From Russia with Love (1963)

☆ ☆ ☆ ½

From Russia with Love (1963) – T. Young

Yes, James Bond films do come with a lot of baggage, particularly in their treatment of women. Bond is an unrepentant womaniser (where such a word makes sense, in the context of 1963) but, as played by Sean Connery, he does seem to genuinely care about his love interest here, Russian agent Tatiana Romanova (played by Italian model Daniela Bianchi). However, the filmmakers themselves do objectify women, as does the script (so there goes Bond himself). So, you have to be willing to set aside this problematic aspect in order to enjoy the film (and these concerns do prevent me from giving it a higher rating). This is only the second Bond film (after Dr No) and it feels rather low key for most of its run time, only offering some really expensive stunts at the very end.  Before that, Bond is in Turkey meeting the Russian agent who is defecting to London with the Soviets’ secret coding machine (although in reality she is a pawn in a plot by S.P.E.C.T.R.E to kill Bond and get the machine).  Robert Shaw (looking nothing like the salty dog of Jaws) is Bond’s nemesis, chasing him across Eastern Europe (including on the Orient Express).  Of course, there are the usual gadgets offered by Q, banter with Miss Moneypenny and M, and a generally campy atmosphere – but these don’t dominate the action sequences themselves.  One of the better outings?