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From Russia with Love

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From Russia with Love 1963 poster 6

From Russia with Love is a 1963 British spy film and the second film in the James Bond film series, and the second to star Sean Connery as Bond. Released in 1963 in the UK, the film earned over $78 million. It was written by Richard Maibaum and Johanna Harwood and was based on Ian Fleming's fifth Bond novel of the same name.

James Bond is sent to Istanbul on a mission to obtain a highly sought-after Lektor decoder device from stunning Russian defector Tatiana Romanova, but the spy's predicament is actually a ruse devised by crime cartel SPECTRE as an attempt to gain revenge for his previous killing of their operative, Dr. No.

Storyline[]

Plot[]

Agent 007 (Sean Connery) is back in the second installment of the James Bond series, this time battling a secret crime organization known as SPECTRE. Russians Rosa Klebb (Lotte Lenya) and Kronsteen are out to snatch a decoding device known as the Lektor, using the ravishing Tatiana (Daniela Bianchi) to lure Bond into helping them. Bond willingly travels to meet Tatiana in Istanbul, where he must rely on his wits to escape with his life in a series of deadly encounters with the enemy.

Genres[]

  • Action
  • Romance
  • Spy
  • Adventure
  • Thriller
  • Mystery
  • Crime Fiction

Motion Picture Rating[]

  • 18 (Argentina)
  • A (Argentina) (original rating)
  • PG (Australia) (1984, re-rating)
  • 12 (Brazil)
  • PG (Canada) (Manitoba/Ontario)
  • A (Canada) (Nova Scotia)
  • G (Canada) (Quebec)
  • 18 (Chile)
  • 15 (Denmark) (DVD and Blu-ray rating)
  • K-16 (Finland) (DVD and Blu-ray rating)
  • K-16 (Finland) (1984, uncut)
  • K-16 (Finland) (1978, cut)
  • K-16 (Finland) (1965, cut)
  • K-16 (Finland) (1964, cut)
  • (Banned) (Finland) (1964, uncut)
  • Tous publics (France)
  • 16 (Germany) (DVD rating)
  • 16 (Hungary)
  • 12 (Iceland)
  • UA (India) (re-rating)
  • A (India) (1965, original rating)
  • PG (Ireland)
  • PG (Ireland) (DVD rating)
  • VM14 (Italy) (original rating)
  • T (Italy) (re-rating)
  • G (Japan)
  • U (Malaysia)
  • A (Mexico)
  • 12 (Netherlands) (TV rating)
  • AL (Netherlands) (2000, DVD rating)
  • PG (New Zealand)
  • G (Nigeria)
  • 15 (Norway) (DVD and Blu-ray rating)
  • 9 (Norway) (recommended rating)
  • 16 (Norway) (1964, cinema rating)
  • 14 (Peru)
  • PG-13 (Philippines)
  • 12 (Poland) (self-applied)
  • M/12 (Portugal)
  • PG (Saudi Arabia)
  • 15 (South Korea)
  • 14 (Spain) (ICAA)
  • 15 (Sweden)
  • 15 (Sweden) (1992, uncut)
  • 7A (Turkey) (self-applied)
  • PG (UK)
  • PG (UK) (DVD rating)
  • A (UK) (original rating, passed with cuts)
  • PG (UK) (1987, re-rating, video)
  • PG (USA)
  • Approved (USA)
  • GP (USA) (1971, re-rating)
  • 12 (West Germany) (nf)

Images[]

Cast and Crew[]

Director[]

  • Terence Young

Writing Credits[]

  • Richard Maibaum (screenplay by)
  • Johanna Harwood (adapted by)

Cast[]

