Casino Royale (1967 Film)



Casino Royale is a 1967 spy movie starring Peter Sellers as Ian Fleming's superspy James Bond, and Orson Welle as his nemesis, Le Chiffre. It is the first non-EON produced James Bond film.

==Plot==

British secret agent James Bond 007 is sent to the Casino Royale in France to bankrupt a man named Le Chiffre, who is suspected of funding terrorist activities. He is in fact trying to win back the funds he lost in a bad gambling move, which belonged to his employers, SMERSH. Bond, a noted baccarat master, challenges Le Chiffre and also encounters an old flame, Valerie Mathis, who is investigating Le Chiffre's dealings, and his American contact, Clarence Leiter.

Bond defeats Le Chriffe and prepares to leave France and Le Chiffre behind him, believing that Le Chiffre will be 'retired' by his Soviet employers. However, Le Chiffre kidnaps Mathis and lures Bond into a trap, leading to a shootout with Le Chiffre's men. With both men exhausted, they sit down in Bond's hotel room, before Le Chiffre takes Mathis as a human shield, holding a blade to her. As he tries to exit with her, she pushes herself away, allowing Bond to fatally shoot Le Chiffre.

==Production==

Charles K. Feldman, the producer, had acquired the film rights and had attempted to get Casino Royale made as an Eon Productions Bond film; however, Feldman and the producers of the Eon series, AlbertR.Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, failed to come to terms. Feldman then went to MGM to produce his independent Bond film, releasing it in 1967.

James Bond is played by Peter Sellers, well known for his comedic roles, who was a fan of the novels. His previous comic roles allowed to be a more comic Bond, while still mantaining the character's more serious traits. For the role of Le Chiffre, the producers immediately wanted Orson Welles, who had been tipped to play Blofeld in the official EON series, but ultimately did not. Ursula Andress, who played Honey Ryder, the first Bond girl in 1959's Dr. No, portrayed Bond's main love interest, Valerie Mathis.