It annoys me intensely when respected film reviewers and or magazines who should know better, parade Goldfinger as the greatest Bond movie.
Sorry positivelyshocking, but I have to say that I personally agree with these film reviewers and magazines. FRWL was a masterpiece, the second greatest Bond film IMO, but I have always considered GF to be the single greatest Bond film of all time.
No problem Dan Same, I am happy to agree to disagree! In fact I have just disagreed with you again on the TND discussion!
Actually I do think that GF is a great Bond movie, it's not so much a criticism of GF more of the fact that most reviewers will never even mention FRWL and my personal feeling is that it is a crowd mentality thing i.e it's fashionable to have GF as the top Bond movie, it's identifiable and iconic.
I don't think that most reviewers would have the kind of knowledge or appreciation of the series that people such as yourself do.
"From Russia With Love" is a fine film made all the better by its faithfulness (with a few changes) to Fleming's original novel. I remember
reading that Pedro Armendariz was quite ill during filming and the cast and crew marvelled at the way he did his job only to collapse in agony after each take. His performance as Kerim is inspired and for me he is the real hero of FRWL. Some months after filming was completed he shot himself to avoid a protracted death.
FRWL has often been cited as Fleming's favorite and the film was the favorite Bond of Sean Connery as well. The quality shows. Robert Shaw is terrific and Lotte Lenya is perfectly cast as Rosa Klebb. When reading the novel it is difficult not to picture her in the role.
Daniela Bianchi remains my favorite of the Bond film heroines and she perfectly matches(with a hair color change) Fleming's description of Tatiana.
FRWL is an excellent film in its own right and certainly one of the best if not the best of the Bond films.-{
One thing I noticed when watching FRWL is that it behaves like a present-day indie (or possibly even well done amateur) film. Not that it takes away from the movie at all, mind you.
Oh and the greenscreening... There were some scenes that would have been better if they were on location instead
Yeah, I really like FRWL. It's number 4 on my list. My favorite thing about it is it shows what Spectre is for the first time with villains like Morzeny, Kronsteen, Klebb, and the mysterious number 1. Red Grant was the perfect henchmen/villain.
Another high point is the fight between bond and grant on the train.
Well I saw it on BBC2 last night in a fresh print... sigh.
Suppose it didn't help that the lip synch wasn't quite in order. Or that, for the first time, it appeared that Bond was being stalked by blond psycho Daniel Craig... )
It seemed to be the new mint print, but d'know, I don't like it at all, any more than with OHMSS. It seemed too dark and almost ornate. I could hardly make out what was going on in the climactic fight scene on the train.
Otherwise, I've gone off this film a bit. Like the opening, as I've said, where they stalk 'Bond' - but it's not really him! What's the point of that? As film critic John Brosnan said, it's like training to hunt a lion by dressing up your pet dog in a lion's outfit.
Sillier still is the stuff that follows and Klebb seems to be a rubbish actress, with lots of stagey exposition and so on. Of course much of it is to amuse the audience not for TV viewing. But when the Spectre leader blithely says of Grant, "Oh he's wonderful material, a paranoid psycho with homicidal tendencies..." er, well, if you want to hire a nutter for your most important job. Shame he's also a petty gold-digger, which prompts his ludicrous, out-of-character downfall.
Things only pick up when Bond appears at long last and it's fun again. Still, I missed the 'smirk' factor as MBE once put it. Where Bond gets up to something outstanding early on - admittedly because it doesn't fit the plot at this point. He's meant to think he's on a humdrum, routine mission. And frankly it's a different genre to today's films. The dialogue has that stylised way about it. It seems a bit unnatural.
And some odd porn moments too, like when Bond has to choose between two gypsy girls. Is there a scene cut where Bond gets to do his threesome thing?
Sillier still is the stuff that follows and Klebb seems to be a rubbish actress, with lots of stagey exposition and so on.
Lotte Lenya a rubbish actress? Are you mad?
I watched the new print last night on BBC2. Aside from the fact that the Beeb gave it its classic credentials by including it in their summer of 'Great British films' I was stunned how clear and concise the print was. It seemed like an arthouse movie rather then a forty year old blockbuster. And its inclusion in amongst such films as The Third Man, Get Carter and the Ipcress File really raised its kudos. Well done, Beeb for giving it its due. ITV always used to have crass advertising and horrendous timesaving edits when showing the Bonds. The BBC seems to be the natural home of 007.