  • Sean Connery - James Bond
  • Daniela Bianchi - Tatiana
  • Pedro Armendáriz - Kerim Bey (as Pedro Armendariz)
  • Lotte Lenya - Rosa Klebb
  • Robert Shaw - Grant
  • Bernard Lee - 'M'
  • Eunice Gayson - Sylvia
  • Walter Gotell - Morzeny
  • Francis De Wolff - Vavra (as Francis de Wolff)
  • George Pastell - Train Conductor
  • Nadja Regin - Kerim's Girl
  • Lois Maxwell - Miss Moneypenny
  • Aliza Gur - Vida
  • Martine Beswick - Zora (as Martin Beswick)
  • Vladek Sheybal - Kronsteen
  • Anthony Dawson - Ernst Blofeld (as ?)
  • Lisa Guiraut - Gypsy Dancer (as Leila)
  • Hasan Ceylan - Foreign Agent
  • Fred Haggerty - Krilencu
  • Neville Jason - Kerim's Chauffeur
  • Peter Bayliss - Benz
  • Nusret Ataer - Mehmet (as Nushet Ataer)
  • Peter Brayham - Rhoda
  • Desmond Llewelyn - Boothroyd
  • Jan Williams - Masseuse
  • Peter Madden - Mc Adams

Other Cast (in alphabetical order)[]

  • Maria Antippas - Vavra's Woman (uncredited)
  • Aysha Barlas - Gypsy (uncredited)
  • Dorothea Bennett - Woman on Bridge in Venice (uncredited)
  • Paul Beradi - Chess Tournament Spectator (uncredited)
  • John Bindon - Airport Passerby (uncredited)
  • Ernest Blyth - Chess Tournament Spectator (uncredited)
  • Bill Brandon - Gypsy (uncredited)
  • Bulbon Brus - Irina (uncredited)
  • Alf Casha - Official (uncredited)
  • Susy Chang - Gypsy (uncredited)
  • Andre Charisse - Istanbul Hotel Concierge (uncredited)
  • Elizabeth Counsell - Woman in a Punt (uncredited)
  • Michael Culver - Man in a Punt (uncredited)
  • Hugo De Vernier - Istanbul Hotel Porter (uncredited)
  • Arlette Dobson - Istanbul Hotel Receptionist (uncredited)
  • Peter Evans - Man Buying Fruit (uncredited)
  • Moris Farhi - Gypsy (uncredited)
  • Chick Fowles - Chess Tournament Spectator (uncredited)
  • Tex Fuller - Henchman (uncredited)
  • Arthur Goodman - Train Passenger (uncredited)
  • Romo Gorrara - SPECTRE Trainee (uncredited)
  • Hilda Green - Woman Buying Fruit (uncredited)
  • Victor Harrington - Chess Tournament Spectator (uncredited)
  • Ronald Hatton - SPECTRE Helicopter Pilot (uncredited)
  • Laurence Herder - Russian Consulate Clerk (uncredited)
  • Jack Hetherington - Civilian Listening to Bond's Tape (uncredited)
  • William Hill - Captain Nash (uncredited)
  • Barbara Jefford - Tatiana Romanova (voice) (uncredited)
  • Juba Kennerley - Chess Tournament Spectator (uncredited)
  • John Ketteringham - Fake James Bond (uncredited)
  • Muhammat Kohen - Mosque Tour Guide (uncredited)
  • Aileen Lewis - Chess Tournament Spectator (uncredited)
  • John Lynn - Gypsy (uncredited)
  • Alf Mangan - Gypsy (uncredited)
  • Louis Matto - Gypsy (uncredited)
  • Julie Mendez - Girl Dancing During Opening Titles (uncredited)
  • Manny Michael - Henchman (uncredited)
  • Geraldine Moffat - Gypsy (uncredited)
  • Maitland Moss - Chess Umpire (uncredited)
  • Jim O'Brady - Krilencu's Henchman (uncredited)
  • George Oliver - Civilian Listening to Bond's Tape (uncredited)
  • Cecil Paul - Ministry Official (uncredited)
  • Harry Phipps - Gypsy (uncredited)
  • Henry Phipps - Gypsy (uncredited)
  • Dido Plumb - Gypsy (uncredited)
  • Eric Pohlmann - Ernst Stavro Blofeld (voice) (uncredited)
  • Ernie Rice - Gypsy (uncredited)
  • Pat Ryan - Naval Officer Listening to Bond's Tape (uncredited)
  • Jacqueline Saltzman - Train Passenger (uncredited)
  • Ivan Santon - Chess Tournament Board Monitor (uncredited)
  • Rifat Shenel - Dining Car Waiter (uncredited)
  • Bob Simmons - James Bond in Gunbarrel Sequence (uncredited)
  • Ulker Solzo - Natasha (uncredited)
  • Gordon Sterne - SPECTRE Helicopter Pilot (uncredited)
  • William F. Sully - Russian Consolate Doorman (uncredited)
  • Oliver Tomlin - Chess Tournament Official (uncredited)
  • Peter Twiss - Morzeny's Driver (uncredited)
  • James Ure - Chess Tournament Spectator (uncredited)
  • Nikki Van der Zyl - Sylvia Trench / Receptionist (voice) (uncredited)
  • Sonnie Willis - Army Officer (uncredited)
  • Fred Wood - Gypsy (uncredited)
  • Terence Young - Writer of 'From Russia with Love' on Photo (uncredited)
  • Bedri Çavusoglu - Turkish Policeman (uncredited)

