My journey through the James Bond universe continues with the second film in the series, From Russia with Love. While fans of the 007 movies might roll their eyes at this, but Bond's second filmed mission is my favorite. While a popular, quite frequently top-rated choice among the fandom and critics for best movie in the series, there is a reason for it. From Russia with Love is the most reality-based spy film of the entire lot but it still includes some of the fantastical elements that make a James Bond film. Here are some of the reasons why I love it so much and no other film in the franchise have quite lived up to it.
1. We get the introduction of the pre-title sequence where something fantastic happens. In some cases it is one of the most thrilling action sequences of the entire movie. This one is also the beginning of a Bond trope where the filmmakers attempt to make us believe 007 could possibly be dead.
2. Another interesting title sequence that gives proper credit to those who worked on the movie, but this time we get the introduction of a female body being on display, which will become another trope of the series. I've always loved watching the credits projected onto the body of a scantily clad belly dancer, which is a link to one of the filming locations.
3. It's Blofeld in the handsy flesh. This is the first time we get a peek at SPECTRE's number one, but it will be a few more films before we get a proper introduction to Bond's nemesis; or the author of all his pain.
4. Not that I would ever want to be a mercenary for an evil organization, but any job interview that includes brass knuckles is certainly not for me.
5. We get the return of a Bond girl, which doesn't really happen in these movies. Sylvia Trench is a little whinier this time around, but still quite a knockout in her bikini wanting some alone time with James.
6. Q!!! We get our first onscreen appearance of Desmond Llewelyn, who plays the Quartermaster, equipment officer, or more affectionately known as Q. Mr. Llewelyn would go on to play this beloved character in a total of 17 films and sadly passed away in a car crash after filming The World is not Enough. Some of the best scenes and comedic banter are found in the Q scenes. This one is certainly not the greatest in the series, but it does give us a glimpse at the coming ingenious gadgets to be seen in future films.
7. I mentioned this in my previous post about Dr. No, but when John Barry elected to play the James Bond theme song is a head-scratcher in these early outings. The theme song is blaring as Bond checks into his hotel room and investigates the room for bugs (electronic, not the bed variety).
8. Kerim Bey is one of the allies who are most remembered in the series and usually at the top of fans' favorite lists. Any character who installs a submarine periscope in a Russian embassy has to be respected and loved.
9. This is a sexist, misogynistic viewpoint, but that fight between the two gypsy women is great. They are fierce, savage, and extremely sexy as they try to kill one another with their bare hands. The menace and hatred the two actresses display can be understood even without understanding what they are saying in the scene. Bond says it best when he states, "I think I've got it without the subtitles."
10. Another gypsy fight! This action sequence is fine on its own, but what makes it stand out is how the henchman, Donald "Red" Grant, is playing Bond's guardian angel and the audience isn't really sure why. Although the audience is ahead of Bond in regard to SPECTRE's plot, we don't know everything and it is still a mystery as to why Grant is helping his foe at this point in the story.
11. Speaking of Grant, the blond-haired, menacingly mute strongman as a henchman becomes a trope throughout the series, but Robert Shaw is certainly a bona fide actor who sets the standard for those who come after him.
12. "Thank you, but I think my mouth is too big." "No, it's just the right size. For me that is." This scene has become the one that all potential Bond actors screen test for when trying out for the role.
13. Tatiana Romanova is one of my favorite primary Bond girls from an easy-on-the-eyes aspect. Although the character is certainly more three-dimensional than a lot of Bond girls later in the series, she still doesn't have much agency of her own. That being said, when she introduces herself to Bond in just a black velvet choker or while playing the part of Mrs. Somerset and she shows up in her blue negligee, yowza!
14. Train travel is something I romanticize and would like to do more of, but it really isn't done much in the United States. I certainly will take a train if ever traveling through Europe and rent a sleeping car so I can have the true James Bond experience.
15. Passcodes and secret messages need to be done in more Bond films, and not as a joke or something made light of. I enjoy when the this spy series actually does some spy stuff, like when Bond sets up the traps in his hotel room from Dr. No or the secret code phrases from this one.
16. Grant pretending to be British and calling Bond "old man" constantly always makes me laugh.
17. Okay, we've made it. The confrontation in the train compartment between Bond and Grant. This is not only my favorite scene in this movie, but probably my favorite scene in the entire franchise. From the moment Grant knocks Bond out and he lays out the nefarious plot to Bond outwitting and outfighting him, the scene is suspenseful and action packed. The sound design with breaking the window to allow for the outside noise of the train going down the tracks is a brilliant piece of filmmaking. The fight sequence is brutal and makes me wish today's fight sequences would have less quick cutting and choreographed moves. While this fight is certainly choreographed in the same way as today's films, it has a much more visceral feeling to it. It's more of a brawl than a fight. The enclosed space certainly helps with building the suspense. All later train fights try to be what this is but none of them ever quite get there.
18. Following the train fight you think the film is over and they will wrap things up, but you get a few more brief action sequences. While they aren't anything quite as spectacular as what came before, they certainly don't feel tacked on and it doesn't drag the ending out. They are simply bonus moments to watch Bond be an awesome spy and hero.
19. Oh Blofeld, always the trickster.
20. Another love-making in a boat ending!
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