Back to Lotte Lenya. Inspired casting. The widow of Kurt Weill, the woman who for generations played the put upon Jenny in 'The Threepenny Opera; and was Mrs Schneider in the original 'Cabaret' suddenly becomes this vicious Russian harridan with lesbian tendencies quivering with fear over an unseen catstroking overlord. Her scenes with Bianchi bristle with tension.
Lotte Lenya a bad actress? Bah! Tip the guy over the rails of the Bosphorus ferry forthwith..
Back to Lotte Lenya. Inspired casting. The widow of Kurt Weill, the woman who for generations played the put upon Jenny in 'The Threepenny Opera; and was Mrs Schneider in the original 'Cabaret' suddenly becomes this vicious Russian harridan with lesbian tendencies quivering with fear over an unseen catstroking overlord. Her scenes with Bianchi bristle with tension.
Lotte Lenya a bad actress? Bah! Tip the guy over the rails of the Bosphorus ferry forthwith..
I agree. NP, how can you honestly think that she's a bad actress?
Shame he's also a petty gold-digger, which prompts his ludicrous, out-of-character downfall.
Is it ludicrous? Afterall he's a human being with flaws and faults of his own. Fish (I miss her )) also questioned whether it was out of character but what I love about that scene is that it humanises Grant and shows that even the worst of all monsters are mere human beings. (Although he wasn't such a monster.) Plus, the reality is that up until that scene, we didn't really know Grant all that well. He was never established as someone who was above money.
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
I enjoyed it last night- haven't watched it in a while, but I was quite surprised how I reacted to Bond himself: he's quite annoying in this. He's very stuffy, and those one-liners come thick and fast, making him seem really arrogant and smug, and not in the amusing and endearing way that he does it later in the series. "We've a saying in England; where's there's smoke, there's fire!"- SHUT UP YOU AWFUL, IRRITATING MAN!!
I'm not convinced that they quite nailed him as a hero until the next film (Even though he does nothing heroic in Goldfinger at all! ).
Oh I know about Lenya's history and that, but I don't see much of it in the film really. It may as well be Kenneth Williams (camp, wiry nasal English Carry On actor) up there.
Klebb is a bit of a hoot in this, which works well with a cinema audience. I can't take her seriously. "Come come my dear, a real labour of love..." rubbish delivery, phoning in her lines.
Much of the rest of it could be a Morcecambe and Wise spy spoof with that sinister speccy guy with a beret emerging from the shadows round the back of a newspaper stand.
I know it's 'better' than YOLT but I prefer those other films which are just a laugh unlike the ones you're meant to believe in but can't. File this with CR - no insult in many fans' book, I realise.
Klebb is a bit of a hoot in this, which works well with a cinema audience. I can't take her seriously. "Come come my dear, a real labour of love..." rubbish delivery, phoning in her lines.
Much of the rest of it could be a Morcecambe and Wise spy spoof with that sinister speccy guy with a beret emerging from the shadows round the back of a newspaper stand.
I see where you're coming from, although I don't feel so strongly- that celebrated bit where she puts her hand on Tatania's knee is very stagely and feels weirdly mechanical. I think Bianci's very good, though- nice mix of self-respect and naivety.
Klebb is a bit of a hoot in this, which works well with a cinema audience. I can't take her seriously. "Come come my dear, a real labour of love..." rubbish delivery, phoning in her lines.
.
The 'labour of love' as you probably know is a reference to the Fleming title - its just a lead into the next 'punting scene'.
The scene itself is good because of the implied menace (you will not leave this room alive). And the fact that she has Romanova trapped. The corporal has no choice but to comply and Klebb sinisterly takes advantage of her position (or ex position) but making advances to her.
Its actually a ghastly power-play scene played well by Lenya and Bianchi and directed by Terence Young.
"Then you will not leave this room alive..."
Stunned, wide eyed response from Tania. A beat...
"I will obey your orders."
