From Russia With Love Title Sequence

Stats

Title sequence created by Robert Brownjohn

'From Russia With Love' performed by Matt Munro, written by Lionel Bart

Featured in From Russia With Love (1963)

Visuals

Stepping up a gear from the title sequence seen in Dr. No, the From Russia With Love titles features a couple of sexy belly dancers with the credits from the film projected directly onto their bodies. While seemingly tame compared to today's standards, Robert Brownjohn's titles would have certainly seemed provocative and racy back in 1963, tantalising audiences with what was to come later in the film.

From Russia With Love also marked the first film to have the main title placed after a short pre-title sequence, and for a title theme to contain words sung by a popular artist of the time. Both of these changes would establish a tradition that would stay in place for all future Bond films to follow.

Theme

The smooth, leisurely, romantic title theme sung by Matt Munro » isn't actually heard until the end of the film. Instead a more upbeat and lounge-style instrumental version is heard as the belly dancer does her thing, changing into a bolder, brassier variation of the James Bond Theme complete with cymbals towards the end.

Lyrics

From Russia with love, I fly to you. Much wiser since my, goodbye to you. I've travelled the world, to learn I must return from Russia with love.

I've seen places, faces and smiled for a moment, but oh, you haunted me so. Still my tongue tied, young pride, would not let my love for you show, in case you'd say no.

To Russia I flew, but there and then, I suddenly knew you'd care again, my running around is through, I fly to you from Russia with love. §