Casino Royale (1967): A Legacy Of Chaos
The 1967 film Casino Royale, starring David Niven and Peter Sellers, stands as a unique and chaotic entry in the James Bond franchise. Unlike the more straightforward adaptations of Ian Fleming's works, this film veered sharply into the realm of parody and satire. The story behind its development and production is as wild and fascinating as the movie itself.
Development
The roots of Casino Royale date back to the early 1950s when Ian Fleming’s first James Bond novel, Casino Royale, was published in 1953. The film rights to the novel were initially acquired by producer Gregory Ratoff for $6,000. Ratoff’s vision for the novel included adapting it into a television play, which materialized in 1954 as a live 1-hour episode on the anthology series Climax!, starring Barry Nelson as an Americanized “Jimmy Bond.”
After Ratoff’s death in 1960, the rights were purchased by Charles K. Feldman, a Hollywood producer known for successful films like What’s New Pussycat? . Feldman initially sought to create a serious James Bond film with Eon Productions’ series, but he and producers of the Connery Bond movies Harry Saltzman and Cubby Broccoli failed to agree to terms. Realizing the monumental task of competing with the successful franchise, which had solidified its popularity with Sean Connery’s portrayal of Bond, Feldman pivoted towards creating a parody. This decision was influenced by the success of Feldman’s previous comedy, What’s New Pussycat?, which also starred Peter Sellers.
Production and Directorial Challenges
Production of Casino Royale began in 1966 under the banner of Columbia Pictures. The project quickly descended into chaos due to a lack of coherent direction and vision. Feldman’s decision to employ multiple directors for different segments of the film added to the disarray. The directors included John Huston, Ken Hughes, Robert Parrish, Joe McGrath, Val Guest, and an uncredited Richard Talmadge. Each director brought their own style and perspective, resulting in a disjointed narrative.
John Huston directed the scenes featuring David Niven as Sir James Bond. Huston, a renowned director known for films like The Maltese Falcon and The African Queen, left the project citing creative differences, particularly regarding the film's chaotic and unfocused production.
Ken Hughes directed the Berlin segment, a surreal and elaborate scene that contributed to the film's overall disjointed feel. Hughes was known for his work on Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and brought a whimsical, almost fantastical approach to his section.
Robert Parrish was responsible for the scenes with Peter Sellers and Orson Welles. Parrish had to navigate the notorious feud between Sellers and Welles, which created substantial tension on set.
Joe McGrath directed the sequences featuring Sellers and Ursula Andress. McGrath, who had collaborated with Sellers on The Goon Show, struggled to manage Sellers' erratic behaviour and frequent clashes with the production team.
Val Guest was brought into piece together the overall narrative and direct the final scenes. Guest was known for his work in science fiction films like The Day the Earth Caught Fire. His role was to create a semblance of coherence from the disparate elements, a nearly impossible task given the circumstances.
The uncredited Richard Talmadge, a veteran stunt coordinator and director, was brought in to oversee some of the film's action sequences, further highlighting the fragmented nature of the production.
Casting Turmoil
The casting process mirrored the production’s chaotic nature. David Niven was cast as Sir James Bond, the retired original 007, fitting the parody’s requirement for a more mature and dignified Bond figure. Niven was Ian Fleming’s personal choice for the role of Bond in earlier, more serious adaptations, adding an ironic twist to his casting in this spoof.
Peter Sellers was cast as Evelyn Tremble, a bumbling baccarat expert recruited to impersonate Bond. Sellers’ involvement in the film was particularly problematic. He clashed with Orson Welles, who played the villain Le Chiffre. The tension between the two was so severe that they refused to work together directly, leading to creative filming techniques to avoid having them share screen space. Sellers also frequently disagreed with the directors and eventually walked off the set before completing all his scenes. This forced the production to creatively edit the film to accommodate his absence, further complicating the storyline.
