Casino Royale (1967)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Directors:

Val Guest
Ken Hughes
(more)

Writers:

Wolf Mankowitz (screenplay) &
John Law (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

28 April 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Action | Adventure

Tagline:

CASINO ROYALE . . . the greatest JAMES BOND! 007 show on earth ! [Australian Daybill Movie Poster]

Plot:

In an early spy spoof, aging Sir James Bond (David Niven) comes out of retirement to take on SMERSH.

Plot Keywords:

James Bond | Baccarat | Spy | Retirement | Nephew

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Peter Sellers	...	Evelyn Tremble, James Bond-007
Ursula Andress	...	Vesper Lynd - 007
David Niven	...	Sir James Bond
Orson Welles	...	Le Chiffre
Joanna Pettet	...	Mata Bond
Daliah Lavi	...	The Detainer - 007
Woody Allen	...	Jimmy Bond - Dr. Noah
Deborah Kerr	...	Agent Mimi aka Lady Fiona
William Holden	...	Ransome
Charles Boyer	...	Le Grand
John Huston	...	McTarry - M
Kurt Kasznar	...	Smernov
George Raft	...	Himself
Jean-Paul Belmondo	...	French Legionnaire (as Jean Paul Belmondo)
Terence Cooper	...	Cooper, James Bond-007
Barbara Bouchet	...	Moneypenny
Angela Scoular	...	Buttercup
Gabriella Licudi	...	Eliza
Tracey Crisp	...	Heather
Elaine Taylor	...	Peg
Jacqueline Bisset	...	Miss Goodthighs (as Jacky Bisset)
Alexandra Bastedo	...	Meg
Anna Quayle	...	Frau Hoffner
Derek Nimmo	...	Hadley
Ronnie Corbett	...	Polo
Colin Gordon	...	Casino Director
Bernard Cribbins	...	Taxi Driver
Tracy Reed	...	Fang Leader
John Bluthal	...	Casino Doorman / M.I.5 Man
Geoffrey Bayldon	...	'Q'
John Wells	...	'Q's' Assistant
Duncan Macrae	...	Inspector Mathis
Graham Stark	...	Cashier
Chic Murray	...	Chic
Jonathan Routh	...	John
Richard Wattis	...	British Army Officer
Vladek Sheybal	...	Le Chiffre's Representative
Percy Herbert	...	1st Piper
Penny Riley	...	Control Girl
Jeanne Roland	...	Captain of the Guards
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jennifer Baker	...	Le Chiffre's assistant (uncredited)
Susan Baker	...	Le Chiffre's assistant (uncredited)
R.S.M. Brittain	...	Sergeant Major (uncredited)
Erik Chitty	...	Sir James Bond's Butler (uncredited)
Frances Cosslett	...	Michele (uncredited)
Alexander Doré	...	Extra (uncredited)
Valentine Dyall	...	Vesper Lynd's assistant / Dr. Noah's voice (uncredited)
Hal Galili	...	USA Officer at Auction (uncredited)
Veronica Gardnier	...	Bond girl (uncredited)
Bob Godfrey	...	Scottish Strongman (uncredited)
Jack Gwillim	...	British Officer at Auction (uncredited)
John Hollis	...	Monk (uncredited)
Anjelica Huston	...	Agent Mimi's Hands (uncredited)
Burt Kwouk	...	Chinese General (uncredited)
John Le Mesurier	...	M's Driver (uncredited)
David Lodge	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Yvonne Marsh	...	Bond girl (uncredited)
Barrie Melrose	...	Extra (uncredited)
Stirling Moss	...	Driver (uncredited)
Caroline Munro	...	Guard Girl (uncredited)
Peter O'Toole	...	Piper (uncredited)
David Prowse	...	Frankenstein's Creature (uncredited)
Milton Reid	...	Temple Guard (uncredited)
Robert Rowland	...	MI5 Agent (uncredited)
Robert Vaughn	...	Napolian Solo (uncredited)

