20 Things You Didn't Know About Dr. No
14. Spectacle On A Small Budget
The late Sir Ken Adam's contribution to the look of the James Bond films has never really been equalled, even though other production designers have tried to recall his style many times.
Adam noted that one of the soundstage sets that he was asked about the most was the interrogation chamber in Dr. No.
The jittery Professor Dent enters the chamber when he comes to warn Dr. No that James Bond will inevitably investigate Crab Key. Throughout the scene, No features as a disembodied voice, maintaining the mystery surrounding the good doctor. Meanwhile, the vaulted glass skylight suggests the web of intrigue that both Dent and Bond are caught in, whilst also referencing the tarantula that No suggests planting in Bond’s bed.
Whilst the brilliance of this minimalist set is clear, Adam later revealed that he had almost used up his £14,500 production design budget for the film and had to quickly design a cheap set for this scene. It cost £745 to build (although this would have cost £16,708.24 in 2019).
Ironically, it is one of his best-remembered set designs, purely for its striking simplicity.