We’re only covering the official EON James Bond’s films in this rewatch however if someone were so inclined the unofficial parody film Casino Royale (1967) was released between Thunderball and You Only Live Twice. Suffice it to say: it’s a hot mess. The film suffered multiple directors, Peter Sellers leaving the film before he was finished filming his scenes and a script with more fingerprints on it than a handrail. It’s definitely an acquired taste.
I’m not going to review the film but I urge anyone mildly interested to see it. I’ve come to appreciate it over the years. It includes notable Bond alumni like Ursula Andress and Vladek Sheybal. You have Peter Sellers and Orson Welles facing off at a baccarat table even if they refused to film together. One of my favorite scenes is a ludicrous auction which includes peculiar bidding instructions and bids. It also features Jacqueline Bissett as Miss Goodthighs, an actress who I wished had made the jump into the official Bond films. The music score is also catchy and because of the parody nature of the film, allows it to be more bouncy than you would normally find in a Bond film.
It’s currently streaming for free on Vudu (with commercials) if anyone wants to take the plunge. Again it’s not some lost treasure but there are moments that will make you smile and if you’re a completist like me, it’s just something you have to watch if you want to cover the Bond canon.
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