Producers[]

  • Albert R. Broccoli (produced by)
  • Harry Saltzman (produced by)

Details[]

Countries[]

  • UK
  • USA

Language[]

  • English
  • Italian

Release Dates[]

  • October 10, 1963 (UK) (London) (premiere)
  • October 10, 1963 (Poland)
  • October 11, 1963 (UK) (London)
  • October 25, 1963 (UK)
  • December 20, 1963 (Denmark)
  • January 31, 1964 (Italy)
  • February 7, 1964 (Norway)
  • March 31, 1964 (Sweden)
  • April 3, 1964 (Austria)
  • April 8, 1964 (USA) (New York City, New York)
  • April 16, 1964 (Australia)
  • April 25, 1964 (Japan)
  • April 27, 1964 (Brazil)
  • April 30, 1964 (Argentina)
  • May 27, 1964 (Greece)
  • May 27, 1964 (Portugal)
  • May 27, 1964 (USA)
  • June 11, 1964 (Hong Kong)
  • July 9, 1964 (Netherlands)
  • July 30, 1964 (France)
  • August 14, 1964 (Denmark) (re-release)
  • August 14, 1964 (Finland)
  • September 28, 1964 (Spain) (Madrid)
  • October 12, 1964 (Spain) (Barcelona)
  • October 22, 1964 (Uruguay)
  • December 14, 1964 (Spain) (Barcelona)
  • May 17, 1965 (Denmark) (re-release)
  • July 29, 1965 (Mexico)
  • October 1, 1965 (Belgium) (Gent)
  • November 19, 1965 (Turkey)
  • February 6, 1966 (UK) (re-release)
  • October 14, 1971 (Argentina) (re-release)
  • September 20, 1974 (Spain) (re-release)
  • June 30, 1978 (Finland) (re-release)
  • October 23, 1986 (Norway) (re-release)
  • December 25, 2001 (Russia) (DVD premiere)
  • October 6, 2006 (Czechia) (DVD premiere)
  • September 20, 2009 (UK) (Cambridge) (Cambridge Film Festival)
  • September 14, 2015 (Singapore) (Blu Ray release)
  • September 15, 2015 (Canada) (DVD premiere)
  • September 25, 2015 (Philippines) (internet)
  • August 25, 2017 (Chile) (re-release) (limited: Cine UC)

Also Known As[]

  • From Russia with Love (original title)
  • De Rusia con amor (Argentina)
  • 007: From Russia with Love (Australia) (alternative title)
  • From Russia with Love (Australia)
  • A 007, dalla Russia con amore (Italy)
  • Ian Fleming's from Russia with Love (UK) (alternative title)
  • From Russia with Love (UK)

Production[]

Following the financial success of Dr. No, United Artists greenlit a second James Bond film. The studio doubled the budget offered to Eon Productions with $2 million, and also approved a bonus for Sean Connery, who would receive $100,000 along with his $54,000 salary. As President John F. Kennedy had named Fleming's novel From Russia, with Love among his ten favourite books of all time in Life magazine, producers Broccoli and Saltzman chose this as the follow-up to Bond's cinematic debut in Dr. No. The comma in the title of Fleming's novel was dropped for the film title. From Russia with Love was the last film President Kennedy saw at the White House on 20 November 1963 before going to Dallas. Most of the crew from the first film returned, with major exceptions being production designer Ken Adam, who went to work on Dr. Strangelove and was replaced by Dr. No's art director Syd Cain; title designer Maurice Binder was replaced by Robert Brownjohn, and stunt coordinator Bob Simmons was unavailable and was replaced by Peter Perkins though Simmons performed stunts in the film. John Barry replaced Monty Norman as composer of the soundtrack.

