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From Amazon.co.uk
John Huston was only one of five directors on Casino Royale, the expensive, all-star 1967 spoof of Ian Fleming's 007 lore. David Niven is the aging Sir James Bond, called out of retirement to take on the organised threat of SMERSH and pass on the secret-agent mantle to his idiot son (Woody Allen). The amazing cast (Orson Welles, Peter Sellers, Deborah Kerr and others) is wonderful to look at, but the film is not as funny as it should be, and the romping even starts to look mannered after a while. The musical score by Burt Bacharach, however, is a keeper. --Tom Keogh, Amazon.com
Product Description
Five directors and an all-star cast spoof the James Bond films in this comedy, very loosely based on Ian Fleming's first Bond novel. Sir James Bond (David Niven) is about to retire, but is called into battle with the evil organisation S.M.E.R.S.H. after the assassination of 'M' (John Huston). Bond's bungling nephew Jimmy (Woody Allen) becomes involved, and chaos ensues when Bond calls in other 007s to assist (including Peter Sellers, Terence Cooper and Ursula Andress, who starred in the first genuine Bond outing, 'Dr No').
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Released in 1967, Casino Royale started life as a serious Bond film, designed to rival (and capitalise on) the successful Eon series. When these plans came to nothing, the film was instead touted as a spy spoof, to star Peter Sellers in the Bond role, but due to Sellers' unprofessionalism (leaving before his scenes were finished) and various other production nightmares, the film gradually mutated into the overblown tribute to 1960s' pop culture that we all know, but don't necessarily love. However, despite its reputation as an unfunny, overblown disaster of a film, the fact is that Casino Royale is actually quite an enjoyable movie. Holding the whole thing together with his customary charm and good humour, David Niven (playing the `original' James Bond) gives perhaps his most impressive performance of the 1960s; when Niven starts saying lines like `be careful, that's my loose kneecap' and `it's depressing that the words `secret agent' have become synonymous with `sex maniac'', you can't help but buy into the film, and laugh with it, rather than at it. Barbara Bouchet, playing Miss Moneypenny, is one of the most attractive women I have ever seen, and the film features a veritable parade of gorgeous sixties' starlets wearing very little indeed. John Huston, William Holden, and Orson Welles do great cameos (I'll take Welles' Le Chiffre over `Nads' Mikkelsen's any day), and Woody Allen, back when he was funny, has some good lines as Niven's nephew Jimmy Bond. The sets and art design for the film are absolutely astounding, and tons of British comedy actors appear in minor roles, some funny (Geoffrey Bayldon, Ronnie Corbett), some not (Bernard Cribbins).... Read more ›
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Tim Kidner
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
A parody of not only Bond films but on film itself, Casino Royale nods and bows to all sorts of the genre, from sci-fi to westerns and everything between.
Think of this over-budget, swinging '60s design overindulgence as a pre- Austin Powers and you're halfway there. Peter Sellers is more Pink Panther than Sean Connery. David Niven, more like the granddad from UNCLE.
It's seldom outright hilarious but rattles off gag after gag and silly stunt after, well, you know, by now. Add some pretty cool special effects - a spaceship taking off from Trafalgar Square - as well as many cameos as you'd care for. Female beauties who adorn the sets and then turn nasty. Ronnie Corbett as you've never seen him.
I watched this during a spell of wintry illness and it cheered me immensely.
Most of it is pure nonsense, but always in an interesting 'doesn't matter if you don't get it' sort of offbeat way. Yes, it's often crass, sexist and all the things that Bond was renowned for and ultimately criticised for and then some, on top.
The DVD looks good though and plays in widescreen nicely.
Think of this over-budget, swinging '60s design overindulgence as a pre- Austin Powers and you're halfway there. Peter Sellers is more Pink Panther than Sean Connery. David Niven, more like the granddad from UNCLE.
It's seldom outright hilarious but rattles off gag after gag and silly stunt after, well, you know, by now. Add some pretty cool special effects - a spaceship taking off from Trafalgar Square - as well as many cameos as you'd care for. Female beauties who adorn the sets and then turn nasty. Ronnie Corbett as you've never seen him.
I watched this during a spell of wintry illness and it cheered me immensely.
Most of it is pure nonsense, but always in an interesting 'doesn't matter if you don't get it' sort of offbeat way. Yes, it's often crass, sexist and all the things that Bond was renowned for and ultimately criticised for and then some, on top.
