As a Bond fan I always self-identified as a "Goldfinger." Not very original, I know, but it's a damned good film -- great action sequences, over-the-top plot, Honor Blackman karate-chopping people, and that car... It's when the elements Bond film franchise really came together.
But, after watching it twice within the past few years, once on a the big screen at a local theater that did a double feature of it with, of course, "Goldfinger," I'm thinking maybe I'm a "Dr. No" guy.
I'd sort of written it off as an early entry -- a little awkward. Sean Connery was new to screen-acting, the producers were still getting a handle on tone and figuring out how to make Ian Fleming's superspy work on screen. But, during both of these recent viewing, I was highly entertained. It's a fun movie, with some good action scenes, some funny lines, great music, lovely on-location stuff filmed in Jamaica and Ursula Andress -- a classic Bond girl. No cool car, though.
So, it was underrated in my mind, but no longer. It's near the top of my Bond list. I still love "Goldfinger" and would probably put "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" at number two. Weird, I know. But it's a great Bond flick -- John Barry is at the top of his game on the soundtrack, I love that cable car scene, and it's the one pre-Daniel Craig film where Bond is humanized. I'll need to do a Pop Focus on that one sometimes, too. Oh, plus Diana Rigg.
But, in the meantime, here's a selection of images and artifacts from "Dr. No." Enjoy!
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Dr. No, original hardcover novel by Ian Fleming |
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Dr. No adaptation in DC Comics Showcase Presents 1963 |
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Dr. No original soundtrack album |
Ah, Ursula Undress, as Mad Magazine christened her. Drool!
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