14 replies to this topic

[Qwerty]

Now on the CBn main page...

CBn Reviews Casino Royale (1954)

Forum members review the unofficial TV James Bond film

[Double-0-Seven]

I gave it a 10. I think it's great fun to watch, and it's very good considering it was the first James Bond screen adaption and had nothing else to go by.

[Qwerty]

I gave it a 6. My review is in the article.

[moorebond82]

Pretty good it was better then i was expecting.

I gave it a 7 by the way.

[Geodrin]

I resently saw vhs to dvd homemade transfer of this epic from 54' and I loved it. I thought it was funny seeing an american bond, but since I'm an american it didn't bother me so much. But, I really liked it, if it was updated with a gunbarrel, some new music, or perhaps colroized and pan and scanned (Brought to the future) it would be great. A DVD version (Not as an extra) all by its self would be a dream come true.

[Qwerty]

[Moderator's Note: Topics merged]

[Double-Oh Agent]

An interesting film with an American Bond and a British Leiter. Slow and theatrical without any of the famous Bond iconography. Gives a good indication of what a dramatic Bond or a TV Bond back then would have been like. The best thing in the film is Peter Lorre as Le Chiffre. I give it a 5.

[TheREAL008]

Dreadful film. Bond should never be an American named Jimmy. Second worst film since NSNA.

[Righty007]

Dreadful film. Bond should never be an American named Jimmy. Second worst film since NSNA.

At least "Jimmy" is a derivative of James.

They changed Felix's name to Clarence Leiter. WTF!?

[Qwerty]

Dreadful film. Bond should never be an American named Jimmy. Second worst film since NSNA.

Still a hell of a lot better than the drugged-out-of-your-mind catastrophe that the 1967 version is.

[TheLazenby]

Always been one of my favorite Bond films, despite the short length. Everything that needs to be included is included (except maybe Vesper/Valerie's nonexistent death), and it's extremely well performed considering it was a live, one-shot deal.

It's a shame that Barry Nelson's Bond didn't return in one or two further adaptations.

[Simon]

Based on this rather 'late to the table' reading of this thread, I decided to pick this DVD up from an ebay seller, only to be disappointed that it appears to without complete ending.

As watchable as this show is with the utterly limited resources they had to hand, I was upset to find the show appeared to cut itself off after Bond asked Mathis to call the police. Clearly Le Chiffre was reaching for his razor blade.

Can anyone fill in the blanks for me?

Indeed, can anyone recommend an ebay seller or some such that can offer the complete show. I am aware of the chap who, in the article, mentions to get a VHS version, but I am UK based (PAL) and now without VHS to hand.

[byline]

Dreadful film. Bond should never be an American named Jimmy. Second worst film since NSNA.

Still a hell of a lot better than the drugged-out-of-your-mind catastrophe that the 1967 version is.

True enough. This was worth the price of renting the DVD; the theatrical release wasn't. What a mess that was!

[GUY007]

Dreadful film. Bond should never be an American named Jimmy. Second worst film since NSNA.

In this movie, Bond's name is JAMES and not Jimmy.Is shown in the end credits



In the novel Moonraker, Fleming says that a character like Peter Lorre. Was it a tribute to this adaptation of "Casino Royale" ?

I give 8/10 because :
- Peter Lorre was a great villain. (for me he's the best)
- Barry Nelson was good in the role of Bond.
- The film is quite similar to the novel.

[Jeff007]

Good catch, GUY007.