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Reviews
Climax!: Casino Royale (1954)
Golden Age Television
Not only is this a fairly faithful adaption of Ian Fleming's original Bond story, but it's an excellent example of early, live television - dropped lines, missed cue's, miss-timed squibs and sound effects... the whole 9 yards.
Peter Lorrie is amazing as LeChiffre.
You can find this gem on the 2002 DVD release of "Casino Royale ('67)"
Casino Royale (1967)
This psychedelic movie deserves more respect.
Sadly, because this film is, unavoidably, compared to other Bond films and the novel from which it takes it's name (but not it's story) This film has been dragged through the mud.
Admittedly, it is an example of "Bigger Is Not Better" and "Too Many Hands Spoil The Soup." BUT, there has to be something said for a film that hasn't disappeared into obscurity after over 35 years.
It IS a product of it's time. The late 60's. And it is a very psychedelic film. Don't watch this film expecting a coherent plot. THAT is even psychedelic. The fact that big-name stars of the time make the shortest of self-parody cameos is done in a psychedelic fashion. Taken in THIS tone, the film is as much fun as it's intended.
Would make a GREAT double-feature with "Eraserhead", not "Dr. No".
The 2002 DVD release of this movie gives a greater appreciation of this film. First, it is a film that MUST be seen in 2.35:1 rather than pan'n'scan. The Val Guest interview shows that this film was never intended to make any kind of sense. And best of all, for any Bond completest: the '54 TV series "Climax" version with Peter Lorrie!