Customer Reviews

Casino Royale: The Collector's Edition [VHS]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This 1954 live CBS t.v. broadcast introduced James Bond in his screen debut. Amazingly, he is played by American Barry Nelson, which makes this a fascinating addition to the Bond legacy. The show has been released on video previously. However, this is the only one in the SP mode and it is also the only one which has the long missing climax restored. There are a wealth of enjoyable bonuses, including rare t.v. ads for the 1967 big screen version of "Casino", an informative introduction about the history of Bond and Ian Fleming, hundreds of rare photos, and information about 007 fan clubs and merchandise. A "must" for 007 collectors.

If someone ask you who was the first actor to play James Bond, don't answer Sean Connery. The good answer is "Barry Nelson". This is the original adventure of "Casino Royale". In this movie, James Bond is a american agent (CIA) And Felix Leiter is a British agent. The mission: Bond is sent at Royale-les-Eaux to bankrupt soviet agent "Le chiffre" played by Peter Lorre(he is wonderful in the role of Le Chiffre). This movie is more serious than the version of 1967. In this video, yo will see a introduction by author Lee Pfeiffer(the incredible world of 007) explaining the history of the novel "Casino Royale", the T.V special(Climax:Casino Royale) and the 1967 movie with Peter Sellers, David Niven and Ursula Andress. All Bond fan must have this VHS before this video get unavailable.

The Leonard Maltin review on this page is NOT, repeat, NOT, for the CASINO ROYALE being sold!!! Maltin is reviewing the cinema version which was a spoof starring Peter Sellers, David Niven, Woody Allen, Orson Welles, and a host of others. This spoof has been locked up in legal hassles over the years (making it unavailable in video) and its ownership has just recently passed to MGM-UA. The CASINO ROYALE being sold here is the TV version made in the 1950s which costars Peter Lorre. DO NOT BE CONFUSED!!

So whaddya know? Dr. No wasn't the first James Bond after all. Almost ten years prior to Sean Connery's landmark debut, Casino Royale comes to us as part of a live mystery television program called Climax! (what a name, eh?) Apparently, different writers were acted out on a weekly basis, and October 21, 1954 happened to be the week Ian Fleming's legendary character made his first screen entrance, and it wasn't even the big screen!

So what do we have here, James Bond fans? Ironically, the opening credits that pan through a series of camera lenses look remarkably similar to the gun barrel opening sequences of the later Bond flicks. Aside from that, that's about it. Yep, this is a whole different Bond. He's shifty-eyed, condescending, he has a receding hairline, I even think he's a Blond Bond (albeit in black and white it's hard to tell.) Is it true he's an American in this? Says a lot about the liberties we were taking with an author's works. A British lead? The horror!

In any case, it's worth watching if you're an Ian Fleming fan as it does stay relatively true to his book. In it, Bond is given the laughable assignment of beating a "dastardly" villain named Le Chiffre out of the Soviet money he's been embezzling to support his gambling weakness. We're never really given a reason why he's so dastardly other than he looks funny (hey, it's Peter Loore!) But no matter, Bond is a man of duty, "For Queen and Country" and all that... (darn it, wrong country again.) Linda Christian stars as Valerie Mathis, a former flame of Mr. Bond and the obvious femme fatale. But is she on Le Chiffre's side or Bond's? Well, you'll just have to see now, won't you (or just read another review, I'm sure someone has spoiled the entire plot.)

I doubt anyone except die-hard James Bond fans will want this, and even then only to complete their collection. It is interesting to watch, however, just to see a time when baccarat was beatable, people could act, leading ladies weighed more than 105 pounds, and there was more than an eight minute period between commercials. Hmmm... now that I think about it, I would pick this over "Never Say Never Again."

Dr. No is actually not the first 007 movie, 8 years before that Climax Theatre for CBS Television produced a TV movie called Casino Royale. 007 was known as "Card Sense Jimmy Bond" and the entire movie was based in a hotel casino. The movie was rereleased in the early 90's, but did not contain the ending in which Bond battles Le Chiffre. This tape is the only one that does contain the entire movie from beginning to end.
The movie begins with an introduction by Lee Pfeiffer who tells about this movie and the 1967 spoof version.

The movie begins with Bond being shot at while entering the casino, but the culprit escapes. Bond meets up with Clarence Leiter, in which they discuss Baccarat and the evil Le Chiffre. Bond is told that Le Chiffre has gambled and lost 80 million francs of Soviet money and is planning to win it back to try to clean the mess with his employers. Bond's job is to make sure that he loses. bond also meets Valerie Mathis who appears to be working for Le Chiffre. As the movie continues, Bond and Le Chiffre play Baccarat with Le Chiffre cleaning out Bond. Bond then mysteriously recieves 35 million francs and wins 87 million francs all from Le Chiffre. Valerie is kidnaped, but she returns to Bond in his hotel room where they are trapped by Le Chiffre and his thugs. bond is tortured to tell where he has hidden the check for the money. Bond escapes and shoots Le Chiffre, who still survives. Bond, Valerie and Le Chiffre all meet in the sitting room of Bond's room where Valerie confess that she is a French agent, who still loved Bond and gave him the 35 million francs. (At this point the tape gets fuzzy and harder to see, as obviously this is the part that has finally been restored.) Le Chiffre holds Valerie with a knife at her chest when Bond shoots and kills him.