The film introduced several conventions which would become essential elements of the series: a pre-title sequence, the Blofeld character (referred to in the film only as "Number 1", though Blofeld is mentioned in the end credits, with the actor labeled as "?"), a secret-weapon gadget for Bond, a helicopter sequence (repeated in every subsequent Bond film except The Man with the Golden Gun), a postscript action scene after the main climax, a theme song with lyrics, and the line "James Bond will return/be back" in the credits.

Writing[]

Ian Fleming's novel was a Cold War thriller but the producers replaced the Soviet undercover agency SMERSH with the crime syndicate SPECTRE so as to avoid controversial political overtones. The SPECTRE training grounds were inspired by the film Spartacus. The original screenwriter was Len Deighton, who accompanied Harry Saltzman, Syd Cain, and Terence Young to Istanbul, but he was replaced because of a lack of progress. Thus, two of Dr. No's writers, Johanna Harwood and Richard Maibaum, returned for the second film in the series. Some sources state Harwood was credited for the "adaptation" mostly for her suggestions, which were carried over into Maibaum's script. Harwood stated in an interview for Cinema Retro that she had been a screenwriter of several of Harry Saltzman's projects, and her screenplay for From Russia with Love had followed Fleming's novel closely, but she left the series due to what she called Terence Young's constant rewriting of her screenplay with ideas that were not in the original Fleming work. Maibaum kept on making rewrites as filming progressed. Red Grant was added to the Istanbul scenes just prior to the film crew's trip to Turkey; this brought more focus to the SPECTRE plot, as Grant started saving Bond's life there (a late change during shooting involved Grant killing the bespectacled spy at Hagia Sophia instead of Bond, who ends up just finding the man dead). For the last quarter of the movie, Maibaum added two chase scenes, with a helicopter and speedboats, and changed the location of Bond and Klebb's battle from Paris to Venice. Uncredited rewrites were contributed by Berkely Mather.

Casting[]

Although uncredited, the actor who played Number 1 was Anthony Dawson, who had played Professor Dent in the previous Bond film, Dr. No, and appeared in several of Terence Young's films. In the end credits, Blofeld is credited with a question mark. Blofeld's lines were redubbed by Viennese actor Eric Pohlmann in the final cut. Peter Burton was unavailable to return as Major Boothroyd, so Desmond Llewelyn, a Welsh actor who was a fan of the Bond comic strip published in the Daily Express, accepted the part. However, screen credit for Llewelyn was omitted at the opening of the film and is reserved for the exit credits, where he is credited simply as "Boothroyd". Llewelyn's character is not referred to by this name in dialogue, but M does introduce him as being from Q Branch. Llewelyn remained as the character, better known as Q, in all but one of the series' films until his death in 1999.

Several actresses were considered for the role of Tatiana, including Italians Sylva Koscina and Virna Lisi, Danish actress Annette Vadim, Polish actress Magda Konopka, Swedish actress Pia Lindström, and English-born Tania Mallet. Elga Gimba Andersson was nearly cast in the role but was fired after refusing to have sex with a United Artists executive. 1960 Miss Universe runner-up Daniela Bianchi was ultimately cast, supposedly Sean Connery's choice. Bianchi started taking English classes for the role, but the producers ultimately chose to have her lines redubbed by British stage actress Barbara Jefford in the final cut. The scene in which Bond finds Tatiana in his hotel bed was used for Bianchi's screen test, with Dawson standing in, this time, as Bond. The scene later became the traditional screen test scene for prospective James Bond actors and Bond Girls. In her initial scene with Klebb, Tatiana refers to training for the ballet, referencing the actress's real life background.

