Reviewing Dr No: Countdown to Bond 25

CINEMATIC 007 -- "Unfortunately I misjudged you, you are nothing but a stupid policeman... whose luck has run out." The Countdown to Bond 25 kicks off with a review of 'Doctor No.'
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[@JOEMORRISSEY70]

Jack Lord was my favorite Felix Leiter. Very Kennedyesque as befits the era.

[@jaysonw8730]

Hahaha🤔🤫Book him..........Danno, lol

[@christhornycroft3686]

He works for the same reason Jeffrey Wright worked today. In 1962, JFK was the coolest president anyone had ever seen. He had that image. With Jeffrey Wright, we finally, mercifully, got the cool back in Felix Leiter, and a believable, memorable performance. For too long, Leiter has just been a forgettable character. He shows up for an almost meaningless check in or to relay a bit of information and then he's gone. That's why License To Kill didn't work. They made him such a disposable character that it's hard to understand why Bond would care any more about Felix or his wife than he would about anyone else who got killed on his watch. If they'd kept the cool factor and made Leiter an engaging character that you looked forward to seeing instead of just some random new face who shows up and then disappears again, it might have worked better. At least the Craig era got that right. Make Felix interesting rather than just that cranky old guy that Bond has to deal with.

[@JOEMORRISSEY70]

@@christhornycroft3686 Spot on. Big, big fan of Jeffery Wright's Felix.. . among his other work.

[@EricBoston1992]

Indeed! He’s a great ally/colleague for Bond. Very suave, cunning, & you feel like he can keep up with Bond, & be the solid ally that he’s supposed to be

[@erikdolnack2737]

I think "Dr. No" is nearly perfect. It is one of the best James Bond movies. It boasts many of the best features of the Bond franchise: Best Bond Girl in Honey Ryder, Best Felix in Jack Lord, Best Sidekick in Quarrel, easily one of the Best Villains in Dr. No, one of the best locations in Jamaica, etc. It also has the Best Bond Introduction of all-time. Almost every frame of this movie is iconic today. A masterpiece. There isn't any wasted space here, no fat to trim, a lean and mean script that is paced perfectly.

[@andrewwebster2598]

Totally agree. I love how it is a stripped down spy thriller and not too larger than life. I love how it is so close to the novel, really admire this film deeply.

[@ramencurry6672]

It has a balance of seriousness, campy silliness and Marvel super hero type feel. Overall it’s pretty good.

[@manosxatzidakis4930]

The Legend begins. Great review. Most llegendary scenes: Connerys introduction at the casino as Bond and the ruthless killing with the two shots.

[@JOEMORRISSEY70]

Jet travel was very new in those days. Major airlines like Pan-Am and TWA used to give tours of the new 707 jets at Idlewyld Airport (later JFK). You'd go in and sit for awhile then leave. People also used to go to airports on a weekend and just watch jets taking off and landing. A different world.

[@matthewsimpson1502]

Love how very Fleming-esque Dr. No was, definitely reflected the literary Bond much like From Russia with Love. Funny how these also happened to be the ones which Fleming himself saw!

[@christhornycroft3686]

Then he died and suddenly the seeds started to be sewn, slowly, for a more cartoony Bond. Goldfinger was a little more goofy, and then they got back on track with Thunderball, then even more goofy with YOLT, then back on track with OHMSS, and then the 70s happened. If Fleming had survived the 60s, things might have been different. He probably wouldn't have allowed all the cartoonishness of the 70s to happen. If you grew up with the Tarzan yells and the rest of the silliness, that's you're thing, but Fleming intended the series to be for adults, not kids.

[@martincarlos3759]

James Bond is a Reflection of their times and at the same time a larger than life tale. And as times have become shittier so have the Movies. Or to be more precise they have become obsolete. Yet to make money naturally they never stopped the series. As each year is passing by the Movies from Dr. No up to Licence To Kill become more and more precious wonderful Art never to be made again.

[@baldwincollins4344]

one of my Favorite Bond films, The whole Jamaican location scene's with ''DR. NO''intrigues me. Great introduction to Sean Connery's James Bond 10 out of 10

[@zackbutson3401]

Agree about the colors popping in this movie. Vibrant and beautiful. Far cry from the muted, filtered stuff we’ve gotten in the Craig era.

[@MORCOPOLO0817]

Digital is the death of cinema!

