Pros and Cons: Dr. No

Absolutely_CartAbsolutely_Cart NJ/NYC, United StatesPosts: 1,740MI6 Agent
edited March 2015 in The James Bond Films
The very first James Bond film. Features Sean Connery. It was a struggle for Eon to get this movie in production, but they did it, and with a sizable but very limited budget of 1 million, they managed to pull it off. Was initially criticized for having too much sex and violence, but now is seen as tame, and the movie that started this massive 007 franchise.

Pros:
[list=*]
[*]One of Connery's best performances[/*]
[*]Connery and Andress had chemistry[/*]
[*]Dr. No is a terrifying villain[/*]
[*]Beautiful colorful island scenery[/*]
[*]The dinner table talk begins "talking villain syndrome"[/*]
[*]Influenced so many aspects of the entire series[/*]
[*]Smart directing and sound emphasizes important subtleties[/*]
[*]Is humorful and creative, but still is overall serious ; well balanced[/*]
[*]It's pure ; Bond as a spy - not an action hero[/*]
[*]First half is suspenseful but surely paced[/*]
[*]Second half is tense/bleak with a nice climax[/*]
[*]Quaint and nostalgic sense of minimalism all around[/*]
[/list]

Cons:
[list=*]
[*]Somewhat of a condescending British "White mans burden" attitude[/*]
[*]The tank "dragon" wasn't very convincing.[/*]
[*]Honey Ryder, as a character was a 10 y/o in a 25 y/o's body[/*]
[*]^^ That's not sexy!! That's borderline pedophile.[/*]
[/list]

Dr. No is a great Bond film. It was one of the very first ones I watched. I thought I would like it less over time once I watched the other films, but this gem really does hold up. I am a fan of the more modern post-Thatcher Bond films, but sometimes it's good to put away the gunshots and explosions for more of a nuanced atmosphere. Sometimes less is more.
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Comments

  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Pros -

    Amazing Location
    Vibrant Atmosphere
    Intimidating Villain
    One of the sexiest Bond Girls ever

    Cons -

    Fetch my Shoes! :#
    Slower then the later Films
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • Absolutely_CartAbsolutely_Cart NJ/NYC, United StatesPosts: 1,740MI6 Agent
    Forgot to add a pro about the great location/scenery. Will do that.

    Ursula Andress may be very attractive, but Honey Ryder is NOT sexy. She's jail-bait.

    As for the speed of the film, I partially agree. I watched this movie a few months ago, and it was too slow so I turned it off. I returned back to it last week and watched the whole thing in full. I guess it just depends on what you're in the mood to watch.
  • hehadlotsofgutshehadlotsofguts Durham England Posts: 2,107MI6 Agent
    Pros
    The Jamaican locations

    Honey's vulnerability when she is in the same room as No. She looks absolutely terrified throuhout.

    The soundtrack

    Dr No is a great villain

    Bond's false exit tecnique when he meets Dent.

    A hot femme fatale in Miss Taro

    First appearance of a reccurring actor (Milton Reid)

    Cons.

    The fight between Bond and No was to quick.
    Have you ever heard of the Emancipation Proclamation?"

    " I don't listen to hip hop!"
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    I forgot to mention Bonds Introduction -{
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • 002002 New ZealandPosts: 558MI6 Agent
    Pros: Everything about it except the back projection in the chase sequence

    Cons: The back projection in the chase sequence
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Back Projection for Films in the 60's was common.
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Yes, all those older films did it. I guess that was the best they could do for the time. :)
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,061MI6 Agent
    Yes, all those older films did it. I guess that was the best they could do for the time. :)
    We must attempt time travel so we can go back to the making of Dr. No & explain how camera mounts & tow vehicles can be used to film actors in driving scenes.
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Look at the similar films of the day, North by Northwest for instance. ;)
    They were made at a time when films were Movies and not realistic
    Documentaries. :D
    We could also travel back in time to teach the mediaeval artists about
    Perspective ? :p
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,061MI6 Agent
    We could also travel back in time to teach the mediaeval artists about
    Perspective ? :p
    NOW you're talkin' a rather serious paradox.... ;)
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • 002002 New ZealandPosts: 558MI6 Agent
    chrisisall wrote:
    We could also travel back in time to teach the mediaeval artists about
    Perspective ? :p
    NOW you're talkin' a rather serious paradox.... ;)

    But just think how epic the Bayeux tapestry would look! :))
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    It would bring life to the " Naughty bits" of it ;)
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Blackadder ? :))
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • Absolutely_CartAbsolutely_Cart NJ/NYC, United StatesPosts: 1,740MI6 Agent

    The fight between Bond and No was to quick.