Greek actress Katina Paxinou was originally considered for the role of Rosa Klebb, but was unavailable. Terence Young cast Austrian singer Lotte Lenya after hearing one of her musical recordings. Young wanted Kronsteen's portrayer to be "an actor with a remarkable face", so the minor character would be well remembered by audiences. This led to the casting of Vladek Sheybal, whom Young also considered convincing as an intellectual. Sheybal was initially hesitant to take the role but was convinced by Connery's girlfriend Diane Cilento. Several women were tested for the roles of Vida and Zora, the two fighting Gypsy girls, and after Aliza Gur and Martine Beswick were cast, they spent six weeks practising their fight choreography with stunt work arranger Peter Perkins. Beswick was mis-credited as 'Martin Beswick' in the film's opening titles, but this error was fixed for the 2001 DVD release.

Mexican actor Pedro Armendáriz was recommended to Young by director John Ford to play Kerim Bey. After experiencing increasing discomfort on location in Istanbul, Armendáriz was diagnosed with inoperable cancer. Filming in Istanbul was terminated, the production moved to Britain, and Armendáriz's scenes were brought forward so that he could complete his scenes without delay. Though visibly in pain, he continued working as long as possible. When he could no longer work, he returned home and took his own life. Remaining shots after Armendáriz left London had a stunt double and Terence Young himself as stand-ins.

Englishman Joe Robinson was a strong contender for the role of Red Grant but it was given to Robert Shaw.

Filming[]

For the opening credits, Maurice Binder had disagreements with the producers and did not want to return. Designer Robert Brownjohn stepped into his place, and projected the credits on female dancers, inspired by constructivist artist László Moholy-Nagy projecting light onto clouds in the 1920s. Brownjohn's work started the tradition of scantily clad women in the Bond films' title sequences.

Release and reception[]

From Russia with Love premiered on 10 October 1963 at the Odeon Leicester Square in London. Ian Fleming, Sean Connery and Walter Gotell attended the premiere. The following year, it was released in 16 countries worldwide, with the United States premiere on 8 April 1964, at New York's Astor Theatre. Upon its first release, From Russia with Love doubled Dr. No's gross by earning $12.5 million ($109 million in 2021 dollars) at the worldwide box office. After reissue it grossed $78 million, of which $24 million was from North America. It was the most popular movie at the British box office in 1963.

The film's cinematographer Ted Moore won the BAFTA award and the British Society of Cinematographers award for Best Cinematography. At the 1965 Laurel Awards, Lotte Lenya stood third for Best Female Supporting Performance, and the film secured second place in the Action-Drama category. The film was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song for "From Russia with Love".

Contemporary reviews[]

In comparing the film to its predecessor, Dr. No, Richard Roud, writing in The Guardian, said that From Russia with Love "didn't seem quite so lively, quite so fresh, or quite so rhythmically fast-moving." He went on to say that "... the film is highly immoral in every imaginable way; it is neither uplifting, instructive nor life-enhancing. Neither is it great film-making. But it sure is fun." Writing in The Observer, Penelope Gilliatt noted that "The way the credits are done has the same self-mocking flamboyance as everything else in the picture." Gilliatt went on to say that the film manages "to keep up its own cracking pace, nearly all the way. The set-pieces are a stunning box of tricks". The critic for The Times wrote of Bond that he is "the secret ideal of the congenital square, conventional in every particular ... except in morality, where he has the courage—and the physical equipment—to do without thinking what most of us feel we might be doing ..." The critic thought that overall, "the nonsense is all very amiable and tongue-in-cheek and will no doubt make a fortune for its devisers".

