Product description

Dr No [Special Edition]

Price: £13.36
RRP: £14.99
Average customer rating: 4.0

Binding : DVD
EAN : 5050070002294
Label : MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)
Manufacturer : MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)
Publisher : MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)
Release date : 2003-11-03
Title : Dr No [Special Edition]
Actor : Array
Audience rating : Parental Guidance
Format : PAL
Languages : Array
Number of items : 1
Region code : 2
Running time : 110
Studio : MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)
Theatrical releaseDate : 1963-05-08
Number of discs : 1

Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Released in 1962, this first James Bond movie remains one of the best and serves as an entertaining reminder that the Bond series began (in keeping with Ian Fleming's novels) with a surprising lack of gadgetry and big-budget fireworks. Sean Connery was just 32 years old when he won the role of Agent 007. In his first adventure James Bond is called to Jamaica where a colleague and secretary have been mysteriously killed. With an American CIA agent (Jack Lord, pre-Hawaii Five-O), they discover that the nefarious Dr. No (Joseph Wiseman) is scheming to blackmail the US government with a device capable of deflecting and destroying US rockets launched from Cape Canaveral. Of course, Bond takes time off from his exploits to enjoy the company of a few gorgeous women, including the bikini-clad Ursula Andress. She gloriously kicks off the long-standing tradition of Bond women who know how to please their favourite secret agent. A sexist anachronism? Maybe, but this is Bond at his purest, kicking off a series of movies that shows no sign of slowing down. --Jeff Shannon
Edition details

Inside Dr. No (PG)
Terence Young: Bond Vivant
Audio commentary featuring director Terence Young and members of the cast and crew
1963 Dr No "featurette"
Dr. No gallery of pictures
Radio advertising
Trailers for Dr. No, From Russia With Love and Goldfinger
Goldfinger and Dr. No TV advertising

On the DVD: "He was James Bond," remarks several interviewees of the late Terence Young, the suave, globetrotting, hard-living director who played a major role in defining the look, humour and tailoring of the Bond movies, making the extras on this DVD something of a cinematic festschrift to his talents. Since this was the first film in the franchise, the "making of" featurette goes into some detail about the Ian Fleming novels and how Sean Connery came to be cast, and made-over, by Young. The featurette also has excerpts from one Young's last interviews, spliced together with observations from his daughter, Ursula Andress (Honey Rider) and many of the other actors, production-designer Ken Adam, composer Monty Norman and host of other talents who took part in the making of the film. Many of their quotes are integrated into the commentary track. Also included is an amusing black and white doc from 1963 narrated by a podgy guy with specs who appears to be cousin of Harry Enfield's Mr. Cholmondley-Warner. --Leslie Felperin

Customer reviews

review by: s.vernon date: 2007-03-27 rating:

THE NAMES BOND, JAMES BOND
MASTER PLAN: sabotage America's space program. Way back when, the wicked humor was already evident, indoctrinating us into a new style of mayhem and violence. Three blind mice, it sings over the credits, after the now-familiar gun-barrel opening shot. These are three blind men, or so it seems, tragically comical as they make their way along; but, we're in for a rude awakening - they are actually ruthless assassins. We're rarely prepared for such plot turns in a Bond thriller, even now, and back then, this being the first one, it must have been fairly shocking. Especially brutal is the murder of the female - this was no way to treat a lady back then. Of course, other ladies in this pic behaved somewhat differently than viewers were accustomed to back in the early sixties. Then Bond himself is introduced (on his home ground of England) - a classic for the ages, as if the filmmakers knew he would still be thrilling us on film four decades later. Maybe they did. Then the 1st appearances of M (male for the next 30 years or so) and Moneypenny, and we're off and running, for 45 years and counting. Even the Q dept. shows up in M's office, but he's not called Q, yet (M refers to him as 'Armourer'); and, a different actor would take over in the next 15 or so Bonders. The repartee here would be revisited in most of the subsequent films and is very enjoyable. Later, we and Bond meet Leiter, Bond's CIA liaison, even though this was redone in the new "Casino Royale" version in 2006.

Bond's first mission on film (not counting the TV "Casino Royale" back in '54) was to Jamaica, where a local agent and his secretary have disappeared. As such, this first one had less scope than the epic adventures dominating the later sixties and onward, where the formula always entailed about three different locations scattered across the globe; Bond stayed in the Jamaica area for this entire mission. And, for most of the film, he was engaged in almost pure detective work, a skill which many feel was subsumed under gadgetry and huge sets as the film series went on. I suppose this can be viewed as a trade off when the budgets became much bigger. But here, Connery as Bond had to command our attention through his powers of observation, training and natural cunning. Bond is a target as soon as he arrives at the new locale and must avoid such dangers as assassination attempts by being pro-active: he anticipates the bad guys, obviously due to years of experience. Connery proves to be the best Bond right off the bat: you can see him out-thinking the villains scene to scene and he's arrogant enough to allow himself some self-knowing smirking as he foils their lethal plans over & over, yet it's not over the top; in fact, it can be quite chilling - Bond proves to be just as ruthless as the villains, a type of hero audiences were not, again, used to (Dirty Harry copied this attitude in the States almost a decade later). But, we cheer him on, knowing that if he was any nicer, he'd probably be terminated halfway thru the story. And, the arrogance - some of this just makes us shake our heads: near the end, when Bond is captured, he's still issuing orders to his captors (check out that scene just before the decontamination). No wonder Bond wins at everything.

