Guest writer Neil McNally examines the anatomy of the 'From Russia With Love' promotional trailer...
It has become a welcome tradition over the
years to see the words "James Bond Will Return" at the end of each
film’s credits. Without showing us anything, it’s always been a
subtle reassurance that in a few years’ time 007’s next adventure
will be around the corner. Where will he go? Who will he fight? Those are questions
that should only be answered, not by M., but the movie trailer itself.
Intrigue.
Suspense. Danger. Action. These are just some of the words that can be
used to describe what makes the James
Bond film franchise tick. Think of each film as a delicate house of cards.
If one crucial element is not in place, the whole thing comes crashing
down. However, certainly no one would ever dream of relegating 1963’s
classic 'From Russia With Love' to this fallen pile. The film, as well
as Fleming’s
original 1957 novel, still stands as one of the strongest highlights of
the series to date.
After the resounding success of 1962’s 'Dr.
No,' the Bond team had no choice but to one- up themselves. Armed with a much larger
budget,
Albert Broccoli and Harry Saltzman chose Ian Fleming’s fifth
novel as the perfect source material for a very atmospheric and different
kind of 007
adventure. If you’re into a stolen cipher machine, a tunnel of
rats, a fistfight on the Orient Express, and the first film appearance
of Ernst Stavro
Blofeld, then you’ve come to the right place. In case you haven’t
heard “James Bond. That amazing, notorious, 'Dr. No,' secret
agent is back, and half the world is out to kill him!”
What follows is a pulse pounding trailer that
shows you just about everything once the theater lights go down. From the
historic locales of Istanbul to the gypsy camp, no action packed stone is left
unturned.
Normally in trailers, showing many crucial and pivotal scenes could be considered
a bad thing. But this one is drenched in so much 1960s’s elegance that
it seemingly works to its benefit. Very good cases in point are the numerous
cringe worthy, but humorous taglines that are sprinkled throughout it:
“As he pits his murderous talents against
the Iron Curtain…and its velvet women.”
“From Russia with Love…they dance
for him…they yearn for him…they die for him!”
It wouldn’t be a proper analysis of
the movie if I didn’t invoke the name of SPECTRE! For this trailer,
the villainous organization is back and more present than ever. While
referred
to in 'Dr. No,' it’s really takes a firm hold on
the James Bond franchise in 'From Russia with Love.' You only
have to look no further than Robert Shaw’s chilling introduction
as 'Chief Executioner of SPECTRE.' Then, in case you forgot what
SPECTRE stands for, the full unabbreviated title is splayed across
the screen for no particular reason at
the trailer’s end. Subtle this trailer is not! Surprisingly,
for what the editors do show us they made a wise choice to keep Blofeld’s
appearance, with white cat in toe, a secret. It just goes to show that
in the world of
007, some things are still for our eyes only.
In its fifty years, 'From Russia with
Love's trailer hasn’t lost any of its cinematic lustre.
Watching it now only proves that Broccoli and Saltzman knew exactly
what they were doing at this early and formative period in the James
Bond franchise.
They played to 007’s strengths and, in the process, created
the concept of event movie going that continues to this day. For
that we can all be grateful.
About The Author Neil McNally is a writer and Bond aficionado living in Los Angeles. To read more please visit www.neilmcnallywriter.com
