Before the spectacle of Goldfinger , there was the pure, unadulterated espionage of From Russia with Love . This film often tops critics' lists for being the most authentic adaptation of Ian Fleming's novels. It's a lean, mean Cold War thriller with double-crosses, assassins, and a gritty realism. The fight between Bond and the SPECTRE agent on the Orient Express is a masterclass in tension. It's a reminder that Bond can be just as compelling with a gun and his wits as he is with an invisible car.