
Category: From Russia with Love


From Russia With Love – Pre-Title Sequence Discussion!

Podcast Episode
8 James Bond Movies Discussed by Worldwide Community of Spy Movie Fans!
Join Dan, Vicky, and Tom as they talk with four members of the SpyMovieNavigator's Worldwide Community of Spy Movie Fans Facebook group about their favorite James Bond movies.
Join Dan, Vicky, and Tom as they talk with four members of the SpyMovieNavigator’s Worldwide Community of Spy Movie Fans Facebook group about their favorite James Bond movies.
The topic of today’s discussion: Tell us your two favorite James Bond movies. The catch is both of their choices need to have a different actor playing James Bond.
This led to a lively discussion and all six James Bond actors to date are discussed.
Click on the Episode notes to see which movies they chose.
You can leave us a comment here or click the red button to the right to leave us a voicemail message.
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Podcast Episode
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE – Pre-Title Sequence Decoded!
Join Dan, Tom and Vicky as we kick off our series into the pre-title sequences of spy movies, with From Russia With Love!
Join Dan, Tom and Vicky as we kick off our series into the pre-title sequences of spy movies, with From Russia With Love!
We’ll dive into the statuary in the garden, the importance of every sound we hear and lots more.
Subscribe to our Cracking the Code of Spy Movies show through your favorite podcast app – right now!
View one of our spy movie based videos on our Cracking the Code of Spy Movies YouTube channel!
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From Russia with Love
From Russia With Love: The United States was far From Russia With Love in 1963 – Part One
From Russia With Love: The United States was far From Russia With Love in 1963 – Part Two
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Podcast Episode
Gadgets FRWL & Goldfinger – Can You Believe it?
Join Tom, Dan and Vicky as they take apart the gadgets in From Russia With Love and Goldfinger - and determine whether we can believe in the gadget or not! Fun stuff!
Join Tom, Dan and Vicky as they take apart the gadgets in From Russia With Love and Goldfinger – and determine whether we can believe in the gadget or not! Fun stuff!
This is our third podcasts on Gadgets in Spy Movies. Our other Gadget podcasts were on the following and can be found by clicking the links below:
- Dr. No and Skyfall
- On Her Majesty’s Secret Service & Live and Let Die
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Gadgets in Spy Movies – Dr. No & Skyfall – Can You Believe It?
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Cracking the Code of Spy Movies – Podcasts
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Podcast Episode
Examining Ian Fleming’s Original James Bond Manuscripts – Part 1
Join Dan and Tom for Part One of their journey to The Lilly Library at Indiana University in the USA, as they examine, in-person, all of these wonderful James Bond masterpieces, gaining some insight into the novels and into Ian Fleming’s way of writing!
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Podcast Episode
Spy Movies & Real-World Connections – Part 1
Have you ever thought about how events in the real world and other movies could affect and work their way into some of our favorite spy movies? Well, think about it a minute because that’s what we are going to explore today on Spy Movie Navigator. Join Dan and Tom as they explore the unique connections between spy movies and the real-world impact on what goes into a spy movie! This is Part 1 of a multi-part series! If you have any suggestions on what to include in a future podcast, send them to Dan@SpyMovieNavigator.com
Many movies get ideas for their scenes from either other movies or real-world events. Think about the jet-pack in Thunderball or the dinner jacket that 007 reveals when removing the wet suit in Goldfinger. Were these ideas made up for the movie or were they based on real events? Spy Movie Navigator is starting an on-going series of podcasts that cover scenes like these. We will tie the scene back to either another movie or a real-life event of which the scene may have been based.
In this episode, Dan Silvestri and Tom Pizzato will examine the first six James Bond movies and look at the roots of some of their scenes. We’ll discuss those two scenes from Thunderball and Goldfinger and also look at many other scenes in these films to identify their roots.
