Bail Bond: Dr. No (1962)

 Bizarro.  Mondo Bizarro.

Dr. No is the first James Bond Film (but not his first appearance).  This is the Film that began a Cinematic Empire that has grossed over $7 billion in Theater Profits (not adjusted for inflation).

How did it start?

Bond is sent to Jamaica to figure out who or what is interfering with American attempts to launch shuttles/ships to win the Space Race with Russia.

Will we get all of the cliches set up in this one or will we have to wait?
I won't leave you shaken or stirred, so let's jump right into...

The quirky Intro with silhouettes, bright colors and good music is seen here.

Interestingly though, they actually feature these three blind guys who walk out of the Intro...

...and into the Film.  That's inventive.

A bunch of rich guys are doing business when one is called away.  They walk past him...and then shoot him, revealing themselves to be enemy agents!

Across the pond from Jamaica, Bond is playing cards before he's called in.

Was this supposed to connect to Casino Royale?

He's assigned to work a case in that lovely Island as an assistant to the US Government.

Their launches are being stopped via radio interference from a source somewhere nearby.

He is impossible to miss as he arrives, a posh Brit (or Scot) in a gray suit.

He fends off an attack on his life IMMEDIATELY by a fake Cab Driver.

Bond is also being tailed by...the guy from Hawaii Five-O?!?

This is a Cold War Spy Film, so know what you are going to get.

Bond puts dust on his briefcase to check for tampering.
He puts a hair on a door.
He fights off random hitmen.

He figures out that the obviously-lying guy is lying and the woman scheming to keep him is up to no good.

He just waits there while the guy shows up and shoots the pillow.
I love that he's just playing cards and chilling.

He's told that nobody can go no near Dr. No's Island...so obviously he's going there.

They get in at night and hide, planning to explore it in the morning.

Of course, something comes up first- mainly the most iconic Bond Girl Intro ever.

They are pursued by No's men, however, and run across his dragon (actually a tank that shoots flames).

They are captured by No's forces and hosed down to get rid of the radioactivity.

We finally see the titular No at around the 80-minute mark (the Film is about 100-minutes long).

He's played by Canadian Joseph Wiseman and he works for SPECTRE, a group of enemies that Bond will fight for the next few Decades.

No tries to recruit Bond, he rejects the offer.

Bond escapes from his cell- possibly inspiring Die Hard as he works through the vents in a tank top- and takes the place of one of No's Scientists.

He makes the reactor overload and fights No, causing him to end up in the pool full of radioactive water from the nuclear pile.

Ouch.

Bond and Honey escape the Island, deciding to stay behind in a boat while having sex.
Classic Bond. 
The End.

A solid start, even if the Film take a while to get going.

You have to know what to expect with this one.  Bond is a Cold War Spy.  He's not going to steal planes, blow up dams or, to name something crazy, outrun a space laser controlled by a North Korean madman in an invisible sports car.

What a silly idea.

This early Bond still punches and shoots men, while making time to seduce men.  A TV Spy would stop the lady who wanted to seduce and then kill him.
Bond sleeps with her and THEN stops her.

Many things are missing here, from Q's Gadgets to 'Shaken, not Stirred.'  They'll be here soon.

The Film also features the technical issues that come with Films of the day, like Rear Projection and some obvious Stunt Doubles.

All that said, Dr. No is an enjoyable, if far less flashy Bond Film that set everything in motion.
Plus, it was obviously filmed in Jamaica.  Need proof?

Red Stripe was created in Illinois?!?

Next up, the second ever Bond Film.  This Films leans hard into spy craft and is often considered the Best Connery Bond Film- no pressure!  Stay tuned...