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Every year, Hollywood seems to find ways to make bigger, bolder, more explosive action movies—movies that draw huge crowds and bring in hundreds of millions of dollars at the box office. But no matter how flashy and expensive the biggest, hottest blockbusters may be, there’s still nothing like a classic James Bond movie—like 1963’s From Russia with Love.
The second 007 adventure finds Sean Connery’s Bond caught in the middle of a plot by international terrorist organization SPECTRE to avenge fallen agent Dr. No—while heating up Cold War tensions and making some extra money in the process. Their plan is to use Bond and unsuspecting cipher clerk Tatiana Romanova (Daniela Bianchi) to steal a Lektor cryptographic device from the Soviets, only to sell it back to them once SPECTRE’s ruthless assassin has taken care of Bond. But as their detailed plan begins to unravel, they find that they’ve underestimated their opponent—and his irresistible way with the ladies.
From Russia with Love is such a quintessential spy thriller that it’s become the origin of endless spy thriller clichés. In fact, if you’ve seen the Austin Powers movies, you’ll recognize many of the characters and plot points. But this film has been repeatedly imitated and parodied for good reason: because it works. It’s just plain fun to watch: fast-paced and thrilling, with sinister villains, cool gadgets, beautiful women, and often delightfully cheesy effects. And, of course, it all revolves around a hero who’s both deadly and debonair.
As the original Bond, Connery set the standard for the beloved secret agent. His Bond is suave and sophisticated, with just the right amount of boyish charm to make his frequent indiscretions forgivable (and sometimes even endearing). He can break into any building. He can outsmart his enemies while racing to Venice in a speed boat. He can seduce any woman alive. And he can do it all without breaking a sweat or wrinkling his perfectly-pressed suit.
Still, this adventure isn’t always easy to follow. The cast is loaded with spies, villains, and double agents—each with his or her own unique (and often uniquely complicated) agenda. For that reason, it can be challenging to keep track of each alliance, rivalry, and deception—but it’s all so entertaining that you probably won’t care.
With its hip ‘60s style, its Cold War double-crossing, and its oh-so-smooth star, From Russia with Love is classic 007. It may not have the big-budget effects of your favorite summer blockbuster, but it’s definitely worth including in your next Bond movie marathon.
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