In the 1960s when satirical, parodying silliness was all the rage, particularly the parodying or satirising of spies and espionage during the Cold War of the 60s, Casino Royale appears in 1967 as a 'swinging' movie version of Ian Fleming's book of the same name, which was originally published in 1952 or 53 if my memory is right. But this film simply does not work. The swinging sixties' version of the book is about as silly as it can get with absolutely no art in its silliness. Its attempts at comedic surrealism were in vain.
The other Bond films up to the Casino Royale of 1967 starring the softly-spoken, Scottish James Bond everyone liked were cleverly satirical and ironic with Sean Connery delivering his lines with his tongue planted firmly in his cheek and a wry smile on his lips. And the iconic 60s' t.v. series that hilariously sent up glamour spies and espionage, Get Smart, was not only cleverly satirical but an exceedingly artful parody bordering on pure genius with Don Adams and the supporting cast saying their inspired lines written by the likes of Buck Henry with perfect timing and delivery. But Casino Royale, an 'unofficial' Bond film and the first to use the name without starring Sean Connery, is just silly for the sake of silliness with practically no redeeming features (see below).
I have seen Casino Royale probably three times since 1967, including at the pictures during its Australian release back then, and with each viewing it gets worse. A couple of months of ago it was screened on commercial t.v. here on a Saturday night, I think it was, and about fifteen minutes' worth of it was all I could take. Even for one as nostalgic for the 60s as I am, Casino Royale was too much for one viewer, this one.
A big-name cast doing and saying silly unfunny things with pretty, mini-skirted girls with the Mary Quant look scattered round rural and urban Britain are simply not enough to make a film effective anymore, if they ever were. Indeed, so averse am I to watching the 1967 version of Casino Royale, I am even put off going to see the current version of the film of the same title. However, I take comfort from the fact that no matter how silly and bad the remade version of Casino Royale may possibly be, it just cannot be as silly and bad as the film made in 1967.
PS. I've given it two stars out of ten for Burt Bacharach's memorable theme music for Casino Royale and Herb Alpert's marvellous trumpet playing of that theme. The music was the best aspect of the entire movie. All right, then! 1967's Casino Royale may have one redeeming feature.
The other Bond films up to the Casino Royale of 1967 starring the softly-spoken, Scottish James Bond everyone liked were cleverly satirical and ironic with Sean Connery delivering his lines with his tongue planted firmly in his cheek and a wry smile on his lips. And the iconic 60s' t.v. series that hilariously sent up glamour spies and espionage, Get Smart, was not only cleverly satirical but an exceedingly artful parody bordering on pure genius with Don Adams and the supporting cast saying their inspired lines written by the likes of Buck Henry with perfect timing and delivery. But Casino Royale, an 'unofficial' Bond film and the first to use the name without starring Sean Connery, is just silly for the sake of silliness with practically no redeeming features (see below).
I have seen Casino Royale probably three times since 1967, including at the pictures during its Australian release back then, and with each viewing it gets worse. A couple of months of ago it was screened on commercial t.v. here on a Saturday night, I think it was, and about fifteen minutes' worth of it was all I could take. Even for one as nostalgic for the 60s as I am, Casino Royale was too much for one viewer, this one.
A big-name cast doing and saying silly unfunny things with pretty, mini-skirted girls with the Mary Quant look scattered round rural and urban Britain are simply not enough to make a film effective anymore, if they ever were. Indeed, so averse am I to watching the 1967 version of Casino Royale, I am even put off going to see the current version of the film of the same title. However, I take comfort from the fact that no matter how silly and bad the remade version of Casino Royale may possibly be, it just cannot be as silly and bad as the film made in 1967.
PS. I've given it two stars out of ten for Burt Bacharach's memorable theme music for Casino Royale and Herb Alpert's marvellous trumpet playing of that theme. The music was the best aspect of the entire movie. All right, then! 1967's Casino Royale may have one redeeming feature.