The film featured a star-studded ensemble cast, including:
- Ursula Andress as Vesper Lynd, who had previously starred as Honey Ryder in Dr. No (1962), the first official Bond film by Eon Productions.
- Woody Allen as Jimmy Bond, Sir James Bond’s neurotic nephew and the film’s main antagonist. Allen’s portrayal of a villainous figure added an absurd twist to the film's narrative.
- Deborah Kerr as Agent Mimi/Lady Fiona McTarry, who played a double agent pretending to be a Scottish widow.
- Joanna Pettet as Mata Bond, the daughter of Mata Hari and James Bond, reflecting the film's absurd and convoluted plot.
- Daliah Lavi as The Detainer, one of the many female agents in the film.
The film also featured cameo appearances by stars such as Jean-Paul Belmondo and George Raft, adding to its eclectic nature.
Casino Royale also boasts the greatest number of actors in a Bond film either to have appeared or to go on to appear in the rest of the Eon series – besides Andress in Dr. No, Sheybal appears as Kronsteen in From Russia with Love, Kwouk features as Mr. Ling in Goldfinger and an unnamed SPECTRE operative in You Only Live Twice, Roland plays a masseuse in You Only Live Twice, and Scoular appears as Ruby Bartlett in On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Jack Gwillim, who has a minor role as a British Army officer, plays a Royal Navy officer in Thunderball. Caroline Munro, seen very briefly as one of Dr Noah's gun-toting guards, went on to play Naomi in The Spy Who Loved Me, and also appears with other models on the cover of the 1969 Pan Booksedition of On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Milton Reid, who appears in a bit part as the temple guard, opening the door to Mata Bond's hall, plays one of Dr. No's guards and Stromberg's underling, Sandor, in The Spy Who Loved Me. John Hollis, who plays the temple priest in Mata Bond's hall, went on to play the implied Ernst Stavro Blofeld character in the pre-credits sequence of For Your Eyes Only. John Wells, Q's assistant, appears in For Your Eyes Only as Denis Thatcher. Hal Galili, who appears briefly as a US Army officer at the auction, had earlier played gangster Jack Strap in Goldfinger.
Well-established stars such as Peter O'Toole and sporting legends such as Stirling Moss took uncredited parts solely in order to work with the other cast members. Moss played Evelyn's driver. O'Toole supposedly took payment in a case of champagne!
Stunt director Richard Talmadge employed Geraldine Chaplin to appear in a brief Keystone Cops insert. The film proved to be young Anjelica Huston's first experience in the film industry as she was called upon by her father, John Huston, to cover the screenshots of Kerr's hands. It features the first theatrical appearance of David Prowse as Frankenstein's monster. John Le Mesurier features in early scenes as M's driver.
Script Development and Narrative Disarray
The screenplay for Casino Royale underwent numerous rewrites, resulting in a fragmented and confusing plot. The initial script was penned by Ben Hecht, a legendary screenwriter known for films like Scarface (1932) and Notorious (1946). Hecht’s original drafts aimed to blend comedy with a coherent spy narrative. However, after his death in 1964, the script saw contributions from a variety of writers, including Billy Wilder, Joseph Heller, Terry Southern, and Woody Allen. Each writer’s contributions were often discordant with the others, leading to a screenplay that lacked cohesion.
Hecht’s draft, which focused more on the plot and character development, was later transformed into a series of comedic vignettes. Wilder, Heller, and Southern introduced more surreal and absurd elements, aligning with Feldman’s vision of a broad satire. Woody Allen’s improvisational style further influenced the script, especially in his scenes, adding another layer of inconsistency.
The film’s plot is a convoluted series of vignettes centred around Sir James Bond coming out of retirement to confront the threat posed by SMERSH. To confuse the enemy, multiple agents are given the codename “James Bond 007.” The narrative jumps between different locations and characters, creating a surreal and often nonsensical story. This structure, while intended to be humorous, often left audiences bewildered.
