His assignment is to defeat SMERSH agent Le Chiffre (Orson Welles), who is cheating at cards in an effort to repay money he embezzled from the organization. Sir James enlists Vesper Lynd’s help in recruiting Evelyn Tremble (Peter Sellers), who is needed for his skill at baccarat. He devises a plan to name all agents James Bond, the aim being to confuse SMERSH agents out to get him (and to confuse us, the viewers, too!) The daughter of Miss Moneypenny – also named Miss Moneypenny (Barbara Bouchet) – helps select new agents, all named Bond.

Sir James returns to London where he takes M’s position.

Surrounded by beautiful redheads (which sure sounds like heaven to me), Sir James beats numerous ginger-bearded agents of SMERSH in some stone ball contest, which excites the widow and makes her decide to help him before retreating to a nunnery. It transpires she is not really M’s widow at all but a SMERSH agent. Sir James heads off to McTarry Castle to let M’s widow (Deborah Kerr) know of her husband’s untimely demise.

He refuses to help, so M has his house destroyed (though M himself is inadvertently killed in the process).Įvelyn Tremble (Peter Sellers) faces Le Chiffre (Orson Welles) at the baccarat table in Casino Royale (1967) Sir James is quite disgusted by the way some impostor is using his name (he is referring Sean Connery in the Eon series). M (John Huston), as well as counterparts from the USA, France and Russia, come to the literally lion-filled grounds of retired super agent Sir James Bond (David Niven, who was one of Ian Fleming’s top choices to play the role in the Eon productions).

Oh yes I remember! Sit back, release your inner self to the void can you dig that Bacharach sound, as patchouli incense gently scents the air?Īn evil organization known as SMERSH is killing secret agents all over the globe. The plot… let me see, what the hell is the plot of this one? It is a smorgasbord of stars and ideas, all set to the swinging sounds of Burt Bacharach. M (John Huston) and associates visit Sir James Bond (David Niven) in Casino Royale (1967)Ĭasino Royale, or, How Can A Movie With Six Different Directors And A Star Who Walked Off (Or Was Fired) Still Succeed? I may be in the minority on this point but, for me, Casino Royale is the epitome of the wild 1960s.

Casino royale 1967 rating