[@jamesbiggs8187]

Thanks guys for such a top notch review. Great job. And I was warmed by your rightly giving credit to Jack Lord as the best Felix. Can't disagree with your final marks either. It's a 9 from me. Looking forward to seeing your review of FRWL.

[@hockeygoaliejesse]

I'm also watching each Bond film leading up to 25. Just finished Live and Let Die. I've been listening for just over 10 years and I still love the Being James Bond podcasts/videos.

[@drklynoon]

Great review gentleman. It is hard to critically view Dr. No outside of the world o films that it spawned. The one thing I felt that was left out was Eunice Grayson. To me her character was a great juxtaposition with Ursla's innocent character. Thank you for the hard work that goes into these videos. Nathan

[@Borella309]

Great presentation! Love Dr No, where they put everything great in place only to progressively water down after From Russia with Love. As a young guy, The Man with the Golden Gun became the first movie I walked out on while it was still running. Am now going to enjoy going through your other James Bond movies reviews. Thanks for the great work guys!

[@mercuryrising2424]

TMWTGG was the worst out of the Moore era but not worth walking out on!

[@williamhowe1]

Every great series needs a start and this was a good start.

[@TheCookie176]

Starting the second watch through of the countdown to Bond 25 reviews. Love Dr. No.

[@alexandregingras6004]

Just finished rewatching every bond in random order over the course of the winter and now will watch every review you two made. So far, you guys had me laughing out loud 3 times in this one. Very knowledgeable and fun. Thanks!

[@MGEX8206]

Remember first seeing this as part of a run through of Bond films on UK TV circa Y2K and watching this having already become a fairly established Bond fan was a bit odd...the lack of a specific themetune for this film was a surprise but overall it was a very solid start to a franchise that no one could have imagined back in 1962 would still be going well into the 21st century. 8/10.

[@richardweddle3408]

Where can I get DR. NO in 4K ? I realize this video was 4 years ago, but I can't find a 4K version nowhere nohow.

[@bcpjw]

Totally agree with the review! Those investigation detective scenes really are the best parts! Wish there were more of Dr. No scenes tho but the dinner table scene was pretty suspenseful. 8/10

[@reesepacker7983]

Watching the "Mad Men" series ..always felt Don Draper was in some ways inspired by early 60's Connery Bond ..it was even kind of hinted at in one episode that featured "You Always Live Twice" in the closing scene..also Don and Joan came across very Bond and Mrs. Money Penny in many scenes

[@Jjoe2356]

That was a movie that i recently watched, after 10 years... It was an reconnecting experience with Bond. I didn't like it when I was young, and now i love it. Is certainly on the top five for me.

[@camelbean1]

Great stuff guys! I have listened to your old podcast version of all the reviews so many times. Awesome to see you guys actually discuss this, and not just hear you. So glad that Scott is back for these. I love his insights. Thanks guys!

[@LloydNance]

Great content gentlemen. Loved hearing your points of view. I agree with most of your points. I only differ in the fact I don’t view the films being dated as a bad thing. The outdated score sounding more late 50’s than 1962 is plus to me. I never feel that any of the Bonds are timeless. I feel what is so great about them is that they reflect the time, the place, the culture, the technology and style of the decades they were released in. To me there not travel logs but actually time capsule allowing me a two hour trip into the past. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on From Russia with Love. In my opinion Connery best film but not my personal favorite.

[@carlbreig9102]

Great comment - time capsules is a perfect way to describe it

[@joeyfiuza]

The thing about Ian Fleming making Bond half Scottish because of Sean Connery is a maybe, not the reason for sure. It could be some kind of a joke, even. Fleming's own father was Scottish anyway, born in Newport-on-Tay near Dundee, Scotalnd, and there are some sources that said he was going to give Bond a Scottish ancestor anyway. I thing you can read about this in the Andrew Lycett biography of Fleming.

[@TheJamesBondComplex]

I love Dr. No. you made !e want to watch it. Again!

[@ainsleyperry5192]

The Bridge game, at the time the book was written this was Ian Fleming, Graham Greene, Noal Coward, I can't remember who the 4th person was now. Fleming would have got a great kick out of putting " bridge" partners into a James Bond novel. Cheers, Chris Perry.

[@Jjoe2356]

I noticed a mistake in one scene. When they are fighting the "dragon" the scene jumps from bond to the tank, four times. In each scene, Connery is using a different handgun, a ppk first, then a colt, then a browning. 😊

[@mrmeerkat1096]

James Mason was approached also after Cary grant didn't do it. But he only agreed to do two movies.