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Podcast Episode
From Russia With Love: The United States was far From Russia With Love in 1963 – Part Two
How would you feel about a love affair between the US and Russia in 1963? Well, it wasn’t likely, as then the United States was as far as it could be, From Russia With Love. James Bond at his best! Join Dan and Tom as they search for the love in From Russia With Love! This is Part 2 of a 2 Part show on From Russia With Love.
From Russia with Love is the second EON Productions entry into the film series and it is an outstanding film. Many choose From Russia with Love as one of their favorite James Bond movies, and we have to agree – this is definitely one of our top 5 Bond films ever made by EON Productions because of the screenplay, the cast, and just how well the story unfolds before our eyes. This is a top-notch Bond!
In today’s podcast, Dan Silvestri and Tom Pizzato will take an in-depth look at this movie. They’ll discuss how many of the things that come out in this movie set the stage for later films in the franchise. They’ll also look at how real-world events and scenes from earlier movies may have influenced From Russia with Love.
This is Part 2 of a 2 Part show on From Russia with Love.
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From Russia With Love: The United States was far From Russia With Love in 1963 – Part One
From Russia with Love
Cracking the Code of Spy Movies – Podcasts
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE – Pre-Title Sequence Decoded!
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Podcast Episode
From Russia With Love: The United States was far From Russia With Love in 1963 – Part One
How would you feel about a love affair between the US and Russia in 1963? Well, it wasn’t likely, as then the United States was as far as it could be, From Russia With Love. Join James Bond at his best! Join Dan and Tom as they search for the love in From Russia With Love!
From Russia with Love is the second EON Productions entry into the James Bond film series and it is an outstanding film. Many choose From Russia with Love as one of their favorite James Bond movies, and we have to agree – this is definitely one of our top 5 Bond films ever made by EON Productions because of the screenplay, the cast, and just how well the story unfolds before our eyes. This is a top-notch Bond! This is Part 1 of a 2 Part show on From Russia with Love.
In today’s podcast, Dan Silvestri and Tom Pizzato will take an in-depth look at this movie. They’ll discuss how many of the things that come out in this movie set the stage for later films in the franchise. They’ll also look at how real-world events and scenes from earlier movies may have influenced From Russia with Love.
Related Content
From Russia with Love
Cracking the Code of Spy Movies – Podcasts
From Russia With Love: The United States was far From Russia With Love in 1963 – Part Two
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE – Pre-Title Sequence Decoded!
More Episodes
Keep current! Join Our Email List
Keep up to date with our latest and greatest spy movie finds. (See our Privacy Policy)
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From Russia With Love Trailer
Pre-title Sequence
Masks in Use
Note that the Mission: Impossible television series does not start until 3 years after the filming of From Russia With Love, so here, the film could have possibly influenced one of the major components of Mission: Impossible television series, and later the films! Of course, The List of Adrian Messenger was released in June 1963 and was the first we know of to heavily use make-up and facial masks as disguises, which are peeled off at the end of the film. So perhaps, From Russia With Love was influenced by The List of Adrian Messenger (not a spy movie per se) and then later influences the spy television series, Mission: Impossible and the subsequent films. There is a great article written about some of this by Jeremy Dunns, April 14, 2015. Read it! "From Russia With Love" was Ian Fleming’s 5th James Bond 007 book, published in 1957, and the second EON Productions film about our master spy hero. Timely released in 1963 during the ramp-up of the space race between the US and Soviet Union - the two giant and powerful countries were at each other’s throats.Fleming Gets a Boost from the U.S. President