After the movie there are several pictures and advertisements for the 1967 version, and addresses to 007 fan clubs. Casino Royale is an exciting James Bond movie that has to be in the collection of anyone that would call themselves a Bond fan!

Barry Nelson was the first Bond on Screen!
Today we have two versions of Casino Royale:
The 1954 version and the 1967 spoof version.
The 1954 Climax version has been published in two video versions-one in the US and another shortened version in Europe.The shortened version was released on DVD as extra material on the 1967 Casino Royale DVD release in the US.
Collectors and fans know that the last minute of the 1954 Casino Royale version hasn't been released in Europe...Bond killing Le Chiffre.
Peter Lorre, Linda Christian and Barry Nelson completes the set adapted from Flemings 1952 novel Casino Royale.

Barry Nelson last motion picture was Island of Claws from 1980. His most rememable performance are Airport and the Shining. He was born in 1920 and is of Scandinavian origin.

The 1954 version is much better than the 1967 spoof version, no doubt.
But still it would be fantastic if the Bond producers would make an updated adaptaion of this first Bond novel.

Michael H. Damsgaard
Denmark

An interesting TV play of the early 1950s. Barry Nelson as James Bond - an American James Bond, no less. Ian Fleming must have really needed the money so he could write more Bond novels. Why else would he sell his rights to his fascinating story, only to have it end up as a live television play on American TV? It's a must-have for the true Bond collector. This is the only serious rendering of the novel "Casino Royale" available, and it doesn't closely resemble the novel either.

Step back in time to the early days of LIVE television. This restored treasure offers the first ever adaptation of Ian Fleming's super spy. This loving tribute is loaded with extras, a lovely time for Bond fans and television junkies. NOTE: This is the first time the complete ending has been rekeased.

Many think that Sean Connery was the first actor to impersonate the role of the sophisticated British agent; when in fact he wasn't. Sean was the first actor to play bond in a "theatrical" movie. But in 1954, 8 years before Dr. No hit the screens, 007 was introduced for the first time on Television broadcast.

The movie was called Casino Royale, based on the first novel by Ian Fleming. The movie was adapted from this novel for a CBS broadcast, with the hopes of adapting more of Ian Fleming's novels on TV...but the broadcast was pretty much bashed by critics and ignored by viewers. The movie was broadcasted only once and lost. It was later found and re-broadcasted in the 1990's for TBS, part of a James Bond movie marathon. Thought the problem with that version that was re-aired was that it was missing the final confrontation between Bond And The villainous LE Chifre. This broadcast was available before the broadcast on video in the late 80's. But like the broadcast it was missing the last 5 min.

But the wait is long over because Spy Guise has released a special collector's edition that re-stores the missing footage, and re-mastered it to the best possible quality. The only bad quality I would say is the final missing footage, this is due to long years of storage and moist. But other than that this is the complete version of the first broadcast.

Another great thing about this VHS is that it has a wonderful intro by Lee Phiffer, who gives an overview of bond's persona and history. And stay tuned after the credits for more info on bond.

Anyhow, the movie is quite simple, Barry Nelson plays an American 007 (yep American, who would have thought) he is known as card sense Jimmy Bond. he has a friend in the M:I 6 known as Leiter (yep Leiter is British in this one, who would have thought) both are trying to stop a mad man named Le Chifre ( Peter Lorre) he is planning to re obtain 80 million in a card game (baccarat) Bond is set to play and beat Le Chifre in the game, so he can loose and hand him over to authorities. It doesn't get more complex than that. Not to mention that the first bond leading lady appears in this movie (Linda Christian)

The action is a bit dated and cheesy, due to limited budget and time restraints. But the flick is interesting to see the first portrayal of Ian Flemings' literary spy. Oh and a word of advice, do not purchase the DVD version. there are various editions, some ranging up to 40 bucks, others for a mere dollar; it doest matter how much they cost, neither represents the complete version, and none of those have the special features this one has.

Here is an overview of what you will find in this VHS tape

> THE COMPLETE 70 MIN VERSION OF THE FILM
> AN EXCLUSIVE INTRO BY LEE PHIFFER, EXPALINING THE STORY OF THE NOVEL AND THE 1967 SPOOF VERSION.
> ORIGINAL T.V. ADDS FOR THE SPOOF VERSION OF 1967
> RARE PHOTOS AND COLLECTIBLES PAERTAINING TO THE "CASINO ROYALE" LEGEND
> INFORMATION ABOUT SPY RELATED FAN CLUBS, CATALOGS AND MAGAZINES

This Special Collectors edition is definitely the way to go, it should be owned by any bond enthusiast. So sit back and get a Vodka martini, if you're of legal drinking age that is, and remember Shaken not stirred

MY PERSONAL RATING: 3 OUT OF 5

This live TV broadcast is included in the Special Features of the 1967 DVD, "Casino Royale" staring, among others,
David Niven, Peter Sellers, et all, which is still available at Amazon.com.

It's hard to assign stars to this presentation, since we are used to such excellence in our films now, BUT, it was fun to watch live TV's version of the Americanized "007" -- it earned five stars for an attempt to bring "Jimmy Bond" to an American audience.