The epic, fantastic elements the film series is known for do not enter the picture here until the 2nd hour begins, involving such concepts as radioactivity and guidance rocket systems. Bond finally meets his main Bond girl, Ms. Ryder, coming out of the blue or out of the sea, take your pick. She is stunning, no doubt, and lends to this air of the unexpected, with some unusual character traits. The main villain of the title and his awesome lair are not shown until even later - such large elements were given more exposure in many of the later films. This is all calculated to string the audience along in terms of suspense (we do hear Dr.No's ominous voice in an earlier scene) and then, hopefully, fulfill their expectations with some grand reveals. Dr.No is the first of the wealthy, genius-level megalomaniacs to plague Bond in the film series, suitably larger-than-life and almost godlike (but serving dark gods). He's created his own world and seems serene in his near-omnipotence, which also may suggest over confidence. This may be why Bond's escape (via an air duct) to cause trouble in the final minutes appears to be a gross oversight for such a master villain. Well, Dr.No spells it out ('You are just a stupid policeman'): master villains tended to underestimate Bond in many of the films. Bond may also pique such villains curiosity - it may be reasonable to assume his ruthlessness is a trait they need to examine for a brief, crucial time. By the way, SPECTRE is first mentioned, being the organization Dr.No serves, so it does suggest a series of films from the get go. Bond would return in "From Russia With Love." Would Dr.No? Bond:10 Villain:9 Femme Fatales:9 Henchmen:6 Leiter:8 Fights:8 Stunts/Chases:7 Gadgets:5 Auto:6 Locations:8 Pace:9 overall:8

review by: Cheese anyone? date: 2006-09-18 rating:

Nice and easy - fab summer film
If theirs one thing I love, its to just relax on a lazy summers night, and watch a classic Connery Bond - my favourite being Dr. No. It retains the simplicity of a classic film, while the plot is easy to understand, and won't leave you flumoxed by silly futuristic gizmos, or hi-tech vehicles. The settings are beautiful in Jamaica, and the acting is just right.
Great film all round, and it wont leave you asking questions about its reality!

review by: date: 2006-08-27 rating:

Bond as he should be
With the first installment of Ian Flemings classic spy drama we are introduced to Sean Connery who made the role of James Bond his own and is prabably recognised as the best man in the role.

Even though the sets and backdrops are pretty spectacular in the first film you can clearly see that caution has played a part.Cubbi Broccoli and Harry Salzman realised the popularity of the Fleming novels but first time out as a film was an unknown quantity,would there be a sequel to Dr No.
Naturally the audience loved the celluloid Bond and Connerys presence as the suave and sophisticated spy who no woman could resist was a formula made in heaven.

The skill of both directors and that memorable score made the movies the biggest money makers in movie history,they proved so popular that prabably up to Connerys last outing in Diamonds are Forever there was not a bad film amongst them.

The first five are the best with From Russia with Love being the most realistic in the series.Goldfinger and Thunderball are prabably the best of the entire series and after From Russia the spending spree on more lavish locations and sets became the norm.
With the introduction of the more tounge in cheek humour of Roger Moore the plots became certainly more lavish but less realistic as spy movies,they knew they were onto a winning formula so the sparkle and professionalism of the Connery years had gone.

These superb editions released by United Artists pack a real punch with simply superb commentaries and carefully chosen extras,which ever is your favorite movie there is a commentary to do it justice.

review by: chill-joe date: 2006-04-24 rating:

IF YOU LOVE BOND.....
I myself love the James bond films and books, and although i would give every single film 5 stars, this is my favourite. It is the first film in the series, and shows off the acting talents of Sean Connery and Joseph Wiseman. I love this film as it stars my favourite Bond so far (connery) and is slightly more relaxed in some scenes unlinke the latest films such as die another day. ENJOY!

review by: date: 2005-09-26 rating:

Connery successfully grounds himself as 007
A decent start to the generally excellent movies of 007- excluding Timothy Dalton's and George Lazenby's films. For a low budget film, fairly it does quite well. The story line is good, and at the time it was epitomized by the fact that it was a completely new genre of film. Sean Connery establishes himself as Bond very well indeed- and is very natural. Honey Rider played by the beautiful Ursula Andreas makes a fine first Bond girl too.

However, the bad elements to the film are clear on several occasions. The directing and editing of the film itself is somewhat mediocre. The chroma keyed shot of Bond in the car while being chased by the villains is absolutely appaling- even I did better with a movie I made at home!!! The character of Dr. No is not really that inspired, and I was disappointed in the fact that he is only seen in the last scene or two of the film.

I'm not saying this is a bad film- not at all! Watch Licence To Kill and you'll re define the word bad! But it's not terrific. I think the sequel From Russia With Love was the film that truly proved that the movies of 007 had worth.

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