John F. Kennedy was President of the US then, and Ian Fleming actually met President Kennedy. Kennedy was quoted as saying that "From Russia With Love" was one of his 10 favorite books. The Fleming novels took off in sales after that in the US. Of course, later in 1963-1964, the film was released, but President Kennedy had been assassinated on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. The subject matter of the film, obtaining a Soviet Lektor (which is an encoding device to protect communications – much like the Enigma machine in WW-II). It was stolen by SPECTRE,. But if obtained by Bond it would give the West an advantage over the Soviets. This topic was very much in vogue at the time. In the film, Russia is very much aware of James Bond already, and the pre-title sequence demonstrates how they are training to be able to kill Bond. So the tension of the film is established immediately.SPECTRE Briefing
Tatiana and Klebb (Head of Operations for SMERSH) Have A Meeting
Tatiana Approaches the Building to Meet Klebb
The atmosphere really oozes out at this moment. Tatiana is approaching the door she must enter to meet Klebb. Tatiana is not in control, and the cat walking past her ads to the intrigue and dark atmosphere. So does the creaking door, and we see that Red Grant (the one who killed "Bond" in the pre-title sequence) watches her enter. Colonel Klebb, with a threatening crop/whip in hand, demonstrates that she is in complete control. She reinforces that with, after Tatiana says about making love to Bond, ”And if I refuse?” Klebb sternly rebukes, “Then you will not leave this room alive.” Klebb played brilliantly by Lotte Lenya, is a vision of evil. She oozes evil. Note, when Klebb places her hand on Tatiana’s knee to wrestle complete control of the situation, Tatiana is very uncomfortable and shifts her legs. There are theories that Klebb had lesbian tendencies. This playful and unnecessary touch of the knee fuels the theories as well as her looking at Red Grant at the training camp strictly as a tool to accomplish her mission and nothing else. We think this scene might have been filmed in Istanbul as well, and we are investigating. The exterior of the building it is said was Istanbul.A Smart Looking Piece of Luggage: Briefcase
Gadgets - The Beginning of a Long Trend in Spy Movies - A Smart Looking Piece of Luggage
It's M's office, which we are familiar with now, and it is comfortable. But, this is where dangerous missions are assigned. And here, Q is offering up for the first time in a Bond EON Production film, gadgets he can use. Dr. No did not have many gadgets - a geiger counter was the big one. Here we see an array of cool things, all in a single briefcase. As we discover, this briefcase is "standard issue" because we will see another MI6 agent with one later. So, gadgets will define many, many spy movies to come, not just Bond movies, mostly because of this scene! And Q does give Bond a rather smart piece of luggage, which, of course, will come in very handy. An ordinary-looking briefcase, with a retractable knife, a collapsible AR-7 rifle, gold sovereigns. Also, it has tear gas canister that is set-off by the latches that open the briefcase. Brilliant! From here on out, Q is very much in tune with what field agents might need! And somehow, most of Q's gadgets that he provides to Bond get used. This is a smart piece of luggage will come in very handy on the train when Bond and Red Grant get into one of the best train fight scenes ever filmed!Bond Lands in Istanbul
Bond Lands in Istanbul
At the airport in Istanbul, we are again left with unknowns. There is a suspicious man following him out of the airport (the Bulgarian) and another in a car observing Bond. We will grow to know both of their roles very precisely and very soon. And, as in Dr. No, a driver is sent for him. But this time, through validation through a spoken code, it is an ally, not an adversary. Bond makes it to the hotel safely, but tailed, and checks into Room 32. He quickly searches for bugs and finds one behind a painting. As if one bug is not enough, he keeps looking for more – next, in the chandelier. And then checks the phone with an electronic device (another gadget we have not seen until now). Of course, he will switch rooms. This scene shows again the mystery of who is following him, who knows he is there, and the thoroughness that 007 exhibits in the execution of his duties. Of course, in the real-life spy world, the agent wants to blend in, almost disappear. Here, lots of people know Bond is in Istanbul. Cover blown! Compared to the Mission: Impossible movie series, where the Impossible Mission Force (IMF) is generally stealth, in many Bond films, Bond is well known, and the enemy often knows where he is! Between Dr. No, and From Russia With Love, we are beginning to learn who James Bond is: A tough assassin in Dr. No and a thorough, untrusting agent in From Russia With Love.James Bond and Karim at Cistern
James Bond and Karim at Cistern
This location is actually near the Aya Sofia Mosque. There is an entrance fee, but when you enter, you walk down the steps that Bond and Karim walk down in this scene. Very cool!SpyMovieNavigator On Location!