Release and Reception
Casino Royale was released in April 1967 and was met with mixed reviews. Critics were divided; some appreciated its irreverent humour and star-studded cast, while others criticized its lack of coherence and over-the-top silliness.
Despite the critical reception, the film was a financial success, grossing over $41 million worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing films of the year. Welles attributed the success to a marketing strategy that featured a naked tattooed woman on the film's posters and print ads. The campaign also included a series of commercials featuring British model Twiggy. In its opening weekend in the United States and Canada, it set a record three-day gross for Columbia of $2,148,711. As late as 2011, the film was still making money for the estate of Peter Sellers, who negotiated an extraordinary 3% of the gross profits (an estimated £120 million), with the proceeds currently going to Cassie Unger, daughter and sole heir of Sellers' beneficiary, fourth wife Lynne Frederick. When domestic box office receipts are adjusted for inflation, Casino Royale is 20th-largest grossing of the entire Bond franchise.
Soundtrack
The film’s soundtrack, composed by Burt Bacharach and featuring the hit song “The Look of Love” performed by Dusty Springfield, received critical acclaim and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. The song was revisited in the first Austin Powers film, which, to a degree, was inspired by Casino Royale.
The soundtrack, with its innovative and memorable compositions, became one of the standout elements of the film, often cited as one of the best parts of the production.
Interesting Facts and Legacy
1. Multiple Bonds: The film’s concept of having multiple agents named James Bond was a parody of the established Bond formula and allowed the film to explore different comedic styles. This idea was revolutionary at the time and added a layer of meta-humour to the film.
2. Set Design: The lavish set designs and elaborate costumes added to the film’s visual appeal, even as the narrative itself faltered. The production design, particularly the psychedelic sets, reflected the 1960s counterculture aesthetic.
3. Cameo Appearances: The film featured numerous cameo appearances by stars such as Jean-Paul Belmondo, George Raft, and William Holden, adding to its eclectic nature. These cameos were part of Feldman’s strategy to make the film appealing to a broad audience.
4. Uncredited Roles: Richard Talmadge, a veteran stunt coordinator, was brought in to direct some of the film’s action sequences, though he went uncredited. Talmadge's work added a layer of professionalism to the otherwise chaotic production.
5. Feud between Sellers and Welles: The notorious feud between Peter Sellers and Orson Welles significantly impacted the film’s production. Their refusal to work together led to creative filming techniques and added strain on the already troubled set.
6. Legacy: Despite its chaotic production, Casino Royale has gained a cult following over the years and is often remembered for its ambition and eccentricity. It stands as a testament to the unpredictable nature of film production and the challenges of adapting a popular literary work into a coherent film. The film’s unique approach to the Bond mythos influenced later parodies and comedic interpretations of the spy genre.
7. Influence on Later Parodies: Casino Royale paved the way for future spy parodies, such as the Austin Powers series, which borrowed heavily from its satirical take on the Bond franchise. Its influence can be seen in the way subsequent films approached the blend of comedy and espionage.
8. Cultural Impact: The film's release during the height of the 1960s counterculture movement allowed it to resonate with audiences who appreciated its subversive take on traditional spy narratives. Its psychedelic visual style and irreverent humour captured the zeitgeist of the era.
9. Box Office Success: Despite the production challenges and mixed critical reception, Casino Royale was a box office success. Its financial performance demonstrated the enduring appeal of the James Bond brand, even in a radically different form.
10. Home Media and Re-releases: Over the years, Casino Royale has seen various home media releases, including VHS, DVD, and Blu-ray formats. Each re-release has introduced the film to new generations of viewers, contributing to its status as a cult classic.
The 1967 version of Casino Royale is a fascinating case study in film production gone awry. From its turbulent development and casting issues to its fragmented narrative and mixed critical reception, the film remains a unique entry in the James Bond canon. Its legacy endures as both a cautionary tale and a beloved cult classic, showcasing the unpredictable magic and madness of Hollywood filmmaking.
