From Russia with Love (1963) UK DVD Review

From Russia with Love

Genres

Crime
Adventure

Review date

1 Jan 2000

IMDb Rating

7.0

Reviewed by

Simon

First published

19 Dec 2014 (11 years ago)

Last updated

1 Mar 2026

James Bond is sent to Istanbul to assist in the defection of a Soviet cipher clerk and retrieve a valuable Lektor decoding device - unaware that he is walking directly into a SPECTRE trap.

Last visited

30 Sep 2026 (10 days ago)

Total visits

440

Cast & Crew

Cast

James Bond is sent to Istanbul to assist in the defection of a Soviet cipher clerk and retrieve a valuable Lektor decoding device - unaware that he is walking directly into a SPECTRE trap.

Runtime

1 Hour 55 Minutes

BBFC rating

Region

Region 2

Sound

Mono

Aspect

1.85:1

Release year

1963

Details

Following the death of Dr. No, SPECTRE orchestrates an elaborate revenge plot. Their plan is simple and brilliantly devious: lure James Bond to Istanbul with the promise of a defecting Russian cipher clerk and a priceless decoding machine known as the Lektor. Bond will retrieve the device, eliminate the competition - and SPECTRE will eliminate Bond.

Unlike many later entries, this is pure espionage. There are no volcano lairs or laser satellites, just shadows, suspicion and shifting allegiances. The Cold War backdrop adds real tension. At the time of release, the Cuban Missile Crisis was still fresh in memory, yet the film cleverly positions SPECTRE as the true villain, allowing Britain and Russia to remain uneasy participants rather than outright enemies.

Sean Connery appears even more comfortable in the role than in Dr. No. He balances charm and menace with ease, and his Bond feels dangerous rather than cartoonish. Robert Shaw's Grant is a superb adversary - calm, methodical and physically imposing. The train confrontation between the two remains one of the series' finest sequences.

Pedro Armendáriz also deserves mention as Kerim Bey, providing warmth and gravitas, while Lotte Lenya's Rosa Klebb offers a far more unsettling villain presence than one might initially expect. The film's slower pace compared to later Bonds works in its favour, allowing suspense to build gradually rather than relying purely on spectacle.

Picture & Sound

Considering the film's age, the picture quality is impressive. The image is generally bright and sharp with an above-average bit-rate. Minor whiskers and occasional print imperfections appear, and there is some slight fading in colour definition, but these are forgivable for a production now several decades old.

The soundtrack remains in original mono - stereo would not grace the Bond series for many years yet. Dialogue is clear and the famous John Barry score carries sufficient presence, but dynamic range is understandably limited.

Menu & Extras

MGM once again demonstrate that their Bond archives must be cavernous. The disc is packed with documentaries, archival material and commentary. The period television and radio advertisements are unintentionally amusing, capturing the tone of early 1960s marketing perfectly.

The audio commentary is informative, though at times it feels somewhat detached from the on-screen action. Still, for Bond enthusiasts, the supplementary material provides plenty to explore.

Overall

Many Connery purists regard From Russia with Love as the finest of his Bond performances - and it's not hard to see why. It refines the formula introduced in Dr. No, strengthens the villain roster and leans heavily into espionage rather than gadgetry.

It may lack the explosive spectacle of later entries, but in terms of suspense, atmosphere and character, it arguably surpasses its predecessor. A classic? Much closer this time - and an essential chapter in Bond history.