From Russia with Love (1963)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Terence Young

Writers:

Richard Maibaum (screenplay)
Johanna Harwood (adaptation)
(more)

Release Date:

27 May 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

The world's masters of murder pull out all the stops to destroy Agent 007!

Plot:

James Bond willingly falls into an assassination ploy involving a naive Russian beauty in order to retrieve a Soviet encryption device that was stolen by SPECTRE.

Plot Keywords:

Russian | Spectre | Istanbul | Decoder | British Secret Service

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Sean Connery	...	James Bond
Daniela Bianchi	...	Tatiana Romanova
Pedro Armendáriz	...	Ali Kerim Bey (as Pedro Armendariz)
Lotte Lenya	...	Rosa Klebb
Robert Shaw	...	Red Grant
Bernard Lee	...	M
Eunice Gayson	...	Sylvia Trench
Walter Gotell	...	Morzeny
Francis De Wolff	...	Vavra - Gypsy Leader (as Francis de Wolff)
George Pastell	...	Train Conductor
Nadja Regin	...	Kerim's Girl
Lois Maxwell	...	Miss Moneypenny
Aliza Gur	...	Vida
Martine Beswick	...	Zora (also as Martin Beswick)
Vladek Sheybal	...	Kronsteen
Lisa Guiraut	...	Gypsy Belly 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	...	Major Boothroyd
Jan Williams	...	Masseuse
Peter Madden	...	McAdams - Chess Player
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dorothea Bennett	...	Woman on Bridge in Venice (uncredited)
Bedri Çavusoglu	...	Police (uncredited)
Elizabeth Counsell	...	Woman in a Punt (uncredited)
Michael Culver	...	Man in a Punt (uncredited)
Anthony Dawson	...	Ernst Stavro Blofeld (uncredited)
Arlette Dobson	...	Istanbul Hotel Receptionist (uncredited)
Moris Farhi	...	Gypsy (uncredited)
William Hill	...	Captain Nash (uncredited)
Barbara Jefford	...	Tatiana Romanova (voice) (uncredited)
Muhammat Kohen	...	Mosque Tour Guide (uncredited)
Julie Mendez	...	Girl Dancing During Opening Titles (uncredited)
Eric Pohlmann	...	Ernst Stavro Blofeld (voice) (uncredited)
Jaqi Saltzman	...	Woman on Train (uncredited)
Bob Simmons	...	James Bond in Gunbarrel Sequence (uncredited)
Nikki Van der Zyl	...	Receptionist (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Terence Young

Writing credits
Richard Maibaum		(screenplay)
Johanna Harwood		(adaptation)
Ian Fleming		(novel)

Produced by
Albert R. Broccoli	....	producer
Harry Saltzman	....	producer
Stanley Sopel	....	associate producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
John Barry

Cinematography by
Ted Moore		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Peter R. Hunt		(as Peter Hunt)

Casting by
Weston Drury Jr.		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Syd Cain

Costume Design by
Jocelyn Rickards

Makeup Department
Basil Newall	....	makeup artist
Paul Rabiger	....	makeup artist
Eileen Warwick	....	dresser

Production Management
William Hill	....	production manager (as Bill Hill)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David C. Anderson	....	assistant director (as David Anderson)
Terence Churcher	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Freda Pearson	....	set dresser
Michael White	....	assistant art director
Roger Cain	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
John Chisholm	....	props (uncredited)
Ron Quelch	....	production buyer (uncredited)

Sound Department
C. Le Mesurier	....	sound recordist (as C. le Messurier)
Harry Miller	....	dubbing editor
John W. Mitchell	....	sound recordist
Norman Wanstall	....	dubbing editor

Special Effects by
Frank George	....	special effects assistant
John Stears	....	special effects
Wally Armitage	....	special effects (uncredited)
Jimmy Harris	....	special effects (uncredited)
Garth Inns	....	special effects (uncredited)
Jimmy Snow	....	special effects (uncredited)
Jimmy Ward	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Cliff Culley	....	matte artist (uncredited)
Roy Field	....	visual effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Peter Perkins	....	stunt work arranger
Bob Anderson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Peter Brace	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ken Buckle	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jack Cooper	....	train fight double: Robert Shaw (uncredited)
Gerry Crampton	....	stunts (uncredited)
Leslie Crawford	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Cummings	....	stunts (uncredited)
Peter Diamond	....	stunts (uncredited)
Cliff Diggins	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Dunne	....	stunts (uncredited)
Max Faulkner	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tex Fuller	....	stunts (uncredited)
Sol Gorss	....	stunts (uncredited)
Richard Graydon	....	stunts (uncredited)
Arthur Howell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jimmy Lodge	....	stunts (uncredited)
Peter Perkins	....	stunts (uncredited)
Peter Perkins	....	train fight double: Sean Connery (uncredited)
Terence Plummer	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dinny Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Nosher Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terry Richards	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jack Sholomir	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Bob Simmons	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Bob Simmons	....	train fight double: Sean Connery (uncredited)
Rocky Taylor	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bob Kindred	....	camera operator: second unit (as Robert Kindred)
John Winbolt	....	camera operator (as Johnny Winbolt)
Ray Hearne	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Simon Ransley	....	clapper loader (uncredited)
John Shinerock	....	focus puller (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ernie Farrer	....	wardrobe master
Eileen Sullivan	....	wardrobe mistress

Editorial Department
Ben Rayner	....	assembly editor

Music Department
John Barry	....	conductor
Monty Norman	....	composer: James Bond theme
Vic Flick	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)
Sidney Margo	....	music contractor (uncredited)

