One of the most influential spy films ever made airs tonight on ITV1.
Based on Ian Fleming’s sixth novel in the Bond series, Dr. No introduced cinema audiences to the character of James Bond, played here for the first time by Sean Connery. The film’s success would mark the beginning of one of the most enduring series in cinema history.
Dr. No was made on a modest budget of around $1.1 million, with shooting locations split between Pinewood Studios in England and extensive work on location in Jamaica, and, at the time, Connery was not widely known internationally.
As soon as it premiered, the film found a substantial audience, especially in the UK and Europe. While some critics questioned the film’s mix of violence and exoticism, others praised its style, pacing, and Connery’s screen presence.
The plot of Dr. No follows British secret agent James Bond, who is sent to Jamaica to investigate the disappearance of fellow MI6 operative John Strangways.
Bond’s mission soon leads him to the reclusive Dr. Julius No, a scientist with metal prosthetic hands and a private island known as Crab Key.
Dr. No, played by Joseph Wiseman, is revealed to be working for the criminal organisation SPECTRE, and his goal is to disrupt American rocket launches using a radio beam weapon.
Bond, assisted by local allies including Quarrel (John Kitzmiller) and CIA agent Felix Leiter (Jack Lord), infiltrates the island and confronts the villain.
The film also established the narrative structure that many later Bond films would follow: a mission briefing at MI6, international travel, a confrontation with a larger-than-life villain, and a final showdown in a secret facility.
Dr. No was the first of six Bond films to star Sean Connery in the official Eon series. Its success at the box office, particularly in the UK, encouraged producers to move forward with From Russia with Love, which began production shortly after Dr. No’s release.
Dr. No will be on ITV1 at 10:45pm this Friday, May 23, for fans to revisit the original Bond film in its full widescreen format and experience the performance that launched Sean Connery’s career as the definitive 007 for a generation.