[@rosemaryfarell5264]

Hed have bren great

[@lescobrandon3047]

My only problem was with direction of one scene. Bond’s escape through drainpipes made no sense. He was hit by a wall of hot water but held on. Then he crawled further and escaped into a nice dry hallway. My favorite scene was when he shot the metallurgy man. It was the first I had seen where the hero does that. Here on Long Island, NY, youngish men like me all wore suits and tried drinking vodka martinis. He was our hero.

[@astroguster497]

Its funny cause I had found your podcast recently and had just listened to the first Dr. No review. I honestly almost skipped this one, thinking itd be the same thing again, but you and Scott really made an interesting review on a movie Bond fans already know extremely well. I really appreciate you guys helping the Bond fans count down to Bond 25. Looking forward to From Russia with Love. One of my favs.

[@andrewwebster2598]

“Our asylums are full of people who think they’re Napoleon, or god”

[@isabelleottawa3818]

Thanks to film aficionado I am binge watching Hawaii Five-0 with Jack Lord, very good and great escapism in Hawaii!

[@theplasticdesert2408]

Isabelle Ottawa one of my favourite shows!

[@leethomas2155]

There's a missing frame or two just after Bond picks up the photo and askes "who's the man with Strangways?" That l remember and look out for all the time.

[@ramencurry6672]

The movie starts off like a spy mystery and evolves into a Marvel super hero type of movie

[@greatwuta]

At first, I was like huh? But then I was like that's right. Those guys and gals look like what A.I.M. end up looking like later down the road in Marvel Comics.

[@JOEMORRISSEY70]

Missed it on it's initial release but I had the comic book tie-in. First saw it with FRWL during the famous - James Bond is back... to back - double bill in the summer of 1965. That double bill was the greatest saturday afternoon at the movies a young lad could wish for.

[@zackbutson3401]

Love this movie. First example of Bond being a prisoner and still having casual, gentlemen banter with the baddie and slipping in insults, and it’s the highlight of the film for me. “Minnows pretending to be whales. Sounds like u on this island Dr.”

[@stephenmarkowitz9774]

It's amazing that this review barely mentioned the character "Dr. No" in a film called Dr. No.

[@jedi666sith]

I agree with both of you I miss those thinks like the hair or the powder Bond puts on the suitcase. Something tells me that is not going to appear in Bond 25. I hope but I feel that those things are not going to appear :(

[@angelcastaneda529]

Joe and Scott, you guys don’t mind if I watch these again? I’m doing a marathon to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the franchise. 🥃.

[@iammwh936]

My 3rd favorite Bond film. Thanks guys! Great job!

[@garybryant1501]

Funny that in Hawaii Five O Jack Lord's character was a top cop but also in an officer in the Naval Reserve and dealt with espionage cases usually up against his arch nemesis Wo Fat Shades of Bond I think Basically it's Leiter as a cop

[@ScottTerrito]

This is like my 4th time through. Really enjoyed your breakdowns

[@Beingjamesbond]

Thank you Scott!

[@CustardMarmiteGaming]

Fantastic review guys. I’m young and I actually like it so much. It’s definitely in my top 10 as well. Great video lads 🔥

[@DomArcher007]

Loved the outtakes!

[@sugarmice]

This video was great!! Just finished watching the film for the first time and all my takeaways you guys touched on and were spot on. Loved the movie and the review!

[@randyacuna3248]

An excellent first bond film even if the the now filmillar bond touches improve in the films. The same is true about Connery's rather very long eyebrows which gave him a somewhat wild appearance. In from Russia everything is in place and the rest is history.

[@CaminoAir]

Late to this party, but I have thoroughly enjoyed this review series. Have you guys done other work together? If so, please point me to it as soon as possible.

[@pegreen1442]

Love Dr no cracking film would have loved to see the octopus fight from the book but I understand why they could not use it , great show guys.

[@andrewwebster2598]

Was it not a giant squid he fought??

[@michaelproctor8100]

Just for a joke you should do a video on the movie Operation Kid Brother which starred Neil Connery. It came out in 1967 and had Lois Maxwell and Bernard Lee making appearances. For a long time Sean Connery held grudges against Maxwell and Lee over what he considered a betrayl of sorts.

