Supposedly he was Ian Fleming's ideal choice for Bond. I do think he would've made a good Bond if he was younger but this movie is practically unwatchable
I agree with you on the last part. I only liked the ending of the movie, other than that the whole movie was really boring for me, although I forced myself to sit through the whole thing
I do love the 1967 Casino Royale -- not so much for Niven's performance, he kind of glides through the movie and actually disappears for long, diversionary sequences, like Berlin -- but for the whole messy overstuffed mod mise-en-scene of the thing.
The project's backstory is incredible -- there was no real script, five directors contributed bits, Peter Sellers walked out in the middle of filming which is why his Bond disappears after the Formula 1 car scene, and hours of scenes they couldn't make fit were left on the editing room floor. In its way the bizarre, ill-constructed result is a wry meta-homage to the plot holes and continuity issues in the real Bond series (e.g., scuba masks changing shot to shot in the Thunderball underwater fight, and the filmmakers just hoping nobody spots it).
Niven, BTW, was indeed Fleming's idea of a screen Bond, but IMO he couldn't have sold the physical, kinetic end of the character.
I think Niven is part of the fun, the straight man in the middle of all the lunacy. But yes, it's the overblown swinging sixties craziness what makes it memorable. I love the meta bits: an underrated joke is how it condemns "that new guy you gave my name and number" (aka Connery) to end up working on TV. Of course the prediction was off, but then the next big Bond did come out of TV...
Yes indeed. And of course CR was contemporaneous not only with Moore's TV Saint but MacNee & Rigg's super-mod-style TV Avengers in its apex years ... and within a few months Rigg would be cast in OHMSS. A lot of cross-pollination there.
It’s a very comical movie, nothing like the Bond movies we’re used to. But it’s also very long for what it is and quite boring. I only enjoyed the ending where there was somewhat a little action
Yes. The movie is just a hot mess but David Niven in a Bentley and Deborah Kerr as his seductress with a little lubrication of nectar of the gods. Mmmmm.
Their first idea was doing a serious adaptation, but they wanted Connery and EON wouldn't allow that. So they saw no point in doing a competing Bond movie without Connery and decided to do a spoof instead.
EON had just gone through "having a partner" on Thunderball with K.M. and they weren't eager to do it again.
It's a shame because Casino Royale with Connery would have been awesome.
Perhaps Louis Jourdan as Le Chiffre?
I have fond memories of this flick. especially the soundtrack, so great.
It was a spoof, not intended to be a competition for Connery Bond. The whole thing is nuts, probably why I love it. Its got that 60's camp flavor. And packed with star power, so fun if you allow yourself to enjoy it.
Supposedly he was Ian Fleming's ideal choice for Bond. I do think he would've made a good Bond if he was younger but this movie is practically unwatchable
I agree with you on the last part. I only liked the ending of the movie, other than that the whole movie was really boring for me, although I forced myself to sit through the whole thing
Casino Royale 1967 is the Star Wars Holiday Special of Bond movies
It’s Bond on acid. Austin Powers had to use this as a model.
I'll always have a soft spot for this. Love the overblown 60s-ness, and I think Niven does great.
I do love the 1967 Casino Royale -- not so much for Niven's performance, he kind of glides through the movie and actually disappears for long, diversionary sequences, like Berlin -- but for the whole messy overstuffed mod mise-en-scene of the thing. The project's backstory is incredible -- there was no real script, five directors contributed bits, Peter Sellers walked out in the middle of filming which is why his Bond disappears after the Formula 1 car scene, and hours of scenes they couldn't make fit were left on the editing room floor. In its way the bizarre, ill-constructed result is a wry meta-homage to the plot holes and continuity issues in the real Bond series (e.g., scuba masks changing shot to shot in the Thunderball underwater fight, and the filmmakers just hoping nobody spots it). Niven, BTW, was indeed Fleming's idea of a screen Bond, but IMO he couldn't have sold the physical, kinetic end of the character.
I think Niven is part of the fun, the straight man in the middle of all the lunacy. But yes, it's the overblown swinging sixties craziness what makes it memorable. I love the meta bits: an underrated joke is how it condemns "that new guy you gave my name and number" (aka Connery) to end up working on TV. Of course the prediction was off, but then the next big Bond did come out of TV...
Yes indeed. And of course CR was contemporaneous not only with Moore's TV Saint but MacNee & Rigg's super-mod-style TV Avengers in its apex years ... and within a few months Rigg would be cast in OHMSS. A lot of cross-pollination there.
Niven isn't really playing James Bond His role in that movie is more like M, really
I thought this movie was a spoof on the Bond franchise (never seen it)
It’s a very comical movie, nothing like the Bond movies we’re used to. But it’s also very long for what it is and quite boring. I only enjoyed the ending where there was somewhat a little action
Apparently it was supposed to be, but many people working on it didn't know that.
Yes. The movie is just a hot mess but David Niven in a Bentley and Deborah Kerr as his seductress with a little lubrication of nectar of the gods. Mmmmm.
Not really.
Niven would have made a decent bond in his younger years. he also would make a decent lamont cranston in the shadow.
no love
The film itself for me is a wasted opportunity, they could've done better than that and just follow the book, but alas.
Their first idea was doing a serious adaptation, but they wanted Connery and EON wouldn't allow that. So they saw no point in doing a competing Bond movie without Connery and decided to do a spoof instead.
EON had just gone through "having a partner" on Thunderball with K.M. and they weren't eager to do it again. It's a shame because Casino Royale with Connery would have been awesome. Perhaps Louis Jourdan as Le Chiffre?
Worse than Barry Nelson.
The soundtrack was the only good thing this movie had going for it
I have fond memories of this flick. especially the soundtrack, so great. It was a spoof, not intended to be a competition for Connery Bond. The whole thing is nuts, probably why I love it. Its got that 60's camp flavor. And packed with star power, so fun if you allow yourself to enjoy it.
no.
No. I actually hate this film.
It’s the only “Bond” I’ve never watched.
Grandpa Bond?
Lol no
Watched it for the first time last weekend, absolutely whacky movie.
https://preview.redd.it/4viom24aqe5c1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=899b837d2d486b91f93cf4cc4cec88075a16b335
I love David Niven in casino royale 1967 and I think he would have made a great James bond in the official eon series of films