When asked to name your favourite movie, as a Bond fan I always choose this movie of the EON's James Bond series. Made a year after the success of Dr. No, this is Sean Connery at his Bond best with narrative similar to Ian Fleming's book. 007's mission is to recover a much needed Russian cipher machine.

This film has all 007's trade-marks: girls, locations & the introduction of a Bond gadget ( that handy briefcase ) with Desmond Llewelyn making his first appearance as Q.

The cast also includes the lovely Daniela Bianchi ( one of my favourite Bond babes despite a dubbed voice ) as Tatiana Romanova and Robert Jaws Shaw as Red Grant who keeps quiet for half of the film then chips in with his Russian-English "Old Chap" & "Cheero". Watch out for another appearance of Eunice Gayson as Bond's girl-friend, Sylvia and a younger Walter Gotell as Morzeny who turns up in later Moore-Bond movies as General Gogol.

Favourite scenes include the lady masseuse toning up Grant for the arrival of Lotte Lenya as the evil Rosa Klebb to test his fitness ( ouch ! ) and his train fight with 007 - one of the best.

Meanwhile John Barry starts his Bond musical reign with help from British singer Matt Monroe and the first of many 007 theme songs.

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