[@VegaPhil]

Just watched this again for the first time in maybe 15 years and have to agree with how good this film looks. A lot of films from this time have a washed out/muted look to them but not this one, the colours are really vibrant

[@SmartFabian007]

love the way u done this video

[@DennisKochAuthor]

Worst dub EVER in a Bond film - The beach scene where a security patrol guard on a boat yells through a bullhorn that they'll be back. I cringe every time.

[@SpaceCattttt]

What I like about this film is that it's arguably the only film in the franchise where Bond actually does a bit of spying that wouldn't have him blow his cover for the entire world to see. I mean, really, when you look at all the antics he usually gets up to, he's probably the worst "secret" agent imaginable! He will do whatever it takes to achieve his mission. And if he has to destroy half a city in the process, so be it. Well, in Dr. No, as you pointed out, he actually does a bit of sleuthing and even sits down and talks with people of interest. How restrained! Anyway, I don't think the story is all that, to be honest. It's nice in a laid-back sort of way, and it looks beautiful. But after all that buildup and anticipation of finally seeing Dr. No in person, he's just some guy in bad Asian makeup who has the cheapest looking nuclear plant I've ever seen. But I do have a fond memory of watching the film with my grandmother in the 90's. She was in her 90's then and thought that this was pretty much a horror film! Whenever Bond would get into fisticuffs with the bad guys, she would yell and hide her head behind a pillow! I wish I could find it equally exciting. :)

[@carlbreig9102]

What a great personal story about your gran, thanks for sharing. I think I've been desensitized... I've never reacted that way either. Prob cause I was 5 when I saw T2

[@Plally06]

Great review guys, one of my favourite films. I’ve heard it said that there’s room for argument that Bond’s Scottish heritage may not solely be attributed to Fleming’s conversion to the Church of Connery. Apparently Fleming’s own family tree stretches back into Scotland. And of course Bond comes from rugged Glencoe where he grew up with outdoor activities and adventures rather than the poverty of Fountainbridge, Edinburgh and starting life as a milkman 😆 Possibly the truth incorporated a bit of both aspects

[@fijistarproductions990]

Dr. No is defiantly one of my favourites. Great review!

[@robertharvey2604]

Given the small budget it's not shocking that this would be a low key affair but it's a great spy thriller. The later Connery films improved upon it, but he's spot on from the get go. Dr. No is a great villain (admittedly with little screen time). The cast as a whole is very good. It's too bad Jack Lord didn't stick around. He was great with Connery. There's some iffy moments when viewed through modern eyes, but I try to remember that the films are products of their times. I really love the violent, realistic tone of it. It was a great start to the series.

[@deadaccount6616]

The guy with the hat looks like Donald pleasence blofield

[@greatwuta]

Thanks to sorta.app I got this film ranked #19 out of 24.

[@samkaufman1889]

“It’s great stuff.” -Scott, every 7.3 seconds

[@pc3137]

Hi, great video, buut not true about Flemming making Bond half Scottish because of Sean Connery, Flemming always had Bond as half Scottish. Thanks.

[@MORCOPOLO0817]

I think they should do remakes of existing Bond films.

[@greatwuta]

Because its been so long that I haven't seen these reviews and there is nothing on TV that I am interested in watching plus you haven't made a new video in quite a while, I decided to watch all 24 of your reviews of James Bond. I do like Dr. No and I even watched it on the big screen last year during it's 60th Anniversary because as you already know. Thats the only James Bond film they showed here in the U.S. last year. My problem with this film is that this film is too basic and I know people dog Goldeneye because that score is not good at all but, Dr. No score is terrible and I need to point that out. Again, this film is not terrible or bad but I need to be in a mood to watch Dr. No because there are 20 Bond films I rather watch and get more enjoyment from than this.

[@renekauts8323]

100% agree! You need to be in the right mood to watch "Dr. No"(1962). Overall, it's a very good movie, a very tough film(in a good way) to start a franchise. And Sean Connery was sooooooo cool. The best possible choice for James Bond character in 1962. *** Maybe it's a little outdated? Music score? And that "dragon tank"? That scene was a bit silly, even for 1962... *** However, overall Dr. No feels like a modern film to me, even more modern than FRWL(1963) and GF(1964), I think. The first ultra modern Bond film was of course YOLT(1967).

[@samkaufman1889]

Hey Scott, say “fantastic” a few more times.

[@JohnDoe-tm9wz]

No.

[@TroyUlysses]

The guy in the hat. Get rid of him. He knows nothing.