Dr. No is a 1962 spy film directed by Terence Young. It is based on the 1958 novel of the same name by Ian Fleming. Starring Sean Connery, Ursula Andress, Joseph Wiseman, and Jack Lord, it is the first film in the James Bond series and was adapted by Richard Maibaum, Johanna Harwood, and Berkely Mather. The film was produced by Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli, a partnership that continued until 1975. It was followed by From Russia With Love in 1963.
In the film, James Bond is sent to Jamaica to investigate the disappearance of a fellow British agent. The trail leads him to the underground base of Dr. No, who is plotting to disrupt an early American space launch from Cape Canaveral with a radio beam weapon. Although it was the first of the Bond books to be made into a film, Dr. No was not the first of Fleming’s novels. Casino Royale was the debut for the character, who would have loved Wildz casino 2022 offers; however, the film makes a few references to threads from earlier books. This film makes reference to later books in the series as well, such as the criminal organization SPECTRE, which was not introduced until the 1961 novel Thunderball.
Produced on a low budget, Dr. No was a financial success. While the film received a mixed critical reaction upon release, it has gained a reputation over time as one of the series’ best installments. Dr. No also launched a genre of secret agent films that flourished in the 1960s. The film spawned a comic book adaptation and soundtrack album as part of its promotion and marketing.
Many aspects of a typical James Bond film were established in Dr. No: the film begins with an introduction to the character through the view of a gun barrel and a highly stylized main title sequence, both of which were created by Maurice Binder. It also introduced the iconic theme music. Production designer Ken Adam established an elaborate visual style that is one of the hallmarks of the film series.
Out of this story, there have also been comic adaptations.
Around the time of Dr. No’s release in October 1962, a comic book adaptation of the screenplay, written by Norman J. Nodel, was published in the United Kingdom as part of the Classics Illustrated anthology series.
Classics Illustrated #158
Script by Alfred Sundel from an original story by Ian Fleming
Art and cover by Norman J. Nodel
In 1963 DC Comics published
Showcase Comics #43
March, 1963
This was the first American comic book appearance of James Bond and is noteworthy for being a relatively rare example of a British comic being reprinted in a fairly high-profile American comic. It was also one of the earliest comics to be censored on racial grounds (some skin tones and dialogue were changed for the American market)
Script by Ian Fleming
Comic Adaptation by Alfred Sundel
Art by Norman J. Nodel
Cover by Bob Brown
In 1985 Kid Stuff Record & Tapes published
James Bond 007 Dr. No, it is one of four “James Bond 007 Deluxe Talking Storybooks” published in North America, under license from Danjaq and Glidrose Publications. Its plot is essentially a re-imagining of the 1962 film of the same name. The paperback book and its accompanying cassette tape was written and produced by John Braden.
In 2005 Titan Books published
James Bond 007 Dr. No
Stand by for more adventures with the world’s greatest secret agent, as some of his most thrilling missions are collected for the first time ever!
When two MI5 agents disappear in Jamaica, Bond is sent to investigate — but a mysterious assailant attempts to dispatch 007 with everything from poisoned nectarines to killer centipedes! And when Bond links the attacks to the island of Crab Key, owned by the mysterious Doctor No, his troubles are just beginning!
This volume also collects Diamonds Are Forever and From Russia, With Love. Bonus features include an introduction by Eunice Gayson (Sylvia Trench), an article on the other agents in 007’s world and a feature examining the post-Fleming novels!
By Henry Gammidge, Ian Fleming, John McLusky and Peter O’Donnell
In 2016 Titan Books collected Casino Royale and other stories in
The Complete James Bond: Dr. No – The Classic Comic Strip Collection 1958-60 Hardcover
In his first mission, James must neutralize a Russian operative by ruining him at the baccarat table. Lady Luck appears to be with Bond as his target hits a losing streak, but Bond’s attraction to a beautiful female agent leads him to disaster… Next, when two MI5 agents disappear in Jamaica, Bond is sent to investigate — but a mysterious assailant attempts to dispatch 007 with everything from poisoned nectarines to killer centipedes! And when Bond links the attacks to the island of Crab Key, owned by the mysterious Doctor No, his troubles are just beginning!
This volume also collects classic Bond stories Diamonds Are Forever, Moonraker, Live and Let Die, and From Russia, With Love.
More information about Jame Bond Comics can be found on Illustrated007 Peter Lorenz’ blog about all things Bond.
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