Producer: Harry Saltzman, Albert R. Broccoli
Director: Terence Young
Screenplay: Richard Maibaum, Johanna Harwood, Berkely Mather
Music (aka "James Bond Theme"): Monty Norman
Actors: Sean Connery (James Bond) - Ursula Andress (Honeychile Ryder) - Joseph Wiseman (Dr. No) - Jack Lord (Felix Leitner) - Bernard Lee (M) - Lois Maxwell (Miss Moneypenny) - Anthony Dawson - John Kitzmiller - Eunice
Grayson - Zena Marshall

It has been many years since a film whose nervous distributors commented "All we can lose is $1 million!" premièred in theatres throughout the world. That controversial film was Dr. No, the first of Her Majesty’s Secret Service agent James Bond’s amazing motion picture adventures.

In the spring of 1961, Canadian film producer Saltzman acquired the rights for filming 007’s exploits, purchasing an option from Ian Fleming. The author’s fees included a handsome lump sum amount, but more lucratively, a percentage
of all future box-office revenues. Fleming’s recent bout of poor health prompted him to market the property to provide security for his family. Saltzman did strive to find financing for the Bond films, but could not interest investors. Simultaneously, producer Cubby Broccoli tried to option the stories, only to learn that the rights rested in Saltzman’s hands. Broccoli, having ended a production partnership with Irving Allen, was reluctant to enter another joint venture. He proposed to buy the 007 franchise outright but Saltzman refused to consider anything but a deal in which both men would co-produce the films as partners. Reluctantly Cubby agreed, convinced there existed a golden future onscreen for 007.

Broccoli and Saltzman formed a producing unit called Eon ("Everything or Nothing"), yet still could not arouse studio interest to finance the films. On June 20, 1961 the two men flew to New York to meet Arthur Krim, President of United Artists. In less than one hour, Krim and the producers fashioned a deal for UA to finance the inaugural James Bond screen epic for a budget of $1 million. Thunderball was originally scheduled to be the first film; however, a high profile court battle developed with Fleming being sued by Kevin McClory and Jack Whittingham. The property was obviously too "hot to touch" and Dr.No became the chosen vehicle to launch James Bond to film audiences.

An impressive cast was hired, highlighted by Joseph Wiseman who would set the standard for future Bond villains with his chilling and acclaimed portrayal of the sinister title character. Bernard Lee signed to portray Bond’s crusty superior "M" and Lois Maxwell would make her first appearance as his love-starved secretary Miss Moneypenny. Unknown actress Ursula Andress was cast as nature girl Honey Rider, the first of the legendary "Bond Girls".

Other key contributors to the film include Jack Lord as the first of the Felix Leiters, and one of the best to date; Anthony Dawson as the dour and evil Professor Dent; John Kitzmiller as Quarrel, the native Jamaican who does not fear Dr. No as much as the legendary dragon patrolling No’s island fortress of Crab Key; and Eunice Grayson, the fetching damsel who earns the honour of being Bond’s first onscreen bedmate. Bernard Lee and Lois Maxwell demonstrated a unique chemistry with Connery that would lead to career-long associations with the series.

One missing link was the actor to portray the famed British agent. Sean Connery was selected to play 007, even though Broccoli disapproved at first. However Connery’s suitability as Bond was confirmed was immediately confirmed with his first screen close-up, wherein he identifies himself with the now immortal introduction: "Bond, James Bond".

Dr. No remains one of the more violent Bond films, although, unlike many of the epics to follow, it remained quite faithful to Fleming’s novel. The plot - centring on Dr. No’s grandiose plans to wreck the US Space program - is rather mundane and dated today, yet, amazingly, nothing else about the film lessened its impact or entertainment value over the years.

There was little confidence in Dr. No’s ability to generate box office revenue. United Artists virtually buried the film with an
inauspicious debut in second run theatres and American drive-ins. Despite this, James Bond caught on with audiences immediately and became a major box-office success.