Directed by
Val Guest		(additional sequences) (scenes with Woody Allen and additional scenes with David Niven)
Ken Hughes		(Berlin scenes) (as Kenneth Hughes)
John Huston		(scenes at Sir James Bond's house) (castle in Scotland scenes)
Joseph McGrath		(scenes with Peters Sellers, Ursula Andress and Orson Welles)
Robert Parrish		(scenes with Peters Sellers and Orson Welles)
Richard Talmadge		(uncredited) (Casino Royale finale)

Writing credits
Wolf Mankowitz		(screenplay) &
John Law		(screenplay) &
Michael Sayers		(screenplay)
Ian Fleming		(suggested by the novel "Casino Royale")
Woody Allen		uncredited and
Val Guest		additional dialogue and
Ben Hecht		uncredited and
Joseph Heller		uncredited and
Terry Southern		uncredited and
Billy Wilder		uncredited and
Peter Sellers		uncredited

Produced by
Jerry Bresler	....	producer
John Dark	....	associate producer
Charles K. Feldman	....	producer

Original Music by
Burt Bacharach

Cinematography by
Jack Hildyard

Film Editing by
Bill Lenny

Casting by
Maude Spector

Production Design by
Michael Stringer

Art Direction by
Ivor Beddoes
Lionel Couch
John Howell

Costume Design by
Julie Harris
Anna Duse		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
John O'Gorman	....	makeup artist: Ursula Andress
Joan Smallwood	....	chief hairdresser
Neville Smallwood	....	chief makeup artist

Production Management
Barrie Melrose	....	production manager
John D. Merriman	....	production manager (as John Merriman)
Douglas Peirce	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Roy Baird	....	assistant director
Carl Mannin	....	assistant director
Anthony Squire	....	second unit director
John Stoneman	....	assistant director
Richard Talmadge	....	second unit director

Art Department
Norman Dorme	....	assistant art director
Bill MacLaren	....	construction manager (as Bill Maclaren)
Terence Morgan	....	set dresser
Tony Rimmington	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Sash Fisher	....	sound
Chris Greenham	....	sound editor
Bob Jones	....	sound
Richard Langford	....	sound (as Dick Langford)
John W. Mitchell	....	sound
Jim Shields	....	dialogue editor (as James Shields)

Special Effects by
Cliff Richardson	....	special effects
Roy Whybrow	....	special effects
John Richardson	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Les Bowie	....	special matte work
Gerald Larn	....	matte painter (uncredited)

Stunts
Gillian Aldam	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Anderson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Peter Brace	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ken Buckle	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jack Cooper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tex Fuller	....	stunts (uncredited)
Rusty Hood	....	stunts (uncredited)
Arthur Howell	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Leech	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jimmy Lodge	....	stunt double: David Niven (uncredited)
Jimmy Lodge	....	stunts (uncredited)
Peter Munt	....	stunts (uncredited)
Richard O'Brien	....	stunt rider (uncredited)
Keith Peacock	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terence Plummer	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dinny Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Nosher Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mike Reid	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Terry Richards	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tony Smart	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terry Yorke	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Nicolas Roeg	....	additional photography
John Wilcox	....	additional photography
Trevor Coop	....	camera trainee (uncredited)
Ted Deason	....	focus puller: "a" camera (uncredited)
Wally Fairweather	....	focus puller (uncredited)
Gerry Fisher	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Maurice Gillett	....	supervising electrician (uncredited)
Pamela Green	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Anthony B. Richmond	....	focus puller (uncredited)
Alex Thomson	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Douglas Webb	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Ken Worringham	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Betty Adamson	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Alan Strachan	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Burt Bacharach	....	conductor
Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass	....	main title theme played by (as Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass)
Jack Hayes	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Leo Shuken	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
David Berglas	....	technical advisor
Charles K. Feldman	....	presenter
Tutte Lemkow	....	choreographer
Richard Williams	....	titles and montage effects
Lord Bolton	....	stand-in: Sir James Bond in grouse shooting scenes (uncredited)
Renée Glynne	....	continuity (uncredited)
Michael Murray	....	runner (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation
• Famous Artists Productions

