Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, and Diamonds Are Forever
Long anticipated, the James Bond films are finally getting a update for this new 4K era of film viewing. An iconic series, a time capsule of British moviemaking and a a hugely impactful influencer on film and pop culture in general. As a Brit myself, Bond is a mainstay. It’s not a holiday unless a Bond film gets thrown on the TV. But it’s reach crosses borders, drawing inspiration from British sensibilities, a refined formula, and of course the works of author Ian Fleming.
Everyone has their favorite, most of us feel an allegiance to the Bond we grew up with (oh hello Roger), but there remains general agreement that the finest in the role went to the first, Sean Connery. This first 4K release celebrates his era, playing Bond for six films, running from 1962 to 71 (Never Say Never Again, which came out in 1983 is not part of official cannon). Notoriously ill-favored by Fleming himself, Connery made the role his own, and set a benchmark for those that followed. His run a reflection of the times, with chauvinistic elements and bravado ever present, but that undeniable charm and assured nature drawing you into his exploits.
The Package
The release contains all 6 Sean Connery Films, Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever, each having been subjected to a new 4K transfer. As an owner of these films on VHS, DVD, and having seen the newer restorations from the 2000s, these 4K treatments are a clear step up in quality.
Colors are strong with wide ranging palettes. Blacks show good range, as does contrast, benefiting darker sequences. Levels of detail impress too, showcasing the intricate production work and array of locations the film leverages in. Image adjustment seems minimal, with retention of a natural grain, lending to a textured look. The transfers are impeccably clean though, with no flaws, damage, or artifacts evident, aside from some minimal softness in the first two films. The presentation of the series feels richly realized and authentic to the era, just wonderful to behold.
There are slight differences in the aspect ratios between the films, with 1.75:1 (Dr. No, From Russia with Love, and Goldfinger), 2.35:1 (Thunderball), and 2.39:1 (You Only Live Twice and Diamonds are Forever) on display. Each film maintains a lot of the archival/legacy featurettes, plenty of new 4K releases seem to drop these elements, so it’s great these pieces of history are being maintained and made available for a new generation. In short, it’s an efficient and compact package that packs a punch in terms of content as well as supporting extras (see below).
Note: there is also a rather handsome steelbook packaged set also available, this review pertains to the regular edition.
Dr. No (1962)
Where it all began. To fans of later entries, Dr. No feels very much like a proto-Bond. Some of the elements you might expect aren’t quite there yet, but that swagger and ingenuity shines through with the assured performance of Sean Connery.
The plot, adapted from the sixth novel of creator Ian Fleming’s series, involves 007 being dispatched to Jamaica to investigate the disappearance of an operative in the region. As he digs deeper, he uncovers ties between the agent s investigations and the notorious Dr. No, a member of the sprawling criminal organization SPECTRE (Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion), who has set up on one of the secluded islands in the region and with the intention of interfering with the US space program.
Exotic locals, beautiful women, plenty of fist fights and cutting remarks, and even that legendary Bond theme (from Monty Norman). What stands out is the investigative aspect. This is an agent solving a mystery and digging deeper in a old-school spy thriller. It’s more grounded, and certainly more in line with the original novels. Tonally matched is Connery as Bond. A practical sort who combines smarts (using hairs and talc to check for intruders for instance) with some blunt force when needed. His casting was questioned by Fleming, but he brings a gruff charm to a role that was perceived to be more upper-class in nature, while still looking sharp in that Tuxedo.
Reportedly shot for under a million dollars, production designer Ken Adams stretches this to distinction, leveraging in stunning locations, ornate sets and costumes, and some effective tech components. A product of it’s era, the film has elements of misogyny, paper thin scripting of women, questionable depictions of race (Dr. No’s casting being the standout). It’s also got some slow pacing and severely overuses it’s iconic score. Still, it’s compelling fare, a great framework to kick start the series, with an undeniable start turn from Connery.
Extra Features
- Audio Commentary: featuring director Terence Young and a selection of cast members.
- Declassified: MI6 Vault: Pairs two featurettes The Guns of James Bond and Premiere Bond: Opening Nights
- Exotic Locations: A short featurette covering the filming locations used in the film
- Mission Dossier: Overarching making of featurettes split into 3 segments, totaling 70 min runtime. Inside Dr. No, Terence Young: Bond Vivant, and Dr. No 1963 Featurette. They’re a good length and packed with content
- Ministry of Propaganda: Compilation of adverts, trailers, and other promotional materials for the film
From Russia With Love (1963)
The film centers around a honeytrap for Bond, not just a piece of equipment to decode Russian Intelligence messages, but also the Russian agent Tatiana (Daniela Bianchi), used to sweeten the lure. A setup to draw him in, stir up relations between the Brits and Russians in Istanbul, all before eliminating the man who took down one of their key agents, Dr. No.
More grounded and intimate than its predecessor, the film builds the Bond legend with style. Exotic Istanbul backdrops, sinister villains like Rosa Klebb (Lotte Lenya with her now legendary footware) and the stone-cold Grant (Robert Shaw, Jaws), the latter being a crafted weapon built with the intent of taking down Bond, only adding to the agent’s aura.
