Solidrariol
Am I Missing Something?
Huievest
Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.
ChicDragon
It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.
Francene Odetta
It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.
night_lex
I wanted to see the original Casino Royale, and when I finally did, I wasn't expecting much, but all up, I was pretty disappointed. It's alright, but pretty weak.It's live, so done like a play, but isn't that good. I apparently saw a version which had the last minute cut from it, so maybe the reason I don't like it so much is that I was disappointed when it ended.Black and white doesn't bother me, so it wouldn't make much different whether it was colour or not. I actually don't think it would look as good in colour to be honest. I was surprised to hear that Ian Flemming had preffered this too Dr. No and the other official movies.Acting is very good, I can't complain about it, and the story doesn't add much at all to flemmings novel, but took a lot away.People say this casino royale is great, but all up, I can't see why.
mac-187
Just for information purposes: if you buy the spoof of Casino Royale (David Niven, Peter Sellers, et al) on DVD, this Climax episode is included on it under the special features category.The sound and video quality was not the greatest, but was about what I expected for a copy of TV video. Of the two, I prefer the spoof - Peter Sellers makes a great Bond and I loved it when he had to put on his glasses to shoot the cork off Ursula Andress' champaign bottle. If you've never seen the spoof and like Austin Powers, you should rent it. Soundtrack is good too. ; ; ; ;
Randy H. Farb
The director could not yell, "Cut!", so, when Peter Lorre's character dies, he lies there briefly. When he thinks the show is over, he gets up and walks off the set! He probably thought he was playing Rasputin. This is a prime example of the pitfalls of live television.
J.Bond
Being a Bond fan, procuring the video of this original broadcast was neither an easy feat nor overlooked in its importance. The October 21, 1954 episode of "Climax!" was the first time James Bond appeared on-screen, and nearly half a century later Bond is still making movies.The "live" quality of the show makes it all that much more enjoyable; the spontaneity of the lines spoken and the fact that the actors are working with an actual time limit makes for a show in which the flow is constant and consistent, the interest is kept to an expected level, and the characters are more realistic. These are qualities which cannot be replicated in some 20 overly planned and rehearsed later Bond films - but this only makes Casino Royale different - not better.It is certainly entertaining, to say the least, to watch the original characterization of "Jimmy" Bond - a fast-talking American agent - and compare it to the amazingly developed cool-headedness of today's 007. What a difference 45 years can make!