# The James Bond Film Festival. Part 1: Dr. No **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 29, 2003, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-james-bond-film-festival-part-1-dr-no/185200 "2003-06-29T19:19:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-james-bond-film-festival-part-1-dr-no/185200/1 "2003-06-29T19:19:36Z")
A while back there was a series of threads for Academy Award winning films. This one is for James Bond. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves and start talking about all of the films in the series. This thread is for _Dr. No_. Here’s the game: Between now and next weekend, watch _Dr. No_ and post your impressions of it. After next weekend watch _From Russia with Love_, and so forth. The idea is to talk about each film individually, with references when necessary to the previous film(s). I have just popped _Dr. No_ into the DVD player, so I’ll not post about it yet. I’ll follow the rules and watch it (again!) first, then post later. I know there are a lot of Bond fans on the boards; let’s have some fun! ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-james-bond-film-festival-part-1-dr-no/185200/2 "2003-06-29T20:40:37Z")
I like this thread idea a lot. I’ll just join you guys when you get to **Thunderball** and **On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.** Oops. Wasn’t supposed to discuss those yet. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-james-bond-film-festival-part-1-dr-no/185200/3 "2003-06-29T22:05:27Z")
Well, what can be said? The first Bond film. _Dr. No_ is one of my favourites. IIRC, the budget was small; about $1 million. A hearse is destroyed in a firey fashion, and there was one good explosion. The model must have cost a bit. But many of the sets were fairly generic, which undoubtedly saved some money. Dr. No’s interrogation room is a minimalist’s delight. Just a big open room with a circular skylight with a grating on it. The plot is that there is an evil scientist (Dr. No, played by Joeseph Wiseman) who is “toppling” rockets – throwing off their gyros with a powerful radio signal and causing them to crash off-course. Bond (Sean Connery) gets involved when British agent CDR Strangways (Tim Moxon) and his secratary disappear. Bond discovers that rock samples taken from Crab Key (No’s hideout) are radioactive and he becomes convinced that No is behind the disappearance. Bond is a good fighter who relies on his wits to see him through. His weapons are his brains and the Walther PPK that replaced his trusty Beretta. The low budget made for a very straightforward story. I love that old-school colour. The vintage clothing and vehicles were cool too. What it must have been like to live in that time! No internet, no computer-controlled cars… but a time when “futuristic” things-to-come were in vogue. One “nugget” that most people will not catch (nor did I, until hearing the commentary) is Goya’s portrait of the Duke of Wellington in Dr. No’s lair. Topical at the time, it’s a reference to the recently stolen artwork. There were a couple of things that bothered me. For one, the “superstition” of the “dragon” on Dr. No’s island. Quarrel (John Kitzmiller) is working with the CIA. I found it hard to believe that even if he grew up in a world that believed in such things, that he would believe in _that_. And Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress) has been around the world. Sure, she was self-taught after the death of her father; but her father must have taught her about the difference between reality and superstition. Even after they see the “dragon tracks”, which were obviously made by a vehicle, they thought the dragon was real. I think it would have been better if they had caught on sooner. Other things that bothered me were: Puss Feller (Lester Prendergast) got his name from felling an octopus, not because he wrestled alligators; and Honey’s statement that the mosquitos were after salt. Minor points, but they were noticed. The scene where Bond is awakened by a dangerous tarantula (most aren’t, but they’re photogenic) is interesting. I had heard that Sean Connery is terrified of spiders. When the spider is crawling on his arm, you don’t see his face. It’s a crew member who doubled for him. But there _is_ a shot where you see the spider and Bond’s face at the same time. Look closely and you’ll see that there is a pane of glass between Sean Conenry and the spider. Incidentally, the spider would only crawl one direction – and it wasn’t the direction they needed for the shot! The filmmakers had to rotate the “room” 90º and tilt the camera so that the spider would crawl the right way in relation to the actor. You know I like British sports cars. How 'bout that Sunbeam Alpine, eh? So there you have it. Beautiful locations, classic 1962 titles, a sports car, an Evil Villain, pretty women, dangerous men, pretty and dangerous women… it’s all there. One of the best. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-james-bond-film-festival-part-1-dr-no/185200/4 "2003-06-29T22:08:27Z")
Well, Dr. No still strikes me the same way as it always had. It is the worst Sean Conery Bond movie. While not a bad film in itself, it is a mediocre start to the series. Great opening few minutes though… “Bond, James Bond.” ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-james-bond-film-festival-part-1-dr-no/185200/5 "2003-06-30T01:17:43Z")
I saw Dr. No again not long ago at a real theater. It’s not my favorite Bond, but it is right up there. It (and From Russia With Love) have the most realistic Bonds - ruthless men who you can believe are killers. It has the first of the oft-repeated rocket launch sets. But best of all, Ursula Undress is still my favorite Bond girl. Yum. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-james-bond-film-festival-part-1-dr-no/185200/6 "2003-06-30T01:23:46Z")
> [@](#): > > It is the worst Sean Conery Bond movie. Except the other Bond films hadn’t been made yet. 😉 > [@](#): > > While not a bad film in itself, it is a mediocre start to the series. I think the film stands on its own merits and shouldn’t be compared to the rest of the series. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-james-bond-film-festival-part-1-dr-no/185200/7 "2003-06-30T01:26:02Z")
> [@](#): > > It… [has] the most realistic Bonds - ruthless men who you can believe are killers. Indeed. Bond shoots Professor Dent (Anthony Dawson) in cold blood. “That’s a Smith and Wesson. You’ve had your six.” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-james-bond-film-festival-part-1-dr-no/185200/8 "2003-06-30T01:31:15Z")