The pacing is deliberate, sometimes meandering, with detours like a Romani camp showdown and a helicopter battle that feel like playful padding. Still, Connery is magnetic, cool, composed, and more emotionally nuanced here. It’s a subtler Bond film. Less bombastic, more suspenseful, and laced with menace. Not everything lands perfectly, but the intrigue, charm, and classic moments keep it firmly in the series’ upper tier.
Extra Features
- Audio Commentary – Again, Young and the crew talk about he film
- Declassified: MI6 Vault: Three parts 20 minutes, Ian Fleming: the CBC Interview, Ian Fleming and Raymond Chandler and Ian Fleming on Desert Island discs. These focus on the author more than the film, but are still a fun watch. There is also an animated storyboard included here
- Exotic Locations: Just a few minutes giving an overview of the shooting locations
- Mission Dossier: just over an hour, composed of two legacy featurettes that cover a production diary approach (Inside From Russia with Love) and one centered on one of the film’s producers who was key to getting the Bond series on the big screen (Harry Saltzman: Showman)
- Ministry of Propaganda: A collation of trailers and adverts
Goldfinger (1964)
Goldfinger is widely regarded as the benchmark Bond film, the moment the series perfected its winning formula. A simple but effective plot sees Bond tasked with investigating businessman and magnate Auric Goldfinger (Gert Fröbe) , whose nefarious dealings pale in comparison to his grand plan, to irradiate the Fort Knox gold reserve thereby elevating the value of his own holdings and plunging the global economy into chaos.
Sean Connery returns as the effortlessly cool agent. There’s an efficiency to his action now, an assuredness in his movement and delivery. But also an effort to add danger an vulnerability, not just for the women in his care (the death of Jill Masterson [played by Shirley Eaton] by gold paint being one of the most iconic scenes of the series), but also by putting this ladies man put in the most dangerous position you might image, strapped to a table with a laser slowly firing towards his nether regions. Growth also comes with Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman), more than just eye candy, she’s a formidable foil to Bond, adding depth to the usual “Bond girl” trope.
The film perfectly balances Bond with its villains, from the cutting (and lets be frank, Trumpian) Goldfinger, to one of the most memorable henchmen of all, Oddjob (Harold Sakata). Shirley Bassey’s powerful theme song matches the film’s boldness, elevating the sense of scale and excitement. From the iconic Aston Martin DB5 with its revolving license plates to decapitating bowler hats, Goldfinger is packed with moments that have defined the franchise. Bond may not singlehandedly save the day, but his influence is undeniable. Stylish, fun, with a pervasive sense of danger. Goldfinger is the gold standard of Bond films
Extra Features:
- Audio Commentary: with director Guy Hamilton
- Audio Commentary: featuring cast and crew
- Declassified: MI6 Vault: More archival pieces strung together with a total runtime of nearly 30 minutes. The 5 segments center on Sean Connery from the Set of Goldfinger, Theodore Bikel Scren Test, Tito Vandis Screen Test, On Tour with the Aston Martin DB5, and Honor Blackman Open-Ended Interview
- Exotic Locations: just a few minutes touring the locations used
- Mission Dossier: Two solid and well paced featurettes totaling 55 minutes on The Making of Goldfinger and The Goldfinger Phenomenon
- Ministry of Propaganda: More advertising materials
Thunderball (1965)
A trip to the Bahamas for sun, sand, oh and the recovery of two nuclear warheads, feared to be stolen by SPECTRE agent Emilio Largo (Adolfo Celi).
Personally, Thunderball was always one of my least favorite Bonds. It always felt a little sluggish and indulgent, and as if it was rehashing too many components of earlier films. Largo is pretty nondescript, the novel spin of having a henchwoman this time out is poorly executed with Fiona Volpe (Luciana Paluzzi) being underdeveloped and underutilized.
A rewatch and there is still a lot to appreciate. It’s a refinement and scaling up of the old formula. The underwater sequences are very well done, the theme is a banging turn from Tom Jones, production levels shine (especially the minimalist designs of SPECTRE headquarters). It’s a step into a bigger world, not just with seeing more of SPECTRE but also the 00 division. Connery himself is even more assured in the role, drinking his own Kool-Aid as the swagger ramps up and the quips come thick and fast.
Extra Features
- Audio Commentary: with director Terence Young
- Audio Commentary: with key crew members including screenwriter John Hopkins and editor Peter Hunt
- Declassified: MI6 Vault: Five archival segments, The Incredible World of James Bond – Original 1965 NBC Television Special, A Child’s Guide to Blowing Up a Motor Car – 1965 Ford Promotional Film, On Location with Ken Adam, Bill Suitor: The Rocket Man Movies and Thunderball Boat Show Reel, totaling just under 90 minutes runtime. Covers a lot of the press that circled the film during it’s production and release
- Selling Bonds: commercials for Bond merch
- Exotic Locations: another quick tour
- Mission Dossier: Just over an hour of featurettes that compose a solid ‘making of’ with three segments, The Making of Thunderball, The Thunderball Phenomenon and The Secret History of Thunderball
- Ministry of Propaganda: promotional clips and trailers
You Only Live Twice (1967)
You Only Live Twice is the Bond series goes big…literally. With a villain’s lair hidden in a hollowed-out volcano (complete with monorail), this entry in the 007 series ups the ante on spectacle and absurdity in equal measure.