Again, one of our colleagues got these actual shots for us at the Cistern! Beautiful! [caption id="attachment_3131" align="aligncenter" width="300"]


The Gypsy Camp
Krilencu Hideout
The AR7 Rifle
The AR-7 collapsible rifle, that is part of Bond's briefcase kit, in real life is a small-caliber rifle. Developed by Fairchild Engine and Aircraft Corporation's ArmaLite Division in 1959, it as designed as a .22 caliber rifle that can fire 8 rounds. Bond's rifle, was theoretically rechambered for a larger caliber, like. 25 caliber, and for some reason is a single shot. So, assassinating someone with a small-caliber single-shot rifle is questionable, but in this case, Krilencu is climbing out a window and will fall a couple of stories after hit - and because Krilencu is screaming as he is falling, clearly he is not dead yet. The impact is assumed to have killed him. The Krilencu Hideout is no more! The AR7 really is a survival backpack type of weapon. We will see this rifle again in the movie, as Bond eludes the helicopter chasing him, and he uses it to shoot one of the henchmen who is about to drop a grenade. We also see it again in Goldfinger, as it is the rifle used by Tilly Masterson who tries to shoot Goldfinger from the hill, and almost hits Bond, and seen again in Bond's car in On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Keep an eye out for t! The AR-7 is also seen in many other movies and television shows, some related to spy stuff.It’s the Right Size
Red Grant Kills Foreign Agent
SpyMovieNavigator On Location!
One of our colleagues visited Istanbul and we have a couple of shots of the interior of Aya Sofia that appear in the movie, with Blue Mosque in background. You can see this all inthe movie clip. Here is the Blue Mosque, which appears in the background as Tanya, then the Bulgarian spy enter Aya Sophia. [caption id="attachment_3092" align="aligncenter" width="300"]


Tanya Enters Aya Sofia
We see more intrigue here - nothing goes quite that simply in a Bond movie. You will see some familiar faces we saw at the airport when Bond landed in Istanbul. Remember, Tania is leaving the plan for the Consulate in a small container for Bond. But one of the guys we saw at the airport, is tracing her and goes to retrieve it before Bond. Note that there is a tour group going through Saint Sophia, led by a guide who is telling them all about the history of the columns they are seeing and more. Reports are it was a real tour group! EON Productions and the writers are brilliant again. This is a tense scene, and Bond is hoping that Tania and he can pull this off . Can she leave the plan, and can Bond retrieve it unknown to anyone. While Tania is about to hide the plans near a column, the tour guide is pointing out a particular column, the "wishing column" where tourists have come for centuries, pacing their right hand and middle finger in the hole, making their wish. No coincidence that he is saying this as Tania is hiding the plans, and Bond is wishing all goes well with this plan. Once again, something happening as a backdrop is meaningful to what we see happening on the screen. Simply and elegantly done.Red Grant Kills Foreign Agent
But he is killed by the other man we saw at the airport following Bond – later identifying himself as Red Grant. But he does not take the compact container – why not? Remember, this is a complex plan – Tania thinks she is working for the Russians, and Klebb and Shaw have other plans. They want Bond to get the plan. And this all comes out in this scene. And you can still visit Aya Sofia and it is exactly the same as it was in the movie!Ferry Boat Encounter
Russian Clocks are Always Right – Escape with the Lektor
Train Fight
Truck vs. Helicopter
Q Gadgets and Scotland
This scene again shows how in tune Q is in what gadgets Bond might need for a mission, as his smart looking piece of luggage with the AR-7 comes in very handy once again. Bond shoots one of the henchmen just as he is about to drop a grenade. Instead, getting shot, he drops the grenade in the helicopter and it blows up. SpyMovieNavigator took a trip to Scotland looking for Bond locations. While there, we tried to find the rock that Bond was hiding under when he shot down the helicopter and we could not find it! We were close to the location and should have been able to find it, but we could not. SpyMovieNavigator did find the pier that Bond drives the truck onto, when he and Tania escape by boat, only to be chased by SPECTRE boats. This was supposed to be in Istanbul, but was actually shot in Scotland! See our related videos and podcasts. This Truck vs. Helicopter is a future scene in a lot of spy movies!Death of Kronsteen
