Casino Royale
"A spoof to end all spoofs!" - Detroit Free Press
Welcome to Casino Royale, the ultimate psychedelic secret agent satire! Packed with girls, guns and gags galore, this "very funny picture" (The New Yorker) delivers "laughs all the way" (Cue)! Starring Peter Sellers, Ursula Andress, David Niven, Joanna Pettet, Orson Welles, Daliah Lavi, Woody Allen, Deborah Kerr, William Holden, and others, and with an original score from Oscar winner Burt Bacharach, this groovy spy movie is "even farther out" (L.A. Herald Examiner) than all other spoofs combined.
British intelligence is waning... in every possible way! When the diabolical SMERSH begins killing off Her Majesty's Secret Service, super-agent James Bond (Niven) recruits six more "James Bonds" to confuse and conquer their enemies. But it won't be easy, they'll have to face an army of irresistibly sexy female operatives, exploding robotic fowl, parachuting Indians and a germ that makes all women beautiful... but kills all men over 4'6"!
Member Reviews
Royally Confusing - Squish
In Casino Royale Bond is faced with traps and challenges that he easily overcomes until he decides to actually start the mission against Le Chiffre, agent of SMERCH with a penchant for baccarat. The first phase of the mission involves selecting a group of agents who will all be named James Bond, in order to confound SMERCH, spy-killing organization extraordinaire. Other grossly explored plots clearly meant to distract the audience into oblivion include Sir James Bond reuniting with his estranged daughter, agent Cooper (one of the 6 renamed James Bonds) in his interview and training, and Woody Allen as a short, angry megalomaniac bent on world domination. When the plot actually comes into play, it lasts for about ten minutes until all hell breaks loose and Casino Royale leaves us with an ending that, in all intents and purposes, is the film pointing it's finger at us and laughing.
Here's hoping you have a good sense of humour.
Most surprising however was how frequently this spoof took itself seriously. The script was not all slapstick and idiocy, and genuinely funny on its own merit, rather than being filled with puns and Mel Brooks-grade physical comedy gags and racist accents… oh there's a couple of those actually… Though the story itself was dizzyingly fragmented, there was stuntwork and cinematography that was absolutely incredible.
No, Casino Royale will in no way be considered Bond canon, yet it won't be considered a complete waste of time either… well not by most. Whatever you do, don't go in expecting James Bond, even if there are 007 of them.this movie requires perspective - JayCrisis
The first time I saw this movie I agreed with the many flaws pointed out. But having watched it with a group of friends, its me thinking that this was the Napoleon Dynamite or Hot Rod of its time. I would definetly check out more screwball movies because of this movie (even though it has been said this is the worst screwball movie made). I still agree that this movie made very little sense, but some scenes did make me fall out of my seat. Its a shame there wasn't enough Woddy Allen, but it was enough for me to respect his comedy (the shooting squad scene was just GOLD).I'm not sure that most viewers quite understood this film and its intent... - Sapphire
Having viewed this movie and read some of the other reviews on this site, I couldn't help but add a few things myself.
This movie was never intended to be a direct reproduction of the book and was mearly a comedic montage intended to amuse and entertain. If you pay attention as you watch it you can see spoofs of many other James Bond films. As well, I seem to recall hearing that they could not use the entire book as this would infringe some other copyrights owned by the company that made the geniune James Bond movies of the 60's. All in all considering the incredible production difficulties which included losing Peter Sellers to illness part way through production (if you notice he is not even in the last segment), and John Huston to another project before the film's completion. In fact, part of the story that tied all the scenes together wasn't added until filming was complete and editing had begun by director/writer Val Guest. This film was never intended to be a structured, flowing film, but rather a disjointed satirical depiction of the psychedelic craze of the time, which was at its peak in the late 1960's when this film was made. In my opinion, I feel this is exactly what was achieved and enjoyed the movie for what it was meant to be.
Member Reviews
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Royally Confusing - Squish
In Casino Royale Bond is faced with traps and challenges that he easily overcomes until he decides to actually start the mission against Le Chiffre, agent of SMERCH with a penchant for baccarat. The first phase of the mission involves selecting a group of ...this movie requires perspective - JayCrisis
The first time I saw this movie I agreed with the many flaws pointed out. But having watched it with a group of friends, its me thinking that this was the Napoleon Dynamite or Hot Rod of its time. I would definetly check out more screwball movies because of ...I'm not sure that most viewers quite understood this film and its intent... - Sapphire
Having viewed this movie and read some of the other reviews on this site, I couldn't help but add a few things myself.
This movie was never intended to be a direct reproduction of the book and was mearly a comedic montage intended to amuse and entertain. ...