Set against Cold War tensions and an increasingly fraught space, the film sees Bond teaming up with the Japanese Secret Service to prevent global war, all while navigating piranha tanks, ninjas, and sumo wrestlers. It veers wildly between smaller, satisfying spy moments and blockbuster excess that wouldn’t be out of place in a Fast & Furious sequel.
Bonds films were often informed by their times, Moonraker being put together in the wake of the success of Star Wars for instance. You Only Live Twice was informed by the desire of the producers to make a foray into the East, specifically Japan. The film’s portrayal of Japan is sometimes problematic, often exoticized, the infamous “Asianification” of Bond. being most notable Still, its ambition to explore new cultural terrain helped broaden the series’ scope. Written by none other than Roald Dahl, the script loosely adapts Ian Fleming’s novel, but embraces a pulpy, devilishly fun tone. There’s camp, espionage, and Donald Pleasence’s wonderfully menacing Blofeld, the criminal mastermind at the head of SPECTRE.
Though Connery was rumored to be eyeing the exit, he doesn’t phone it in here. He’s relaxed, smart, and still sharp in scenes that allow actual spycraft to shine. Freddie Young’s cinematography brings a polish and scale previously unmatched in the series, and Nancy Sinatra’s theme song adds a wistful elegance to the film’s explosive antics. If Goldfinger set the template for Bond as a series, You Only Live Twice set things up for Bond as a Blockbuster. And if all of that wasn’t enough, it gave us Little Nellie. What more could you ask for?
Extra Features
- Audio Commentary: Director Lewis Gilbert with select cast and crew
- Declassified: MI6 Vault: 3 sections, just over an hour, largely centered around the Eastern setting of the film. Welcome to Japan Mr. Bond, Whicker’s World – Highlights from 1967 BBC travel series, and On Location with Ken Adam
- Mission Dossier: 4 segments, totaling an hour, focusing on select sequences in the film. Inside You Only Live Twice, Silhouettes: The James Bond Titles, Plane Crash: Animated Storyboard Sequence, and Exotic Locations
- Ministry of Propaganda: promos galore
Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!
Money talks. Money also brought back an aging Connery for one last outing. A big lean into and American setting and tone, as 007 heads to Las Vegas impersonating a diamond smuggler, determined to uncover a trafficking ring funneling these precious gems into a scheme perpetrated by his old foe Blofeld (Charles Gray making you miss the menace of Pleasence). It’s fricking space lasers,
Now in his 40s, Connery is definitely slowing down. The film doesn’t cater to this much and it leaves him looking a little off the pace. The old charm is still there, steady, assured, just with more of a stagger than swagger. What perhaps makes him stick out a little more is the shift in the film itself. The franchise here takes a shift into both action and comedic tones, A parody of itself, and a mirror of the more colorful shifts in the world at large, and expectations of entertainment in the 70s. It’s a feeling of parody, with comedy that you’d see later in the Moore era that gets laughs from slapstick moments and visual gags. Even the car chases get a little silly with the involvement of a moon buggy. Gone is the glitter of the French Riviera or the luster of Vienna, instead we get the gaudy surrounds of Vegas.
There is thinly sketched attempt at a more bold Bond girl in Tiffany Case (Jill St John), a regressive tilt with a pair of female fighters named Bambi and Thumper and a memorable turn from Putter Smith and Bruce Glover as the campy killers Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd. There’s also an all-timer Bond song from Dame Shirley Bassey. Diamonds is Bond giving in to its more playful and commercial side, and while fun, it’s an undeniably tacky affair.
Note: This is the Sean Connery set, so it’s to be expected that is what it’s focus is. For the unaware, there was another Bond film starring George Lazenby that was released between Your Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever, 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. It assume this will garner it’s own 4K release in the near future, but it’s plot and ending do inform the opening sequence of Diamonds.
Extra Features
- Audio Commentary: Director Terence Young
- Declassified: MI6 Vault: Several parts, the main one being Sean Connery 1971: The BBC Interview where Connery reflects on his career. The rest largely deal with the action and spectacle of the film with interviews (Close Quarter Combat) and test footage reels (Oil Rig Attack, Satellite Test Reel)
- Alternate and Expanded Angles: 30-minutes of alternate footage and extended scenes
- Deleted Scenes: Six short sequences cut from the film
- Mission Dossier: A mix of making of featurettes, a collection of interviews from over the years, and a more in depth doc, Cubby Broccoli: The Man Behind Bond, which delves into the Broccoli family and their guiding hand over the Bond franchise over the years
- Exotic Locations and Ministry of Propaganda: As above
James Bond, the Sean Connery 6-film Collection is available on 4K-UHD via Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Now
