Bond’s exasperated closing remark in From Russia With Love represents one of the character’s earliest and most effective forays into a dry, situational quip. It’s a simple line, but a clever one that works simultaneously as a dismissive play on words with the “get your kicks” idiom for enjoyment and a pointed reference to her signature poison-spike-tipped shoes. Those shoes, in particular, deserve more credit for their brutally simple design and alarming effectiveness. In my opinion, the combination of simplicity and lethality represents the gold standard of an exceptional gadget.

That said, the final confrontation unfolds largely as expected, with Klebb’s age and physicality placing her at a clear disadvantage against Bond in a direct fight. While Romanova’s split-second decision between shooting Bond or Klebb is dramatically effective, it strains credibility that her near hip-fire shot would have pinpoint accuracy and lethality.