"Bond, James Bond." James
☆☆☆☆☆ Iconic
Dr. No (1962) is a film that has always stirred not shaken our imagination.
Directed by Terence Young.
Starring Sean Connery, Ursula Andress and Joseph Wiseman.
Produced by Albert (Cubby) R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, from Ian Flemings James Bond spy novels.
Dr. No is a producer's cinematic vision. Cubby and Harry set out to make a film that would allow them to create a franchise out of all of Ian Flemings spy novels. Saltzman had optioned the rights to the entire series of Bond novels from Fleming. No studio was interested and Harry's option was running out. Desperate to make a film from Ian's novels he agreed to partner with Albert. Cubby and Saltzman took their film proposal to United Artists and they agreed to only bankroll Dr. No for one million dollars. Later United would give the producers another one hundred thousand dollars for the ending.
Most of the cast and crew had worked with Cubby on other films and were quickly assembled. Albert and Harry originally wanted Cary Grant ( Who was the Best Man at Cubby's marriage to Dana Wilson) for James Bond. Cary would only do one picture and thought himself too old for the part (Cary was 58 years old in 1962. The producers turned to Sean Connery, who Cubby had seen in Darby O'Gill and the Little People. Ursula was hired a few days before filming started in Jamaica from a picture that her husband John Derek had showed the producers of her in a bikini. Joseph Wiseman was a noted theater and film actor who they cast for his ability to portray villains realistically.
The screen persona of James Bond's grace and style is that of its director Terence Young. Terence took Sean and tutored him in the arts of being a properly educated British gentleman, including trips to his tailor, cobbler and favorite London casino.
The scene below is the greatest character introduction in all of cinema. Its simplicity belies its impact on audiences and film makers. Director Martin Ritt used a similar simplistic approach in his darker and bleaker espionage film, The Spy Who Came In From The Cold (1965). In the clip below pay attention to what goes through your mind when Sean's face is finally revealed and he immortally utters in a suave, menacing, but seductive tone; Bond, James Bond. Enjoy!
Trivia - The character of "Q" was based on Charles Fraser-Smith who created spy gadgets for "Q-ships" used by MI-6 during WWI. These spy gadgets were called "Q-Devices".
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