Dr. No

UK Release Date. 5 October 1962
Certification. PG
Running Time. 1 hour 50 mins
Director. Terence Young
Cast. Ursula Andress, Sean Connery, Anthony Dawson, Eunice Gayson, Joseph Wiseman.
Rating. 58%

Review.

Sitting at a crowded gaming table at the exclusive Les Ambassadeurs nightclub in London, an attractive woman in an off-the-shoulder red evening gown is losing heavily at Baccarat. She introduces herself to the banker (and the audience) as Sylvia Trench (Eunice Gayson). The camera slowly pans across the table to the hitherto unseen banker - the recipient of Trench's winnings - pausing only to light a cigarette, Sean Connery introduces himself with the now iconic line, "Bond. James Bond." All the while Monty Norman's James Bond theme plays in the background. There may be more dramatic scenes in the Bond films, but sixty years on, there is still no cooler moment than his introduction - and quite frankly, there never will be.

With that, one of cinema's most enduring franchises is born. Although the term franchise wouldn't be applied to the cinema for decades to come. Dr. No, and indeed, the early films of the 1960s - From Russia With Love, Goldfinger and Thunderball - were not the institution of later films that offered a curious and embarrassingly archaic badge of national pride by the time Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan portrayed the character.

The first adaptation of Ian Fleming's James Bond series began with the sixth novel, Dr. No, and not the first novel, Casino Royale. Terence Young's adaptation is well-crafted and faithfully reproduces the components upon which Fleming's reputation rests - fastidious accuracy, slick dialogue, and exotic, hedonistic locations. For the most part, the Bond films are independent creations - the films largely ignored the source material after Diamonds Are Forever (with the exception of borrowing the odd title).

Dr. No is, in truth, a modest thriller, rather than an expansive, international espionage adventure. However, James Bond's debut is defined by Sean Connery. Connery is confident but not arrogant, exudes charisma and charm, but is ruthless when required. This is a different kind of Bond. A heartless Bond. Bond's first on-screen killing is undoubtedly one of his most callous. He'll kill in cold blood again but only when motivated by necessity. This is an execution. Professor R.J. Dent (Anthony Dawson) poses little threat; Bond could have easily handed him over to the authorities if he wished.

The rest of the supporting cast is elevated through the passing of time. Joseph Wiseman delivers an interesting villain and introduces the cinematic world to SPECTRE. Despite very limited screen time, his influence is remarkable and casts a foreboding presence over the entire film. Ursula Andress' role is largely irrelevant, but her initial appearance is the stuff of cinematic folklore. Her portrayal of Honey Rider created the 'Bond girl' as we know it; and subsequent films have referenced Andress' bikini-clad appearance twice - Halle Berry (Jinx Johnson) in Die Another Day and Daniel Craig (as James Bond) in Casino Royale. 

Dr. No will almost certainly be too slow for those raised on a diet of Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig - there is little action, save for a couple of car chase sequences. And whilst Dr. No may not be the best James Bond film, the film remains grounded in reality and includes the classic elements of any James Bond film. Were it not for the fact that this is the first James Bond film, Terence Young's Dr. No would probably not be remembered as fondly as it is. 

So much is made of the regular rebooting of Bond and the reinterpretation of the character for a modern audience, with endless, futile discussions regarding who is the best James Bond? Whilst Daniel Craig has an impressive set of Bond films in his filmography, Sean Connery delivered the archetypal Bond in Dr. No. The James Bond against which all other actors are judged. The reality is the impossible dream - to turn back the hands of time and somehow see a youthful Sean Connery lope into M's office one last time. And whilst Casino Royale and Skyfall dutifully pay homage, you can never go back.