Death of Kronsteen - Poison Kills . . . in . . . listen to it . . . 12 seconds
Here we see for the first time, the poison blade that pops out of the shoe of the assassin here, as he kicks # 5 with it. How long does it take for Kronsteen to die? 12 seconds, and # 1 is not happy that it takes that long. Notice the musical dings - there are 12 counting down his death! Bond is up against an evil organization! The death of Kronsteen shows how evil SPECTRE is. The only way out of SPECTRE seems to be death. There are many real-life incidents in the spy business where poison is used to try to eliminate the enemy. From this, many scenes in spy novels and movies take their origin. Remember, Ian Fleming was a Naval Intelligence office and very involved with secret agents, plots, and plans in World War - II. It has happened often in real life. Listen to our podcast about How Real Life Events Affect What Goes Into Spy Movies. We will see the poison shoe blade again. In the novel, "From Russia With Love," there were poison knitting needles as well.Klebb’s Final Assault
Venice – Canal Scene Ends the Movie
Some Venice History
Historically, The Bridge of Sighs, in olden times, was the bridge prisoners would cross over from the courtyard where they were just sentenced. Maybe sentenced to death or to prison and maybe even to the execution area. So, they knew they would never cross that bridge again or see the beautiful view of Venice they could see through the bridge's barred windows. Hence, the sighs. Here, in From Russia With Love, there could be a couple of meanings: 1) That Bond and Tania are now beyond the danger zone – they passed under the Bridge of Sighs and the mission is accomplished; they are out of danger; ahh! 2) or, it can be a sexual symbol - Bond is reviewing the film of he and Tania making love in the bridal suite (that Tania did not know about it as you recall) – and Grant was going to use this film as the reason Tania and Bond were dead. Grant would stage it so it looked like one was going to use it as blackmail against the other. Then murder and suicide. So the film had enough sexual content to be potent. Bond is looking at it now and Tania asks what it is, and Bond just says that he will show her, all as they pass from canal to canal – to the "Grand Canal," which can be taken as sexual metaphors or symbols for certain parts of a woman. Or sometimes a canal is just a canal! In conclusion, the Venice – Canal Scene is a pleasant moment for the two of them, as they wrap up their mission, and their passion. And they are now in the safety zone! And Daniela Bianchi as Tania was just perfect casting – she is stunning! Tell us what you think!
From Russia with Love

From Russia With Love is the 5th Ian Fleming James Bond 007 novel (1957), 2nd EON Productions James Bond 007 film (1963).
In this curation of the movie, we talk about other movies as they relate to From Russia With Love and lots of other insights into the scenes like:
- The Pre-title sequence is unique – and we discuss the use of masks here, and how The List of Adrian Messenger, and later Mission: Impossible TV series and movies use masks.
- President Kennedy boosts Ian Fleming book sales
- No throwbacks
- Cats in films
- Istanbul – Klebb demonstrates same-sex tendencies
- Bring on the gadgets
- Mission: Impossible versus Bond
- On location at some film sites
- AR-7 rifle specs
- Bond and Tania sex talk
- On location at the Blue Mosque
- Bosphorus River Ferry
- Fight to the death on the Orient Express
- Other movies mentioned here in relation to From Russia With Love: The 39 Steps, The Spy Who Loved Me, SPECTRE, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, North by Northwest, Quantum of Solace
- SpyMovieNavigator on location in Scotland
- SPECTRE – a job for life. . .
- Venice gondola scenes and Venice canals, Bridge of Signs, – a discussion of potential meanings