007: Dr No (1962)
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Although Ian fleming's novels had become literary sensations by 1961, producers Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman found major studios less than enthusiastic about bringing Mr Bond to the screen. The most common objections? The subject was 'too British' and 'too blantantly sexual'. Eventually United Artists' chief Arthus Krim allocated a budget of $1 million for the first of what was hoped to be a modestly successful series of thrillers. The rest, as they say, is history. Dr No was the supprise hit of 1962. Never before had audiences met an anti-hero quite like James Bond. Agent 007 was a connoisseur of fine food and drink. He attracted and bedded legions of beautiful women to satisfy his own healthy sexual appetites. He travelled the world in luxury with the most generous expense account ever granted a British civil servant. He was witty, charming, fearless and incorruptible. In one of those rare masterstrokes of casting, Sean Connery personified James Bond with such perfection that even Ian Fleming (initially critical of Connery for being too uncouth for the role) admitted that it was difficult imagining anoyone else in the part.
Broccoli and Saltzman allocated their somewhat meagre budget wisely and fashioned a film which looked far more expensive than it actually was. With Dr No, the producers established an informal 'stock company' of actors and technicians, many of whom would work on the Bond films for decades to come. The magnificent, hi-tech sets, unique main title sequences and editing style would all become hallmarks of the series and influence the entire action film genre for decades to come. Fans often cite this film and its successor From Russia With Love as the 'purist' adaptions of Fleming's novel, primarily because - in this pre-gadget era - Bond ramined very much a detective who relied on his wits to thwart his enemies. Despite the movie's suprise success, both Cubby Broccoli and Sean Connery would comment decades later that no one ever foresaw that Mr Bond would remain a cultural phenomenon at the start of a new century. Mission Assignment (may contain spoilers)
James Bond flies to Jamaica to investigate the disappearance of fellow agent John Strangways. Bond discovers the man has been murdered to prevent him from looking into the affairs of Dr No, a mysterious scientist who has established a virtual fortress on the nearby island of Crab Key. Bond and a local CIA contact named Quarrel arrive on Crab Key where they encounter Honey Rider, a beautiful young woman who is reluctantly forced to flee with them after the group is discovered and hunted by Dr No's private army. Quarrel is killed in an ensuing battle and Bond and Honey are captured and brought to Dr No's magnificent lair. Here, Dr No informs 007 that he is an agent of SPECTRE, a secret international crime organization which is planning to demonstrate its power by destroying the American space programme. Bond matches wits with Dr No, and escapes numerous death traps before ensuring that his adversary falls victim to his own scheme. He and Honey escape the island immediately prior to a massive explosion which destroys the complex
Marketing & Merchandising
The advertising campaign for Dr No capitalized on the popularity of Ian Fleming's source novel, as well as elements of glamour, intrigue and sexuality. In the USA, President Kennedy's recent announcement that he was a Bond fan led the producers to include this line in the films trailer, 'The favorite of millions from Hong Kong to Hyannisport' (the vacation home of the Kennedy clan). There was also a rather pedantic black-and-white featurette which gave the unintentional improsseion that Dr No was a low budget film.
In Britain, a unique trailer featured special narration by Sean Connery, who was shuttled around the world on a frenzied publicity tour always in the company of beautiful women. Eventually, the strategy of making Connery appear to be a real-life clone of 007 would cause the actor to become disgruntled. The only notable merchandise tie-ins to the film, a comic book adaption of the screenplay, the soundtrack album and the 45rpm single of the Bond theme. Locations
Dr No was shot entirely on location in Jamaica, with interior scenes filmed at Pinewood Studios near London. Chris Blackwell (who went on to found Island Records) was employed at the age of fifteen to assist the location manager in finding suitable shooting sites for the production. Blackwell today is the owner of Ian Fleming's Jamaican home, Goldeneye.
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Film information
Director: Terence Young
Writers: Richard Maibaum, Joanna Harwood, Berkely Marther, Ian Fleming Starring: Sean Connery, Ursula Andress, Joseph Wiseman Release date: 05 October 1962 UK Budget: $1, 100, 000 Gross: $16,067,035 Film number: 01 Find us on FaceBook
Cast
Sean Connery - James Bond
Ursula Andress - Honey Ryder Eunice Gayson - Sylvia Trench Joseph Wiseman - Dr Julius No Anthony Dawson - Professor Dent Zena Marshall - Miss Taro Margaret LeWars - The Photographer Reggie Carter - Mr Jones John Kitzmiller - Quarrel Jack Lord - Felix Leiter Bernard Lee - M Lois Maxwell - Miss Moneypenny Peter Burton - Major Boothroyd Lester Pendergast - Puss-Feller Timothy Moxon - John Strangways Top Secret dossiers
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Dr No was the hit of the 1962/1963 season, and eventually went on to gross $60 million worldwide. Helping matters, ironically, was the movie's condemnation by the Vatican as well as the Kremlin. The former cited Bond's cruelty and sexual aggressiveness, while the latter said that Bond was the personification of everything evil about capitalism. Naturally, the controversy only increased public awareness and made for greater earnings. The film would eventually be successfully re-released over the years, often paired with subsequent Bond movies as a double feature.
Film Goofs
Continuity: When fighting with Jones the chauffeur, Bond pulls back with his right arm and hits him with his left.
Crew or equipment visible: Visible reflected in the window of the car that carries away Strangways' killers. Continuity: While he is waiting in the dark in Miss Taro's house, Bond's socks change from long to short, and his tie disappears by the time he has attached the silencer. Click here for more |
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Date Published: 09 January 2010 Last Updated: 06 September 2011
