Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Sean Connery | ... | James Bond | |
Daniela Bianchi | ... | Tatiana Romanova | |
Pedro Armendáriz | ... | Ali Kerim Bey (as Pedro Armendariz) | |
Lotte Lenya | ... | Rosa Klebb | |
Robert Shaw | ... | Donald 'Red' Grant | |
Bernard Lee | ... | 'M' | |
Eunice Gayson | ... | Sylvia Trench | |
Walter Gotell | ... | Morzeny | |
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Francis De Wolff | ... | Vavra (as Francis de Wolff) |
George Pastell | ... | Train Conductor | |
Nadja Regin | ... | Kerim's Mistress | |
Lois Maxwell | ... | Miss Moneypenny | |
Aliza Gur | ... | Vida | |
Martine Beswick | ... | Zora (as Martin Beswick) | |
Vladek Sheybal | ... | Kronsteen |
James Bond 007 is on the search for a Russian decoding machine, known as "Lektor". Bond needs to find this machine, before the evil S.P.E.C.T.R.E. organization discovers it. While being romantically linked with Russian girl, Tatiana Romanova, Bond sneaks his way around Istanbul, while each S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Agent tries to pick him off, including the over powering Donald "Red" Grant and ex K.G.B. Agent Rosa Klebb, who knows all of the tricks in the book, and even possesses an incredible poison tipped shoe. Written by simon_hrdng
Hard to believe, but the movie is actually an improvement on Fleming's novel. Rather than have the Lektor operation be a simple Russian scheme to discredit Bond as Fleming did, SPECTRE takes a hand here in their first on-screen appearance as an organization. The plot is improved considerably because of this. The movie thrives on its supporting actors and Sheybal. Connery is somewhat outshone by these greater lights, but gives a credible performance. From Russia... is a different pace of movie: no one here is intent on wiping out the world's population, or destroying the gold supply, or stealing submarines. Basically, it's a quiet little plot focusing on an elaborate "sting" operation. Until the end, the pace is kind of slow, and might lose more "modern" audiences, particularly those used to incredible stunt sequences every 20 minutes.