Casino Royale (1954)

From MMM Commentaries:

No, don’t check your calenders, you haven’t got the date wrong – we aren’t commenting on the new Daniel Craig Casino Royale, but rather the first appearance of James Bond, the one that started it all.

1954 saw the appearance of “Jimmy” Bond, American super-agent , out to thwart the dastardly plans of Le Chiffre.

In 1954 CBS paid Ian Fleming $1,000 to adapt Casino Royale into a one hour television adventure as part of their Climax! series.

The episode, aired on October 21, 1954 and starred Barry Nelson as American secret agent “Card Sense” Jimmy Bond and Peter Lorre as Le Chiffre. For this Americanised version of the story, Bond is an agent for “Combined Intelligence,” while the character Felix Leiter from the original novel became “Clarence Leiter,” a British agent, and a combination of Leiter and Rene Mathis. The name “Mathis” was given to the leading lady, who is named Valerie Mathis (instead of Vesper Lynd).

Join the MMM team of Trevor, Geoff, David and Tony as we talk about this James Bond adventure that began the love affair with James Bond that continues to this day.

If our listeners have the 1967 Casino Royale on DVD, certain editions have this 1954 TV episode as an extra. Our commentary is based on the three act version of the episode. Some releases may have the four act version. The MMM team have endeavoured to ensure that it is not crucial to have the episode to enjoy our commentary.

[re: carpet beater] There was one action scene in the book … which they wondered whether to put it. And let’s just say I never cleaned my carpet again. — MMM Commentaries,
Climax! ‘Casino Royale’ @0:07:58

[Fleming] did say for many years said that he … did go to some casino and bankrupt some KGB guy. And I think his friends then came out and said, ‘No, it wasn’t a KGB guy. He just liked to think it was.’ — MMM Commentaries,
Climax! ‘Casino Royale’ @0:23:44

God, that phone’s got a lot of use, hasn’t it? [30 seconds later] Ahh, meanwhile back at the phone…. — MMM Commentaries,
Climax! ‘Casino Royale’ @0:34:17

[as bad guy, answering phone] Hello, room service? Send some ropes and a gag. … [as room service] Ah, you again! Ah. … Well, it’s France. They understand that. — MMM Commentaries,
Climax! ‘Casino Royale’ @0:39:34

So the MacGuffin is a check? Yes. How boring. Where are the codes? Where are the Death Star plans? — MMM Commentaries,
Climax! ‘Casino Royale’ @0:42:04