    Yeah, but it was funny how Dr. No couldn't pull himself out of the nuclear waste because he had no hands.

    Gosh, I love this movie. Classic.
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent

    The fight between Bond and No was to quick.

    Yeah, but it was funny how Dr. No couldn't pull himself out of the nuclear waste because he had no hands.

    Gosh, I love this movie. Classic.

    If you find his Film Death funny, then read the Novel Version.
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    If you find his Film Death funny, then read the Novel Version.

    Yeah, I'd love to see that in a film some day!
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,618MI6 Agent
    Dr. No is probably the best movie from the entire series
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • Absolutely_CartAbsolutely_Cart NJ/NYC, United StatesPosts: 1,740MI6 Agent
    So, YOLT is your subjective favorite and DN is the move you feel is objectively the best?
  • hehadlotsofgutshehadlotsofguts Durham England Posts: 2,107MI6 Agent

    The fight between Bond and No was to quick.

    Yeah, but it was funny how Dr. No couldn't pull himself out of the nuclear waste because he had no hands.

    Gosh, I love this movie. Classic.

    I actually felt sorry for him. Just looked helpless.
    Have you ever heard of the Emancipation Proclamation?"

    " I don't listen to hip hop!"
  • CmdrAtticusCmdrAtticus United StatesPosts: 1,102MI6 Agent
    Pros:

    - Has Fleming's work to base the screenplay on and stays close to it.
    - Connery makes an impressive first appearance and makes EON's Bond into
    an iconic character.
    - Wiseman makes a creepy, robotic like No.
    - Andress is perfect eye candy for the first EON heroine.
    - Filming in the real Jamaican locations.

    Cons:

    - Pacing is too slow even for the speed of the films of this era (compare to
    North By Northwest - an even older film).
    - Connery makes an impression but IMO still seems unconvincing as having an
    Eton/upper class history.
    - Andress is actually too attractive for the character (who had a crooked
    nose) and does not convince me she is the "tomboy/camping out" type of
    adventurer her character is supposed to be.
    - Wise is a fine actor but I would have preferred Christopher Lee - he made a
    great Fu Manchu and would have been a natural for the role.
    - A lot of the background music wasn't very good and comes across as music
    one is used to hearing in low budget horror films of the time. Only the
    calypso music and the Bond theme resonate, though the track that is used
    for Bond's voyage to Crab Key is fine.
    - Bond humming a tune to Moneypenny in her office. Out of character for him.
    - I liked the whole intro of Connery's "Bond, James Bond" except for the
    cigarette dangling from his mouth like a gangster or Bogart. Not exactly a
    sophisticated action. Damon Runyon's characters did that, not Bond.
    - Connery's condescending "Fetch my shoes" line. Ugh. Wish they could just
    edit that out.
    - John Kitzmiller. He was fine in some scenes (though his accent is not that
    convincing - he was an American actor born in Michigan), but in other's
    his reactions to being frightful appear almost comical. The actor Roy
    Stewart who played "Quarrel Jr." in LALD made a more convincing character
    and he was actually born in Jamaica (even though the character is from
    the Caymans). Now HE would have been great in the film (had he been
    at that age in '62).
    - Bond in the tunnels. Not suspenseful enough IMO. Neither is how Honey
    is supposed to be killed. They should have shown the water about to
    drown her.
    - No's hands. I know the pincers were difficult to do then, but they should
    have tried anyway. Black rubber cloves are not very scary.
    - I still wanted to see No die under tons of bird crap. Oh well...
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 36,053Chief of Staff
    cloves are not very scary.

    They taste good, though. ;%

    More seriously, I agree that Lee would have been a wonderful No and that most of the music stinks.
  • hehadlotsofgutshehadlotsofguts Durham England Posts: 2,107MI6 Agent
    I read in John Cork's James Bond The Legacy that the metal hands that Wiseman wore were actually metal. He said that they were uncomfortable.
    Have you ever heard of the Emancipation Proclamation?"

    " I don't listen to hip hop!"
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    The same with Keils Teeth.
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • Penfold HeartPenfold Heart Posts: 159MI6 Agent
    **It's pure ; Bond as a spy - not an action hero**

    Whilst I agree with the purity of the story, I see Bond more of an "investigator" than a spy in Dr. No
  • Bondage007Bondage007 AustraliaPosts: 371MI6 Agent
    I watched Dr No the other day - first movie in my Bondathon. Thoroughly enjoyed it, to my surprise. Brilliant to watch on blu ray.

