laureatedvd.com

Christoph Nestel · Guest

Right at the beginning of the film, in the scene when Strangways secretary Mary "B6 N" (Dolores Keator) is shot, there are several frames missing when she turns around whereas the black killer shots her on the spot (DVD: 4:52). This way it actually can only be seen how she breaks down, but the deadly shot or shots are missing. The scene looks not particularly professional and I'm wondering about damaged film material or censorship. The audio commentary is no help at all. Editor Peter Hunt is completely satisfied with his innovative editing and gives no clearing-up. Anyhow the BBFC required cuts for the release in the category "A" on 13.08.1962. Due to the BBFC cuts the negative may be damaged today and the frames lost. Were the frames also missing in all previous TV emittances and/or earlier video versions ? Does anybody know details about the cuts required by the BBFC for DR. NO ? Seems so far, nobody can clear this up. Thanks for your help !

Best, Christoph

muntjac · Joined: 02 Jul 2007 Posts: 1

I doubt that "censorship" is the reason----if there is one.

The fact that the scene clearly depicts a black man not only handling a dead white woman, but reaching under her skirt for a key was pretty risque for 1962. I can't think of anything more "censorable" in this scene.

Ken Barnes · Host Joined: 07 Feb 2004 Posts: 548

The editing of "Dr. No" contains a number of illogical cuts. Apart from the sequence under discussion, check out the scene where Bond slugs one of the villains and the cut shows a sudden change of hand from left to right
(or is it right to left ?). The thing to remember is that this was the first James Bond film and 45 years ago they were probably working to a very tight budget. Generally speaking though, I think "Dr. No" still holds up as a good piece of moviemaking and, in many ways, more satisfying than many of the later more expensive Bonds.

It's one of my three favourite Bonds. The other two being "From Russia With Love" and "Goldfinger."