You can imagine the audience laughter at that, as if to say "You don't say...!" It's all in keeping with the jokey, archly sinister tone of the proceedings.
I don't say I wouldn't love seeing this in a film with first timers (sadly impossible really without a time machine) but on TV less so.
Another gag is when Kronsteen is killed rather than Klebb, who is caught dabbing her forehead with a tissue, then whips it away. There'd be nothing so funny/comical in most recent Bonds of this ilk among villains, save perhaps Dr Kaufman.
"Then you will not leave this room alive..."
Stunned, wide eyed response from Tania. A beat...
"I will obey your orders."
You can imagine the audience laughter at that, as if to say "You don't say...!" It's all in keeping with the jokey, archly sinister tone of the proceedings.
.
Its a joke? Are YOU joking?
Tania is summoned in fear by Klebb. She thinks Klebb still works for SMERSH which has the power of life or death over its employees. When Klebb makes the "not leave this room.." Tania believes her - she is capable of doing that. To protect her plans she would probably kill Tania with her poisoned shoe. Tania is now terrified and more compliable. Its a serious scene.
Another gag is when Kronsteen is killed rather than Klebb, who is caught dabbing her forehead with a tissue, then whips it away. There'd be nothing so funny/comical in most recent Bonds of this ilk among villains, save perhaps Dr Kaufman.
Another gag? This is another serious scene. The power of Blofeld is shown by quickly and efficiently killing a top notch employee for failure.
Is FRWL a gagfest to you? Are you watching the Austin Powers version?
I think it's a midpoint between the two, myself- it's a serious scene, but it does have jokes. Rosa Klebb is a proper villain, but she has funny moments too; as in all Bond films. The villains can be funny: for example: '12 seconds; someday we must find a faster acting toxin' is a funny, tongue-in-cheek line.
I agree with emtium in that the villains in FRWL (like most Bond vilains) can be humerous. However I didn't find the scene with Klebb and Tatiana funny in the slightest. I thought it was a bizarre and terrifying scene which could easily have ended with the murder of an innocent young woman.
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
"Then you will not leave this room alive..."
Stunned, wide eyed response from Tania. A beat...
"I will obey your orders."
Its a joke? Are YOU joking?
Is FRWL a gagfest to you? Are you watching the Austin Powers version?
I NEVER joke about my Bond, actionsteve...
Nah, sorry, these are all gags. Subtle, but gags nonetheless. Like Klebb and the knuckle duster on Grant: "He seems fit enough..." You don't say... You can imagine the middle-class English laughter in the cinema at that. It's hardly a serious test for their important agent, especially as he's never supposed to be physically involved in Kronsteen's plan if it comes off (the fight occurs because it goes awry). No wonder Klebb fails...
"I agree. We use live targets too." Another gag. They're all there, but not overt I agree.
I think FRWL is a great film, however among Connery films, I prefer his other three early 60's films. I like it alot but I think it's a little 'small' for my liking. I love films with big plots and big villains like DN, GF and TSWLM.
As for funny moments in FRWL; I always love the bit on Spectre 'Island' where they stroll through the training camp. It's full of machine guns firing (despite being the 'Island' being silent and tranquil before we got to the training bit) and the machine guns get noticibly quieter as we walk a few metres away! Nice and polite guns, that's the Spectre way!
Oh, and James Bond wandering into his bathroom with the full force of an orchestra going full tilt on the brassy swing part of the Bond theme in the background always makes me titter too. BA-DA DA DAAAA!!!
Oh, and James Bond wandering into his bathroom with the full force of an orchestra going full tilt on the brassy swing part of the Bond theme in the background always makes me titter too. BA-DA DA DAAAA!!!
That's a wonderful moment, but why does it make you laugh? ?:)
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
Perhaps because in those days it's funny to have the great Bond theme playing just to show 007 go about his daily business, no matter how humdrum. Witness Dr No when he's just walking through the airport. They did it again with TND and Hamburg airport and it just seemed a bit silly, not least cos Brosnan never had the panther like prowl of Connery.
Perhaps because in those days it's funny to have the great Bond theme playing just to show 007 go about his daily business, no matter how humdrum. Witness Dr No when he's just walking through the airport. They did it again with TND and Hamburg airport and it just seemed a bit silly, not least cos Brosnan never had the panther like prowl of Connery.