    Cons:
    - Bond's attitude to Quarrel. And he's dismissive to people in general which I suppose is a character trait.
    - No Barry score
    - Ally tailing Bond for no reason instead of saying hello like a normal person (minor issue)
    - The torture tunnel could've been something much more sinister...Dr No says he "hasn't finished with him", which isn't elaborated on in the final film but is in the book.
    - Dr No's death is not very memorable compared to what happens in the books but is a sensible decision for a first entry.

    Pros:
    - Establishes all the Bond mannerisms which sadly do not appear much in later films. And has most if not all elements of the "Bond formula"
    - Attention to detail. Shoes off when Trench is playing golf, opening new vodka when he knew his room got searched, Quarrel scared of the dragon so drinking rum on the way to Crab Key, pouring two shots of drink on the coffee table when waiting for Dent. Every thing Connery does, every movement is not an accident. He was told exactly how to behave here.
    - The introductions of Dr No and of course Bond

    Quality wise, one of the best. This will be hard to rank.
    2019 Bondathon...in progress (6) FRWL (7) GE (8) FYEO (9) TND (10) MR (11) GF (12) LALD (13) DAF (14) LTK (15) TMWTGG (16) TB (17) TSWLM (18) DAD (19) AVTAK (20) YOLT (21) QOS (22) SF (23) TWINE (24) SP
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,061MI6 Agent
    Bondage007 wrote:
    This will be hard to rank.
    Not a bit of it; rank it highly! -{
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • CoolHandBondCoolHandBond Mactan IslandPosts: 6,030MI6 Agent
    I am re-watching all the movies and making a new league ladder under my present one - I shall watch them all in order of release (yes, even QOS :)) ) which I detest.

    DR NO: Last watched about 5 years ago.

    Pros:

    Titles
    3 Blind Mice scenes
    Casino
    Bond - Moneypenny - M sequence
    Hotel scene where Bond sets intrusion traps - hair on wardrobe etc.
    Quarell - Leiter meeting
    Dent in spider room
    Spider on Bond
    Miss Taro seduction
    Shooting Dent
    Crab Key scenery
    Honey Ryder
    Danger Sign
    Swamp scenes
    Dr No's lair
    Dinner with Dr No
    Tunnel sequence
    Dr No fight
    Model work explosion
    Boat scene ending

    Cons:

    Music. I think Monty Norman was a poor composer and we have John Barry to thank for arranging the theme into something special. The incidental music is very weak.

    Observations:

    When Bond introduces himself as "Bond, James Bond" he is mimicking Sylvia Trench's line "Trench, Sylvia Trench" so do we have Sylvia to thank for the most famous line in the series?

    Bond has been in the service for 10 years and M says casualties have fallen 40% since he has been in charge so does this mean that M is a more recent employee to the service than Bond is?

    Miss Taro's address changes from 239 to 2171 from when she instructs him in voiceover the route to her house to when Bond orders the "taxi".

    Conclusion:

    A fabulous beginning to the saga and one which will surely rank high in the final table.
    Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Dr No is an amazingly modern film, for its time. Compare it to many
    Other late 50s or early 60s thrillers, to see how the story grabs you by
    The scruff of the neck and drives along, hardly letting up for a second.
    The addition of Prof Dent, is brilliant and leads to one of the great cinema
    Moments. ;)
    I also love the Ken Adam sets, the use of copper in the underground lair is
    Remarkably colourful, and compliments the rough rock walls.
    Joseph Wiseman is a great villain, his voice so emotionless, yet so commanding.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • stagstag Posts: 2,083MI6 Agent
    It's a great film.

    Here's something I thought may be of interest:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcILuuZxIag
  • Bondage007Bondage007 AustraliaPosts: 371MI6 Agent
    stag wrote:
    It's a great film.

    Here's something I thought may be of interest:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcILuuZxIag

    I saw that recently. He doesn't play it very well, or with much emotion.
    2019 Bondathon...in progress (6) FRWL (7) GE (8) FYEO (9) TND (10) MR (11) GF (12) LALD (13) DAF (14) LTK (15) TMWTGG (16) TB (17) TSWLM (18) DAD (19) AVTAK (20) YOLT (21) QOS (22) SF (23) TWINE (24) SP
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