The DVD looks good though and plays in widescreen nicely.
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By cinemascope
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
You will be pleased to know that this UK release has ALL the extras on it as the american issue, full audio commentary with James Bond historians,plus the gem for me the making of Casino Royale in 5 parts great stuff loads of info about the film from the crew who worked on it!! runs over 40 mins plus the full cinema trailer.None of this is noted on the back of the box unbeliveable!! The film looks brill in hi def, and not forgetting that great Burt Bacharach score and Dusty Springfield singing The Look Of Love the whole thing will whisk you back to the swinging sixties YEH BABY!!!! Mark, Wallasey, Wirral.10/8/12
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The idea of more than one actor playing the role of James Bond would have seemed very whacky when this film was made - as Sean Connery was seen my many to actually BE James Bond. However, when this movie came out during Sean Connery's final 60's Bond adventure going head to head with 'You Only Live Twice' it became apparent that even without Connery the Bond brand still had box office potential. Without 'Casino Royale', it is possible that the best Bond movie 'OHMSS' would not have been made. Today of course we have had seven actors playing the role of Bond and the character changes his face almost as regular as that other bastion of Britishness a certain TV Time Lord. Therefore Casino Royale can be considered as remarkably prescient in casting almost every character in the movie as a 'James Bond' - during the climax a number of performing seals and a Typhoo Tea chimpanzee dressed in a tuxedo and wearing a toupee are identified as 007 - I am not sure about the seals but the chimp has always struck me as a rather nasty but hilarious visual gag at the expense of Mr Connery. This film has had for me a fascination bordering on obsession for details regarding the production, the editing and the missing scenes and what was contained in the original screenplay before Peter Sellers left. Finally, the 40th Anniversary Edition DVD is my dream come true as it features an comprehensive documentary detailing the making of the film, and also features interviews with some of the directors and actors and actresses who participated in it. There are some real gems of anecdotes both in the documentary and on the commentary track. My only disappointment is that the deleted scenes were not included on the DVD - but it appears they have long been destroyed.... Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
the 'spoof' version
It was a friend's birthday and he requested this dvd. He first saw it in the 70's and loved it then so asked for it for his birthday
Published 3 days ago by Yvonne Curtis
4.0 out of 5 stars
Geeky but good
Cult - gets better with age.
Great one-liners.
And a good take off of the other multitude of other spy movies of the time
Great one-liners.
And a good take off of the other multitude of other spy movies of the time
Published 1 month ago by Rob Jones
4.0 out of 5 stars
Casino Royale is too much for one James Bond..........
I know, I know.....this along with Never Say Never Again don`t quite fit into the EON Bond cannon, but.......if you don`t own them both you really are missing out. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Philip Stevenson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Casino Royale
Not exactly Daniel Craig,but a fun film very sixties so I suppose you would say its groovy baby. Very tongue in cheek to normal Bond films but an easy watch.
Published 1 month ago by Trevor
4.0 out of 5 stars
One Of The Best Bonds
Just got through watching this Bond spoof during a Bond movie marathon (at home), first time I have seen it - it was very funny in parts with some great one liners and a 60's star... Read more
Published 2 months ago by M. B. Richardson
5.0 out of 5 stars
funny ha ha
Clever comedy that nearly broke two studios, Peter Sellers tantrums, huge sets, five directors, stars from all over the globe and a plot that has more twists than you can cope with... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mr. Eric N. Taylor
3.0 out of 5 stars
With just the right amount of booze in you, this could be entertaining
It's disjointed as hell, dated beyond belief, and never as much fun as it thinks it is, but dang it, it's still more entertaining than most of the Bond movies Roger Moore made. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Dan
5.0 out of 5 stars
At last a version with commentary and terrific 'Making Of' documentary
I've loved this movie ever since I first saw it at the cinema, aged 10. The colour, the pop art production design, the many very funny sequences, the fantastic Burt Bacharach... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Simon Treves
1.0 out of 5 stars
A James Bond To Miss
Never watched this film before, and will never watch it again. This is one of the worst films ever made. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr. Alun Healing
5.0 out of 5 stars
James Bond - not at his best
It might not be in the vain of the latest James Bond story line with all its mega effects, however this movies gives a relief from the predictable seriousness of James Bond.
Published 4 months ago by Dubai fan
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