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1967) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Films (1967) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia-Bavaria Filmgesellschaft m.b.H. (1967) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1970) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video (1983) (Australia) (video)
• BCI Eclipse (1989) (USA) (video)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (1992) (USA) (video)
• Sony Video (1992) (USA) (video)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment España S.A. (2001) (Spain) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2001) (Australia) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1987) (USA) (VHS)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)

Other Companies

• Bermans, London  costumes: Ursula Andress and Joanna Pettet
• Chombert  acknowledgment: from Paris - furs for Ursula Andress
• Guy Laroche  acknowledgment: from Paris - Casino dresses
• Paco Rabanne  acknowledgment: from Paris - Guard Girl dresses

Also Known As:

Charles K. Feldman's Casino Royale

Runtime:

131 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (Westrex Recording System) (70 mm prints) | Mono (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Iceland:12 | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Australia:PG (DVD/video rating) | USA:Approved (certificate #29446) | Germany:12 (f) (re-rated) | West Germany:16 (f) | Brazil:14 | Austria:16 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | Singapore:PG | UK:U (original rating)

Filming Locations:

County Galway, Ireland

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Cameo: [Jean-Paul Belmondo] [As a French Foreign Legionnaire.]

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Bond throws down the Chinese girl during his anti-female training, he ends the conflict by saying "Sayonara", which is actually Japanese.

Quotes:

[in a building that is about to explode]
Cooper: What's the strategy, sir?
Sir James: Get out of the bloody place before it blows up!

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004)

Soundtrack:

The Look Of Love

How Many 007s Does It Take To Change a Light Bulb?

Eon Production's DR. NO was a great hit in the early 1960s, and Eon quickly snapped up the rights to the rest of Ian Flemming's novels about super spy James Bond--except for the CASINO ROYALE, which had already been purchased earlier by CBS for a 1950s television adaptation. When the property wound up at Columbia Pictures, they decided to create the satire to end all satires with a host of writers, five famous directors, and an all-star cast led by Peter Sellers. Unfortunately, Sellers' ego reached critical mass during the production and he was fired mid-way into filming--and suddenly roles that were originally envisioned as cameos had to be expanded to finish the project. The result is one of the most bizarre films imaginable.

The story, such as it is, finds James Bond (David Niven) called out of retirement to deal with the sudden disappearance of secret agents all over the world. In order to confuse the unknown enemy, Sir James orders ALL secret agents to use the name James Bond--and before you can blink there are Bonds aplenty running wild all over the globe. Eventually all the Bonds, including (through the magic of editing) Peter Sellers, wind up at Casino Royale, where they confront the evil agents of SMERSH and a diabolical mad man with a plot to rule the world.

The plot is absolute chaos, but that doesn't prevent the film from being a lot of fun to watch. The entire cast runs wild with some marvelous over-the-top performances, and whenever the writers can jam in a gag or a weird plot turn they do precisely that: Bond (Niven) is attacked by decoy ducks; counter-agent Mimi (Deborah Kerr) swings from a drain pipe; Bond's daughter by Mata Hari (Joanna Pettet) is kidnapped by a UFO; double agent Vesper (Ursula Andress) hides bodies in the deep freeze. And that's just for starters.

At one point Niven blows up the locked door of a psychedelically decorated dudgeon with lysergic acid--better know as LSD--and in a way this is indicative of the entire film, which was made at the height of the 1960s ultra-mod movement: the whole thing has the feel of a blow-out acid trip, right down to flashing multicolored lights and swinging 60s fashions. It is visually arresting, to say the least. And then there is that famous Burt Bacharach score, easily one of the best of the decade, sporting Herp Albert on the main theme and Dusty Springfield's legendary performance of "The Look of Love." On the whole, the film is one of the most entertaining hodgepodges of talent and weirdness I've ever encountered, and it never fails to amuse. I've found that viewers tend to have extremely different reactions to this film--they either love it or hate it, so you may want to rent this one first. But it's one of my favorite guilty pleasures, and I recommend it for fans of the unexpectedly odd.

Gary F. Taylor, aka GFT, Amazon Reviewer