Casino Royale – 1967

Casino Royale – 1967

Proof that the great British sense of humour gets everywhere, nothing is safe from it’s reaches, as this original send up of Ian Fleming’s first Bond outing proves.

Charles K. Feldman, the producer, had originally acquired the film rights to Casino Royale in an attempt to have it made as an Eon Productions Bond film; however, Feldman and the producers of the Eon series, Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, failed to come to terms. Believing that he could not compete with the Eon series, Feldman resolved to produce the film as a satire.

The film brought together an all star cast including Peter Sellers, David Niven and ex-Bond girl Ursula Andress.  Despite it’s stellar cast it drew a mixed reaction from critics.

Summary

When British agents are being eliminated, the combined heads of international secret service organisations (MI6, CIA, KGB) implore Sir James Bond, former agent 007 having now been retired for 50 years, to come out of retirement.

Forced out of retirement Bond finds himself up against the mysterious Doctor Noah and his SMERSH organisation.

Promoted to head of MI6, Bond has a cunning plan to mislead SMERSH by designating six agents as James Bond.   Baccarat master Evelyn Tremble (Peter Sellers), millionaire spy Vesper Lynd (Ursula Andress), Bond’s secretary Miss Moneypenny (Barbara Bouchet), Bond’s daughter with Mata Hari, Mata Bond (Joanna Pettet), and British agents “Coop” (Terence Cooper) and “The Detainer” (Daliah Lavi).

Clips

 

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Cast

David Niven
Peter Sellers
Ursula Andress
Orson Welles
Woody Allen
Barbara Bouchet
Deborah Kerr
Jacqueline Bisset
Joanna Pettet
Daliah Lavi
Terence Cooper
Bernard Cribbins
Ronnie Corbett
Geoffrey Bayldon
Derek Nimmo
Chic Murray
William Holden
George Raft
John Huston
Elaine Taylor

Details

Based on a novel by Ian Fleming
Screenplay By:
Wolf Mankowitz
John Law
Michael Sayers
Produced By: Charles K. Feldman
Original Release Date: 13th April 1967