8 replies to this topic

[Le Chiffre]

Hello, as a massive supporter of the "Casino Royale for Bond 21" campaign I have been working on a CR script, based on the novel, for a year now. I work on it every now and then, just for fun, because I'd love to see the story made into a serious Bond film.

Yesterday, I actually finished a 'spin-off' CR project, making a soundtrack for a CR movie, using little-known Barry work and some well-known Arnold work to give myself an idea of how a CR soundtrack should sound like.

My idea of Casino Royale as a movie would be to literally take over the story of the novel, but adding and changing a few (key) elements:
- of course, Le Chiffre can't be working for SMERSH anymore. In my script, I've made him an agent of the Russian Mafia, working inside NATO in Brussels and selling high-classified information to the highest bidder.
- the financial risk theme of the novel stays in the script; Le Chiffre goes bankrupt using illegal funds of the Mafia for his own purposes. The Mafia finds out, and sends someone out to find him.
- For this, I've decided to bring back former KGB general Georgi Koskov, who now works for the Mafia and acts as the one who goes after L e Chiffre in order to threaten him; if he doesn't pay the money back within ... he will be assassinated.
- Here the original story starts, with MI6 finding out who Le Chiffre is (they've suspected a traitor within NATO since long, and the British find out who it is before the Americans do, a nice competitive touch to the story), James Bond is sent to Royale (which in my script is set at the Cote d'Azur, near Nice and Monaco, to make things more glamorous) to defeat Le Chiffre at chemin de fer
- Vesper is sent as an additional MI6 agent to assist Bond, and also Felix Leiter and a French agent will be present
- I still have to work out the finale of the story, but instead of Le Chiffre's villa he will now own a yacht. Also, I have to add some extra action scenes.
- Oh, and by the way: I'm bringing back Sylvia Trench as an interesting third Bond woman...

Here's a small 'teaser' from my script. Its just the teaser sequence (with a wink to the famous FRWL sequence, which is still unbeaten), and its main purpose is to confuse the audience before the action of the story commences. Its structure is based on the Fleming novel; showing sequences from further in the story, to raise expectations and set the tension. Enjoy reading.

GUN BARREL LOGO OPENS ON.

White circle turns into a sniper

[WC]

Great ideas. And interesting line up of songs for your soundtrack. But is "Who needs Forever?" the 60s song which has been sung by the likes of Astrud Gilberto before, or just a new song entirely? Because "Who Needs Forever" does actually have a very Bond-like sound to it already and sounds like classic Bond from the Sean Connery era.

[Le Chiffre]

Yes, it's the 60s song sung by Astrud Gilberto. I'd like it to be redone by Natacha Atlas - like the re-recordings Arnold and Atlas did for the Shaken And Stirred CD - because its a true classic which has indeed a great Bondian sound. Could be some sort of new "We Have All The Time In The World", because I am planning a OHMSS-like ending for my CR script. The lyrics are great, and the title..."Who Needs Forever?"...it could have been invented by Fleming himself!

[WC]

I haven't heard of Natacha Atlas. But yes, "Who Needs Forever" does have a Flemingesque title and a haunting melody, and could give the impression of a bittersweet ending in the style of OHMSS. I think quite a few of Astrud Gilberto's other songs are quite Bondian in sound too.

[Double oh Ten]

very interested in hearing the files, please send me them!!!!!
By the way, interesting teaser, does it set the tone for the rest of the film??

[General Koskov]

I've written a CR script, but laziness has plagued it and it is unfinished. The novel's story comes after Bond makes Le Chiffre lose a cross-country car race, thus making SMERSH's (a fascist group now) investors lose their money.

This idea is merely another version of the baccarat story, so I'm going to think up something that's not rubbish. Any ideas?

PS. I think CR would make a good 'intro' film to a 'series' about SMERSH.

[Le Chiffre]

What do you think of this cast and crew? By selecting them, I was inspired by the look and feel of films like The Thomas Crown Affair, Hard Eight, Ocean's Eleven, Ronin, etc. I think Casino Royale should be a classic (spy) thriller, think From Russia, With Love (that's why I added Syd Cain as special advisor to the crew), The Thomas Crown Affar (hence John McTiernan and others), Hard Eight (and every other film from the brilliant Paul Thomas Anderson), Ocean's Eleven (George Clooney as Felix Leiter!) etcetera.

ALBERT R. BROCCOLI

[WC]

I don't like the idea of Zeta Jones or Clooney. They might cause MGM to do another Halle Berry by giving them equal prominence with Bond, or perhaps even a Batman where the supporting characters overshadow the main character. You'd get Zeta Jones and Clooney very prominently up on the main poster - maybe Brossers might even be scaled down or stuck in the background somewhere.

It'd be okay with Hopkins if he were playing the villain, as long as he doesn't dominate - but since he isn't considered an action star it's unlikely he would. I don't like Ralph Fiennes as Le Chiffre though. He seems a bit lightweight - and we need an actor who could bring considerable gravitas to the villain's role after Toby Stevens.

As for Sophie-Ellis Bextor - I don't really warm to the idea of pop stars playing roles in Bond films - I was never much of a fan of Madonna's cameo in DAD.

Better to get actors who are perhaps either foreign actors or arthouse type actors from independent films. Someone who isn't overly well known but is charismatic enough.

For possible actors as villains, i'd suggest people like Malcolm McDowell, Ian McKellen, F Murray Abraham, or perhaps some french actor like Michel Lonsdale who played Hugo Drax in Moonraker - now someone like him as Le Chiffre would've been cool!

I'd say for Vesper, go with a more international, european star than a british or american one like there's been for most of the Brosnan films. It just makes the whole thing too commercıalısed with American stars. What happened to the days of the likes of Daniela Bianchi, Claudine Auger et al?

[General Koskov]

Michael Lonsdale would be the perfect Le Chiffre. He would be damned good as Fleming's Drax also.