The James Bond film series is one of my favorite franchises. For more than fifty years, it has amassed thousands of fans of multiple generations. It is a series that has set the standard for action movies ever since its inception in 1962 with Dr. No.
Dr. No is the first film in the James Bond series, and is the story of James Bond investigating the disappearance of a fellow colleague and the disruption of Cape Canaveral rockets. This is a solid first entry in the series that introduces our favorite British spy perfectly. The action is thrilling, the locations are breathtaking and the villain is as evil as they come. Speaking of which, the film also does a nice job of introducing S.P.E.C.T.R.E., the terrorist organization that Bond battles for the next few films. There are a few minor flaws with the film. At one point in the film, the hotel receptionist tells Bond that the car he ordered has arrived. The problem is we never actually see him order the car. Also, towards the climax of the film, Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress) and Bond pass out on the floor from drinking drugged coffee. Then, in the next scene he is sleeping in his bed. How in the world did he manage to get there?? Anyway, these are extremely minor flaws in an otherwise groundbreaking film that would go on to define an entire genre.
Sean Connery ignites the screen in his first performance as James Bond. This first iteration of Bond is a tad more nervous and jittery than what we know him to be, but he still brings all the charm, wit and lethalness that has since become the blueprint for the character. Connery shines in the role, and brings all these different layers of emotion to life brilliantly while also having good chemistry with the other actors. I particularly like what Connery does as an actor in the dinner scene with Dr. No (Joseph Wiseman). James Bond will, for better or worse, always be Connerys' signature role, and it is this career-defining performance that set him on that path.
Terence Young is the director of Dr. No. Young beautifully shows us what have become staples of the franchise: exotic locations and exciting action sequences. During the climax of the film, when the characters are investigating Crab Key, the lush environments are absolutely gorgeous. Also, the chase sequences in the film are thrilling to watch, as is the climactic sequence at Dr. Nos' lair. There are also some other key moments in the film that I would like to point out. The scene where the tarantula is climbing on James Bond in bed is so tense to watch because of the slow cuts. Also, in the scene where Professor Dent (Anthony Dawson) tells Dr. No of Bonds' impending arrival, I love the way the camera slowly zooms in on Dent as Dr. No grows increasingly aggravated. Young does a wonderful job of introducing us to the world of James Bond.
The release of Dr. No. set forth a series of films that would go on to be the longest running franchise in cinema history. While the film has its flaws, no one can deny its success. If you are a Bond fan and you have not watched this movie in a while, or ever, do yourself a favor and treat yourself to it. You will not regret it.
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