> [@](#): > > I think the film stands on its own merits and shouldn’t be compared to the rest of the series. Just to clarify… Before _Dr. No_ there were no other Bond films to compare it to. That’s why I think it should not be compared to the later films until (and in) there are threads about them. (I’ve already watched _From Russia with Love_ today and have written a post about it – which I’ll post next week.) ---
**Author:** ![av8rmike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/edb3f5/32.png) [@av8rmike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/av8rmike)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-james-bond-film-festival-part-1-dr-no/185200/9 "2003-06-30T02:10:51Z")
The film is also pretty close to the book. The scenes of Bond escaping from his cell are lifted straight from the book, where it was intended as a sort of “running the gauntlet” test for Bond. I also find it interesting that _Dr. No_ the movie was made first, but takes place after _From Russia With Love_ in book order. The scene near the beginning where M tells Bond he needs to get a new gun because his previous one jammed refers to the scene in _FRWL_, the previous book but following movie. That scene also marks the first appearance of Major Boothroyd, who’s only referred to as “Armorer,” not Q, and not played by Desmond Llewelyn. I think it’s not the best of the series, but certainly not the worst. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-james-bond-film-festival-part-1-dr-no/185200/10 "2003-06-30T02:33:15Z")
> [@](#): > > The scenes of Bond escaping from his cell are lifted straight from the book, where it was intended as a sort of “running the gauntlet” test for Bond. Yeah, Bond wasn’t supposed to make it through. But if he did, there was always that octopus to deal with! I’ll ask you about the jammed gun next week in the as-yet-unposted FRWL thread. ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-james-bond-film-festival-part-1-dr-no/185200/11 "2003-06-30T04:24:57Z")
A few points- best theme-no lyrics. You can see camera lights in reflection of hearse hauling away Strangways’ dead body. Where did his car go anyway? Same lady dubbed Andress & hotel clerk-I guess Ursula’s English was not good enough. Anthony Dawson was great as Prof. Dent. When Bond punches Jones, he pulls back right arm, but hits him w/ left. Best opening, when we meet Bond. Also the lady that Bond met at her home was not Asian at all. When the burning hearse went down the hill, I saw no bodies inside. i like it because no “tricks.” I guess this got Lord his role in Hawaii 50. ---
**Author:** ![Major\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Major\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Major_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-james-bond-film-festival-part-1-dr-no/185200/12 "2003-06-30T05:13:25Z")
> [@](#): > > Just to clarify… Before Dr. No there were no other Bond films to compare it to. Wasn’t there a made for television British film before Dr. No? Personally, I really like Connery’s performance. He can be so cold and ruthless. The set designs are also amazing, especially when you consider the budget. And don’t forget the editing. I love the way the edited the early Bond fights. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-james-bond-film-festival-part-1-dr-no/185200/13 "2003-06-30T06:26:51Z")
A lot of the movie looks like the Cary Grant drawing-room mystery {b}Dr. No\*\* was originally intended to be, esp. the hotel scenes. Yep, Cary Grant was who Fleming originally wanted as Bond, and Noel Coward was the first choice for Dr. No (Coward responded to the request by letter: “Dear Ian, No no no no NO!”) ---
**Author:** ![Skip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@Skip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skip)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-james-bond-film-festival-part-1-dr-no/185200/14 "2003-06-30T09:51:10Z")
Dr No is my favourite bond because it doesn’t rely on gadgetry or massive stunts like the ones we’ve been seeing lately have. Just Bond, his wits and a licence to kill. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-james-bond-film-festival-part-1-dr-no/185200/15 "2003-06-30T12:56:30Z")
> [@](#): > > Cary Grant was who Fleming originally wanted as Bond According to [this site](http://members.tripod.com/~Bond_MI6/DrNO/dr_no.html), Fleming originally wanted Roger Moore to play James Bond; but Moore was already committed to _The Saint_. Cary Grant, David Niven, Trevor Howard, and Rex Harrison were considered (I assume by the producers, not Fleming). ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-james-bond-film-festival-part-1-dr-no/185200/16 "2003-06-30T13:04:58Z")
In Fleming’s Playboy Interview he said that he envisioned Hoagy Carmichael as Bond. And as for Dr. No. Two words: Ursula Andress. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-james-bond-film-festival-part-1-dr-no/185200/17 "2003-06-30T13:19:30Z")
> [@](#): > > In Fleming’s Playboy Interview he said that he envisioned Hoagy Carmichael as Bond. In the books, Fleming often said that Bond resembled Hoagy Charmichael. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-james-bond-film-festival-part-1-dr-no/185200/18 "2003-06-30T15:23:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > \*\*Except the other Bond films hadn’t been made yet. 😉 \*\* So? They have been now. We compare the first Star Wars with the rest of them, why not the first Bond? \*\* [/quote] I think the film stands on its own merits and shouldn’t be compared to the rest of the series. \*\* [/QUOTE] Again, why wouldn’t we compare it with its sequels? ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-james-bond-film-festival-part-1-dr-no/185200/19 "2003-06-30T15:31:36Z")
Of course we should compare it to its sequels. All the elements that make a Bond flick didn’t come together right away, but over time, like with _Thunderball_ or _Goldfinger._ ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-james-bond-film-festival-part-1-dr-no/185200/20 "2003-06-30T15:38:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > \*\*In the books, Fleming often said that Bond resembled Hoagy Charmichael. \*\* with a “thin, cruel mouth”. Well, he _does_ look like a [killer](http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/collections/hoagy/) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-james-bond-film-festival-part-1-dr-no/185200.md?page=2)