Nobody has the panther like prowl of Connery. That sequence in DN, in which the theme plays, still sends shivvers down my spine. I think it's a wonderful sequence. {[]
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
Oh, and James Bond wandering into his bathroom with the full force of an orchestra going full tilt on the brassy swing part of the Bond theme in the background always makes me titter too. BA-DA DA DAAAA!!!
That's a wonderful moment, but why does it make you laugh? ?:)
Great big OTT action celebratory action theme kicking in as a man wanders offscreen into his bathroom? A little out of place, no?
Great big OTT action celebratory action theme kicking in as a man wanders offscreen into his bathroom? A little out of place, no?
It was a little out of place, however I didn't find it funny.
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
Comments
No problem Dan Same, I am happy to agree to disagree! In fact I have just disagreed with you again on the TND discussion!
Actually I do think that GF is a great Bond movie, it's not so much a criticism of GF more of the fact that most reviewers will never even mention FRWL and my personal feeling is that it is a crowd mentality thing i.e it's fashionable to have GF as the top Bond movie, it's identifiable and iconic.
I don't think that most reviewers would have the kind of knowledge or appreciation of the series that people such as yourself do.
It actually ranks 16th on my list. Low position I know, but it's still truly magnificent, and what does this say? I LOVE Bond.
First 16 on my list are magnificent. 17-19 are good, and 20-21 are OK.
1 - Moore, 2 - Dalton, 3 - Craig, 4 - Connery, 5 - Brosnan, 6 - Lazenby
FRWL really started the Bond franchise - It should be placed in the top ten films of all time.
Everyone involved in this film was at the absolute top of their game.
Bond’s Beretta
The Handguns of Ian Fleming's James Bond
reading that Pedro Armendariz was quite ill during filming and the cast and crew marvelled at the way he did his job only to collapse in agony after each take. His performance as Kerim is inspired and for me he is the real hero of FRWL. Some months after filming was completed he shot himself to avoid a protracted death.
FRWL has often been cited as Fleming's favorite and the film was the favorite Bond of Sean Connery as well. The quality shows. Robert Shaw is terrific and Lotte Lenya is perfectly cast as Rosa Klebb. When reading the novel it is difficult not to picture her in the role.
Daniela Bianchi remains my favorite of the Bond film heroines and she perfectly matches(with a hair color change) Fleming's description of Tatiana.
FRWL is an excellent film in its own right and certainly one of the best if not the best of the Bond films.-{
Oh and the greenscreening... There were some scenes that would have been better if they were on location instead
Another high point is the fight between bond and grant on the train.
Suppose it didn't help that the lip synch wasn't quite in order. Or that, for the first time, it appeared that Bond was being stalked by blond psycho Daniel Craig...
It seemed to be the new mint print, but d'know, I don't like it at all, any more than with OHMSS. It seemed too dark and almost ornate. I could hardly make out what was going on in the climactic fight scene on the train.
Otherwise, I've gone off this film a bit. Like the opening, as I've said, where they stalk 'Bond' - but it's not really him! What's the point of that? As film critic John Brosnan said, it's like training to hunt a lion by dressing up your pet dog in a lion's outfit.
Sillier still is the stuff that follows and Klebb seems to be a rubbish actress, with lots of stagey exposition and so on. Of course much of it is to amuse the audience not for TV viewing. But when the Spectre leader blithely says of Grant, "Oh he's wonderful material, a paranoid psycho with homicidal tendencies..." er, well, if you want to hire a nutter for your most important job. Shame he's also a petty gold-digger, which prompts his ludicrous, out-of-character downfall.
Things only pick up when Bond appears at long last and it's fun again. Still, I missed the 'smirk' factor as MBE once put it. Where Bond gets up to something outstanding early on - admittedly because it doesn't fit the plot at this point. He's meant to think he's on a humdrum, routine mission. And frankly it's a different genre to today's films. The dialogue has that stylised way about it. It seems a bit unnatural.
And some odd porn moments too, like when Bond has to choose between two gypsy girls. Is there a scene cut where Bond gets to do his threesome thing?