Bosley Crowther of The New York Times wrote: "Don't miss it! This is to say, don't miss it if you can still get the least bit of fun out of lurid adventure fiction and pseudo-realistic fantasy. For this mad melodramatization of a desperate adventure of Bond with sinister characters in Istanbul and on the Orient Express is fictional exaggeration on a grand scale and in a dashing style, thoroughly illogical and improbable, but with tongue blithely wedged in cheek." Time magazine called the film "fast, smart, shrewdly directed and capably performed." Variety described the film as "a preposterous, skillful slab of hardhitting, sexy hokum. After a slowish start, it is directed by Terence Young at zingy pace. The cast perform with an amusing combo of tongue-in-cheek and seriousness and the Istanbul location is an added bonus."

Company Credits[]

Production Companies[]

  • Eon Productions (made by) (as Eon Productions Limited)

Distributors[]

Technical Specs[]

Runtime[]

  • 115 mins

Color[]

  • Color

Sound Mix[]

  • Mono (Westrex Recording System)
  • Dolby Digital (5.1 Surround)

Aspect Ratio[]

  • 1.66:1
  • 4:3 (Full screen prints, along with the film itself in open matte)

Trivia[]

  • The criminal organization SPECTRE was previously introduced in Dr. No by the title villain in that film, Dr. Julius No. That movie also establishes the villain's position as an operative of SPECTRE. In From Russia with Love, SPECTRE's pursuit of revenge upon James Bond for killing Dr. No makes this film a sequel to the previous James Bond film.
  • This film features the first appearance of Desmond Llewelyn as Major Boothroyd, known as Q, the character he would play in nearly all of the series' films, until his death in 1999. The Q character appeared in the previous film, Dr. No, but was portrayed by actor Peter Burton, and was never referred to as "Q" by M, who addressed the character as both "Armourer" and "Major Boothroyd".
  • Desmond Llewelyn appears here as "Q"/Major Boothroyd for the first time. Peter Burton played the character in Dr. No (1962). When Burton was unable to return for this movie, Llewelyn was cast. Llewelyn reprised the role of "Q" in 16 subsequent Bond movies (17 in all; he didn't appear in Live and Let Die (1973)). "Q" is referred to by his real name, Major Boothroyd, only in Dr. No (1962), this movie, and The Spy Who Loved Me (1977).
  • This film features the first appearance of Ernst Stavro Blofeld, leader of SPECTRE, although he wouldn't directly confront Bond until You Only Live Twice, the fifth film in the movie series.
  • Though From Russia with Love was filmed in the 1960s, before the invention of the pager, Bond carries one in this film, enabling MI6 to immediately contact him.
  • Eunice Gayson returns as Sylvia Trench, Bond's girlfriend from Dr. No. Although the original plan was for Sylvia to be a regular, like Miss Moneypenny, this was her final appearance. Although return appearances by other characters have been considered over the years, and notwithstanding a photo of Vesper Lynd appearing in Quantum of Solace, Sylvia remains to date the only Bond girl to make an encore appearance.
  • Reportedly, author and James Bond creator Ian Fleming makes a cameo in the Istanbul train scene (following Bond's stealing the LEKTOR decoder), standing outside on the right of the train, wearing grey trousers and a white sweater; some sources deny Fleming's appearance.
  • Pedro Armendáriz, who played Kerim Bey, was sick with cancer during the production, and committed suicide after filming was completed. His son, Pedro Armendáriz Jr., later portrayed the President of the Republic of Isthmus in Licence to Kill, the 1989 James Bond film.
  • Lotte Lenya's character, Colonel Rosa Klebb, often is cited as prototype of the Frau Farbissina character in the Austin Powers spy spoof series. Klebb would be the first of several Bond villains with ambiguous sexuality. Lotte Lenya was the widow of Kurt Weill. In the film "Undercover Blues" starring Dennis Quaid and Kathleen Turner, in the mock-torture scene, Dennis Quaid refers to Kathleen Turner (who was pretending to be a Russian doctor specializing in pain) as "Dr Lottelenya," a clear tribute to Lotte Lenya's portrayal of Rosa Klebb.
