Being called on by SPECTRE to kill James Bond must be like drawing the short straw - it instantly brings your life expectancy down massively. If there was anyone who could buck this trend though, surely it was Donald 'Red' Grant (Robert Shaw,) who was both a mental and physical match for Bond, and who made From Russia With Love one of the tensest films in the franchise simply by being in it. The way the film sets up their inevitable final confrontation is like the Rocky vs. Ivan Drago montage, showing both of the rival agents being ruthlessly proficient at their jobs. By the time Connery's Bond and Shaw's 'Red' Grant are face to face in that train carriage, you know something special is about to happen. What follows is probably one of the most visceral hand to hand fights ever put to film, which felt wonderfully authentic thanks to the actors' commitment to the action. The scene pulls your heart into your mouth, and though you know Bond will triumph, it is testament to this villainous character that there's always a tiny shred of doubt when you watch it.
A pop culture mad writer from the North East who loves films, television and debating them with whoever will listen.
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