book ends with the question: Is Bond finished? I suppose that wasn’t an EON goal (at the time…).
It is the best Bond movie for this Cold Warrior. No doubt in my mind.
Cheers!
JR Seeger
FRWL is outstanding! 🙌🏻
It’s ranked 2nd in my ranking. Thunderball is my number one but From Russia with Love is a terrific film & I have suddenly got a hankering to rewatch it.
Great movie. Great atmosphere.
Gotta say, the video game had an influence on some Bond fans of my generation.
A very interesting analysis David. As always, this was entertaining and insightful.
I regard From Russia With Love as one of the best bond movies (am I right in believing it was Connery's favorite?). It was one of the first bond movies, along with Live and Let Die, that I saw. Even as a child I loved it. The point you made about this being the one that cemented the franchise I think is correct, Dr. No could have just been a fluke like you said and if this one would had a lukewarm reception, or worse still had been a flop, there's no way bond would be the over 60 year old franchise it is today.
When it comes to A view to a kill It's clearly not one of the greatest bond films but at the same time I think it's better then what it is given credit for. Zorin and May Day are great villains and the film is quite entertaining. Sure, Roger's age is beginning to show a little by this one but I still think it (Just about) works. :)
you are right about sean
Always been one of my favourites - I even went to Istanbul to “be Bond”
I appreciate you dressing up, David
It's certainly one of my favourites.
Will we be seeing from videos in the future regarding the style in the film - perhaps a collaboration with Mason and Sons w/ their 60th Bond Anniversary releases?
I, personally, think so: Rosa Klebb, Spectre, Tatiana, the sequence in the Orient Express, "Red" Grant, the quasi-cameo of Martine Beswick... 🤗
It was Connery's favorite but Goldfinger is my personal favorite with Casino Royale a close second
On target, David. In my younger days I didn't appreciate it, in fact this was the last of the Connery's 007 films I saw. Years after that first viewing I now see this movie as in my top five. It has everything as you stated. Was this the movie that fleshed out the Bond format we love or Goldfinger as is usually accepted? I think this film made it all possible and set that standard.
Just watched FRWL for the first time. So far it’s my favourite as I’ve decided to explore bond films! I’ve seen most Daniel Craig movies as they came out. Though was fairly young when Casio royale was released. A while back I watched Gold Finger and like that one a lot too. I’m thinking Dr. No is next. What do y’all recommend?
I feel like it's definitely the most intense spy film of the first 4 classics but I don't find myself seeking to rewatch this one as much as Dr. No and Goldfinger.
one, this is the only Bond movie to let the suspense build, instead of diffusing it. second, Robert Shaw is the most menacing bad guy in the whole series.
In my upper quartile of Bond movies for sure.
Totally with you, David: FRWL trumps Goldfinger in every way.
I always liked this movie, i think is an improvement over Dr. No, the story is more interesting, the main villain Robert Shaw is intimidating as hell, Connery is Excelent and looks more comfortable in the role and finally Daniela Bianki is gorgeous to this day. However it's not one of my personal favourites, i am bigger Roger Moore fan, and really the main and only reason is that it's needlessly long. I think it could be shorter and better if they had removed the hole gypsy subplot, it doesn't really add anything important to the story, it actually takes the focus away from the main plot that the movie spent the first 30 minutes to set up. Once it gets to the famous siduction scene it gets better and i can see why it's so beloved. A solid 7/10 for me
I recently watched all the films chronologically and was surprised by how much I loved this one.
Always found it a bit dull as a child, preferring the humour of Moore’s run & also loved Brosnan who was the Bond at that time, but rewatching it, it’s a masterpiece.
There’s something about the vibe of this film that’s indescribable. But I was watching on my own, no distractions, and was completely immersed
I think objectively its one of the best 'films' in the series, but I realise its not your typical 'Bond film'. It's your classic spy thriller rather than what followed with Goldfinger. With Connery, Bianchi, Shaw, Armendariz and Lenya, I would argue it has the best cast of any Bond film. Its one of Barry's best scores and Terence Young's best directorial effort, establishing what a Bond film is. It's up there without a doubt, but I get why modern viewers might feel alienated by it.
Always liked it but as a kid I wasn't too into Connery's run. The 80s and 90s films were more what I grew up with, and they're way more actions for sure. Nowadays FRWL tops my list, is proudly number 1, cemented further after reading all the Flemings. I agree with you, David, that it's superior to Goldfinger and its all down to the story, exotic location, and suspense. And Connery here, moreso than any other Bond, is so human. Not to take away from Craig or Dalton but Connery really did have the perfect cocktail of ingredients for Bond. I still love campy large-scale Bond but nothing beats the grounded adventures full of intrigue.
It was my number one for years until I rewatched thunderball a couple of years ago. I used to think thunderball was one of connery weakest but I Iove the scope of this film the way it was shot in wide-screen it really makes a difference. I love the over the top theme song by Tom Jones. Still I love from Russia with love which is my number 2 now.
It's so true that old Bond films had so much more tension and threat of danger/death. Even at Bond's most fantastical, it was still grounded enough to take it seriously. I'm talking pre-Dalton.
As probably one of the few on this channel who saw the film and Dr. No when they were first released, I can vouch for what David says about the trajectory of the franchise. FRWL was a big step up from Dr. No in terms of the production, and while Goldfinger took it all through the roof, FRWL delivered big time especially for those of us who had read the book... including the President of the United States!
Despite thinking FRWL waa boring as a kid, it's been my 3rd favourite Bond film for a long time now. Behind Majesty's and Casino.
It is a top 10 007 movie for sure!😊
Great movie and remarkably faithful to the book! Also doesn't have the camp that hurts some later films in the franchise...doesn't even order a martini!!
this is my Mother's favorite Bond movie!