  • The Bulgarian assassin Krilencu tries to escape from his apartment through a secret window in a billboard advertising Call Me Bwana, the only non-James Bond film produced by EON Productions.
  • The "007" theme (the song played during the gunfight at the gypsy camp and also during Bond's theft of the LEKTOR) was used as part of the Eyewitness News format on Philadelphia television station KYW-TV.
  • A version of the haunting "Stalking" track -- from the pre-credit sequence of From Russia with Love involving Connery and Shaw -- appears in The Spy Who Loved Me, when Bond (Roger Moore) and Anya Amasova (Agent XXX, played by Barbara Bach) confront Richard Kiel's Jaws character at a historic site in Egypt. Ironically, Spy was scored not by Barry but Marvin Hamlisch, one of only four times Barry did not helm the Bond music arrangements in the first 16 United Artists installments.
  • Alfred Hitchcock was originally considered as director for the film version in 1958, with Cary Grant as Bond and Grace Kelly as Tatiana Romanova, but the deals fell through when the Hitchcock movie Vertigo performed badly at the box office. The helicopter scene in this film mimics a famous scene from the movie Hitchcock did instead, North by Northwest, in which the main character, played by Cary Grant, is chased by a cropduster.
  • Years after this film's release, the scene in which Bond first encounters Tatiana in his hotel room would often be used to screen-test actors for the James Bond and leading lady roles. While Sam Neil was being considered for the role of Bond in 1987's The Living Daylights, he acted in the scene with Maryam d'Abo as Tatiana Romanova (even before she won the role of Kara Milovy). Pierce Brosnan also acted out this scene for his screen test.
  • James Bond doesn't appear until seventeen minutes and fifteen seconds into the movie. Donald "Red" Grant's voice is first heard one hour and twenty minutes in.
  • One of three James Bond movies where Bond does not wear a tuxedo. The others being You Only Live Twice (1967) and Live and Let Die (1973). The tuxedo-clad Bond in the opening sequence is revealed to be a "live target" of the S.P.E.C.T.R.E. training school wearing a mask.
  • This was Pedro Armendáriz's final theatrical movie appearance.
  • According to the book "James Bond: A Celebration" (1987) by Peter Haining, "Jules Verne's Captain Nemo was the inspiration for (Ian) Fleming's Ernst Stavro Blofeld." The book states that the character "has his origins in Captain Nemo, the hate-fuelled rebel of Jules Verne's classic novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea (1870)". Blofeld was originally intended to be the villain in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977).
  • Sir Sean Connery appeared in Murder on the Orient Express (1974) which, like this movie, involves a murder on the famous train.
  • The pre-title sequence was shot in the grounds of Pinewood Studios, in particular, the distinct building Heatherden Hall. A popular part of the backlot, Heatherden Hall is a Grade II-listed, Victorian country house, and is used as offices, movie sets, and as a wedding venue. It, and the grounds, can also be better seen in daylight in the MGM movie version of another well-known (but non-James Bond) Ian Fleming book, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), amongst other movies and television series made at Pinewood Studios.
  • During the helicopter sequence toward the end of the movie, the inexperienced pilot flew too close to Sir Sean Connery, endangering him.
  • The boat chase at the end of the movie, although supposedly taking place in the Greek archipelago, was filmed in the west of Scotland. The pier, from which James Bond takes off, is at Lunga House, and the scene where the flaming barrels are thrown off the boat is in Loch Craignish Ardfern, Argyll.
  • First Bond movie to end with the declaration "James Bond will return in ...", in this case, it was Goldfinger (1964). A tradition that continued until it was used for the last time at the end of Octopussy (1983).
  • The movie opens and closes in Venice.
  • Final James Bond movie viewed by Ian Fleming.
  • Bond films in UK are shown on ITV. This film was also shown on BBC 2 as part of a series of films.
  • Steven Spielberg was convinced to cast Robert Shaw in Jaws (1975) after watching him in this movie.