Ah well.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Lotte Lenya a rubbish actress? Are you mad?
I watched the new print last night on BBC2. Aside from the fact that the Beeb gave it its classic credentials by including it in their summer of 'Great British films' I was stunned how clear and concise the print was. It seemed like an arthouse movie rather then a forty year old blockbuster. And its inclusion in amongst such films as The Third Man, Get Carter and the Ipcress File really raised its kudos. Well done, Beeb for giving it its due. ITV always used to have crass advertising and horrendous timesaving edits when showing the Bonds. The BBC seems to be the natural home of 007.
Back to Lotte Lenya. Inspired casting. The widow of Kurt Weill, the woman who for generations played the put upon Jenny in 'The Threepenny Opera; and was Mrs Schneider in the original 'Cabaret' suddenly becomes this vicious Russian harridan with lesbian tendencies quivering with fear over an unseen catstroking overlord. Her scenes with Bianchi bristle with tension.
Lotte Lenya a bad actress? Bah! Tip the guy over the rails of the Bosphorus ferry forthwith..
Is it ludicrous? Afterall he's a human being with flaws and faults of his own. Fish (I miss her
I'm not convinced that they quite nailed him as a hero until the next film (Even though he does nothing heroic in Goldfinger at all!
Klebb is a bit of a hoot in this, which works well with a cinema audience. I can't take her seriously. "Come come my dear, a real labour of love..." rubbish delivery, phoning in her lines.
Much of the rest of it could be a Morcecambe and Wise spy spoof with that sinister speccy guy with a beret emerging from the shadows round the back of a newspaper stand.
I know it's 'better' than YOLT but I prefer those other films which are just a laugh unlike the ones you're meant to believe in but can't. File this with CR - no insult in many fans' book, I realise.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
I see where you're coming from, although I don't feel so strongly- that celebrated bit where she puts her hand on Tatania's knee is very stagely and feels weirdly mechanical. I think Bianci's very good, though- nice mix of self-respect and naivety.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
The 'labour of love' as you probably know is a reference to the Fleming title - its just a lead into the next 'punting scene'.
The scene itself is good because of the implied menace (you will not leave this room alive). And the fact that she has Romanova trapped. The corporal has no choice but to comply and Klebb sinisterly takes advantage of her position (or ex position) but making advances to her.
Its actually a ghastly power-play scene played well by Lenya and Bianchi and directed by Terence Young.
"Then you will not leave this room alive..."
Stunned, wide eyed response from Tania. A beat...
"I will obey your orders."
You can imagine the audience laughter at that, as if to say "You don't say...!" It's all in keeping with the jokey, archly sinister tone of the proceedings.
I don't say I wouldn't love seeing this in a film with first timers (sadly impossible really without a time machine) but on TV less so.
Another gag is when Kronsteen is killed rather than Klebb, who is caught dabbing her forehead with a tissue, then whips it away. There'd be nothing so funny/comical in most recent Bonds of this ilk among villains, save perhaps Dr Kaufman.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Its a joke? Are YOU joking?
Tania is summoned in fear by Klebb. She thinks Klebb still works for SMERSH which has the power of life or death over its employees. When Klebb makes the "not leave this room.." Tania believes her - she is capable of doing that. To protect her plans she would probably kill Tania with her poisoned shoe. Tania is now terrified and more compliable. Its a serious scene.
Another gag? This is another serious scene. The power of Blofeld is shown by quickly and efficiently killing a top notch employee for failure.
Is FRWL a gagfest to you? Are you watching the Austin Powers version?
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Roger Moore 1927-2017
As for funny moments in FRWL; I always love the bit on Spectre 'Island' where they stroll through the training camp. It's full of machine guns firing (despite being the 'Island' being silent and tranquil before we got to the training bit) and the machine guns get noticibly quieter as we walk a few metres away! Nice and polite guns, that's the Spectre way!
Oh, and James Bond wandering into his bathroom with the full force of an orchestra going full tilt on the brassy swing part of the Bond theme in the background always makes me titter too. BA-DA DA DAAAA!!!
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Great big OTT action celebratory action theme kicking in as a man wanders offscreen into his bathroom? A little out of place, no?
Roger Moore 1927-2017