Other crew
Trevor Bond	....	assistant title designer
Albert R. Broccoli	....	presenter
Robert Brownjohn	....	title designer
Frank Ernst	....	location manager
Ilhan Filmer	....	production assistant: Istanbul (as Ilham Filmer)
Kay Mander	....	continuity
Harry Saltzman	....	presenter
Captain John Crewdson	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)
Maureen Newman	....	assistant production accountant (uncredited)
Golda Offenheim	....	production office (uncredited)
Golda Offenheim	....	production secretary (uncredited)
Charles Russhon	....	military liaison: Turkey (uncredited)
Charles Russhon	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Bob Simmons	....	body double: James Bond, in opening sequence (uncredited)
Captain Cyril Sweetman	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)
Terence Young	....	body double: Pedro Armendáriz (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Danjaq
• Eon Productions

Distributors

• United Artists Corporation (1963) (UK) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1964) (USA) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• C.B. Films (1964) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1964) (Norway) (theatrical)
• Park Circus (2009) (UK) (theatrical) (re-issue)
• Tuschinski Film Distribution (1964) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (as Nova)
• United Artists (1963) (Australia) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1964) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1964) (France) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1963) (Italy) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1970) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2000) (Australia) (DVD) (Special Edition)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1974) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (video)
• CBS/Fox Home Video (1983) (USA) (video)
• CBS/Fox (USA) (laserdisc)
• Criterion Collection, The (USA) (laserdisc)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (1981) (USA) (TV) (cable television)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2000) (UK) (DVD) (Special Edition)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• RCA (1981) (USA) (video) (Selectavision videodisc)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (2006) (worldwide) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Australia) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (UK) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• Warner Home Video (1983) (Australia) (video)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Pinewood Studios  studio
• Studios CTS  music recorded at (as CTS Studios London)
• Lowry Digital Images  pristine digital restoration: 2006
• United Artists  current copyright proprietor

Also Known As:

Ian Fleming's 'From Russia with Love' (UK) (complete title)

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Russian | Turkish | Romany

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Iceland:12 | Ireland:PG | West Germany:12 (nf) | Germany:16 (DVD rating) | South Korea:15 | Brazil:12 | New Zealand:PG | UK:PG (2008) | Finland:K-16 (uncut) (1984) | UK:PG (video rating) (1987) | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Finland:(Banned) (uncut) (1964) | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (original rating) | Peru:14 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (original rating) | USA:GP (re-rating) (1971) | UK:A (original rating) (cut) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1964) | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

"The Canals", Venice, Veneto, Italy

Company:

Danjaq

Trivia:

This is the second and final appearance in the James Bond films of Sylvia Trench. The original plan was for Sylvia to be a recurring character like Miss Moneypenny, but the idea was dropped after this film. Here and in Dr. No (1962), she was played by Eunice Gayson.

Goofs:

Continuity: The agent waiting for Bond at the Zagreb train station is first seen in a reversed image with his pocket and handkerchief on the right side of his suit coat. When he is talking to Bond on the train platform the pocket has moved to the left side.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Morzeny: [after Grant kills a look-a-like Bond] Exactly one minute, fifty-two seconds. That's excellent.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Out of My Mind (#5.4)" (2000)

Soundtrack:

James Bond Theme

Best of the Bonds?

The first three Bonds (Dr. No, FRWL, Goldfinger) are without question the best in the series, though From Russia with Love may well be the best of the best. It has all things we look for in a great Bond film - exotic locales, sinister villains, beautiful women - but it was made before Goldfinger established the ingenious-yet-demented-supervillain-plus-indestructible-henchman formula as canonical, so its plot line may surprise viewers reared on the later Bond films. For one thing, there's little or nothing in the way of gadgetry (though Q does provide our hero with a pretty nifty briefcase). Beyond a brief encounter with the faceless Number One, there's no arch-villain looming over the action, and the henchmen are at once less invulnerable and more interesting than most of their successors in the series. Particularly memorable, of course, are Lotte Lenya as the hatchet-faced Colonel ("She's had her kicks") Kleb and Robert Shaw as the brutish Donald "Red" Grant. Kleb's edgy menace is neatly offset by her terror at the prospect of failure (an option which Number One refuses to countenance); her subtle come-on to Tatiana Romanova was positively daring by 1963 standards, and she manages to do for footwear what Goldfinger's Odd Job went on to do for head gear. Grant is no superman, but a vicious, small-time thug, recruited by SPECTRE and transformed into a fearsome enforcer; his bitter encounter with Bond on the train speaks volumes about the class tensions that still underlay British society in the post-war era.

Connery, for his part, gets to build on the character he first fleshed out in Dr. No. His Bond really emerges here as a complex man, formidable but flawed. He's genteel and sophisticated, but he doesn't always keep his cool; unlike the too-often unflappable Roger Moore, Connery's Bond betrays both anger and fear when the circumstances seem to warrant it. He intervenes chivalrously to stop a fight between two Gypsy women, but he's not above slugging a woman in the service of his mission. I've always enjoyed the humanizing chemistry between Connery and Pedro Armendariz's larger-than-life Kerim ("I've led a fascinating life") Bey, the most charming of Bond sidekicks; their friendship comes across as genuine and multi-dimensional. Today's viewers (especially women) will likely find Daniela Bianchi's Tanya ("I LOVE you, James") Romanova an uncomfortably passive damsel-in-distress, but, hey: she's drop-dead gorgeous and has some nice scenes with Connery. The Turkish and Balkan settings are spectacular and the train sequence at the end is both exciting and suspenseful. Cold War scenario notwithstanding, this one has aged very well. Shake yourself a pitcher of vodka martinis and spend a Friday night watching Dr. No, From Russia with Love and Goldfinger.