Connections[]

Follows[]

Followed by[]

Edited into[]

  • The Protectors (1972) (TV Series) - Helicopter footage edited into title sequence
  • The Protectors: The Bridge (1974) (TV Episode) - Helicopter footage edited into title sequence
  • The Protectors: Sugar and Spice (1974) (TV Episode) - Helicopter footage edited into title sequence
  • The Protectors: Burning Bush (1974) (TV Episode) - Helicopter footage edited into title sequence
  • The Protectors: The Tiger and the Goat (1974) (TV Episode) - Helicopter footage edited into title sequence
  • The Protectors: Route 27 (1974) (TV Episode) - Helicopter footage edited into title sequence
  • The Protectors: Trial (1974) (TV Episode) - Helicopter footage edited into title sequence
  • The Protectors: Shadbolt (1974) (TV Episode) - Helicopter footage edited into title sequence
  • The Protectors: Wheels (1974) (TV Episode) - Helicopter footage edited into title sequence
  • The Protectors: The Insider (1974) (TV Episode) - Helicopter footage edited into title sequence
  • The Protectors: Blockbuster (1974) (TV Episode) - Helicopter footage edited into title sequence

References[]

  • Spartacus (1960) - The training centre on SPECTRE Island is based on the gladiator training scenes from Spartacus.
  • Dr. No (1962) - Mention of Bond's mission in Jamaica. Kronsteen suggests killing Bond in revenge for the death of SPECTRE operative Dr. No.

Referenced in[]

  • My Three Sons: From Maggie with Love (1966) (TV Episode) - Title reference.
  • On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
  • The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
  • Moonraker (1979) - Music playing during the boat chase is from "From Russia with Love"
  • For Your Eyes Only (1981) - The A.T.A.C. is similar to the Lektor, Kriegler is similar to Grant, Columbo is similar to Kerim Bey
  • Minder: From Fulham with Love (1985) (TV Episode) - Title reference.
  • Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
  • Snatch (2000)
  • Pearl Harbor (2001)
  • Die Another Day (2002) - The shoe with the poison-tipped blade is seen in Q's station laboratory. There is a knife concealed in a briefcase. In the ice palace sequence, there is a game board (the chess match). Enemy spies are behind a one-way mirror in a hotel room with cameras. Graves' engineer is seen holding the Icarus control, and petting it like a cat. When they first meet, Jinx tells James her name, and adds, "My friends call me Jinx." Bond replies, "Mine call me James Bond." In From Russia with Love (1963), Tatiana Romanova introduces herself, and adds, "My friends call me Tania," and Bond gives the same reply.
  • Van Helsing (2004) - Carl and his lab and experiments is a direct link to the first Q James Bond
  • The Incredibles (2004) - gadget maker "E" is named after 007's loyal "Q"
  • Stormbreaker (2006) - Smithers is based on Q.
  • Marks and Spencer James Bond 'Die Another Day' Television Commercial (2006) (Video) - Closing title card reads "from YOUR M&S with love".
  • The Dark Knight (2008) - The Joker has a blade come out of his shoe, just like Rosa Klebb.
  • Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) - In the introductory shot of Bean in front of his farm he is imitating Sean Connery's pose on the original poster for this film. His gun is also similar.
  • Skyfall (2012) - Skyfall Lodge's priest hole is reminiscent of the secret tunnels for the allied intelligent agents. Silva makes Bond uncomfortable with homoerotic flirtations like Rosa Klebb did with Tatiana, albeit more explicit.
  • Spectre (2015) - Arch villain introduced in silhouette; Tough physical fight on train; Appearance of a game of chess and chess board; James Bond has a romantic train journey; SPECTRE criminal organization and arch villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld
  • Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017) - Briefcase which also doubles as a weapon evokes case which contains them; The poison-spike shoe, which featured in the first 'Kingsman' film is back again, and again is a direct reference to Rosa Klebb's blade-show in 'From Russia With Love'.

Featured in[]

Spoofed in[]

  • Carry on Spying (1964) - Satchels instead of "trick attaché case"'s; STENCH name parodies SPECTRE name; spy case joke re knife in secret compartment; Carstairs' watch with garotte cord.
  • Casino Royale (1967) - Exploding suitcase joke; Shoe gadget weapon joke
  • The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976) - a man tried to kill Clouseau with a knife-shoe as Rosa Klebb did.
  • Wild Wild West (1999)
  • Cats & Dogs (2001)
  • Megamind (2010) - Megamind pets his "dog" when turning his chair around
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