Casino Royale is based on Ian Fleming’s
novel fi rst published in 1953. It was the
fi rst book in his James Bond series that
the movies we all know and love are based on.
Produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara
Broccoli (his step-sister) who together also
produced GoldenEye, Casino Royale introduces
Daniel Craig as legendary secret agent, 007 James
Bond, before he holds his license to kill. Bond
is however elevated to “00” status after two
assassinations in quick succession. The movie’s
makers have stuck pretty close to the original
storyline but they have re-set the fi lm in
modern times.
“We have an opening sequence that is fi lmed
in black and white, which is not to say this is
old. It is just to say, ‘go with us on this one.
This is from the beginning,’” Craig said. On his
fi rst mission for Her Majesty’s Secret Service,
Bond must stop a Frenchman, Le Chiffre (Mads
Mikkelsen), from funding the world’s terrorists
(interestingly it is worth noting that in the novel,
Le Chiffre is a Soviet agent).
Bond’s fi rst 007 mission takes him to
Madagascar where he is to spy on a terrorist,
Mollaka (Sebastien Foucan). Not everything
goes to plan and Bond decides to investigate,
independently of MI6, in order to track down
the rest of the terrorist cell. Following a lead to
the Bahamas, he encounters Dimitrios (Simon
Abkarian) and his girlfriend, Solange (Caterina
Murino). He learns that Dimitrios is involved
with Le Chiffre, banker to the world’s terrorist
organisations.
Secret Service intelligence reveals that Le
Chiffre is planning to raise money in a high-
stakes poker game in Montenegro at Le Casino
Royale. MI6 assigns 007 to play against him,
knowing that if Le Chiffre loses, it will destroy
his organisation. M (Judi Dench) places Bond
under the watchful eye of the beguiling Vesper
Lund (Eva Green). At fi rst skeptical of what value
Vesper can provide, Bond’s interest in her deepens
as they brave danger and even torture together at
the hands of Le Chiffre.
In Montenegro, Bond allies himself with
Mathis (Giancarlo Giannini) MI6’s local fi eld
agent, and Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright) who
is representing the interests of the CIA. The
marathon game proceeds with dirty tricks and
violence, raising the stakes beyond blood money
and reaching a terrifying climax
“As we wrap production on Casino Royale
we couldn’t be more excited about the direction
the franchise is heading with Daniel Craig. Daniel
has taken the origins of Ian Fleming’s James Bond
portraying, with emotional complexity, a darker
and edgier 007,” said Wilson and Broccoli. In
cinemas December 7, 2006.
Come behind the scenes of the 21st James Bond adventure.
DO THE NUMBERS
DIE ANOTHER DAY (2002), was the highest grossing fi
lm in
the franchise bringing in almost $430 million in worldwide
box offi ce receipts.
THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH (1999) grossed $353 million.
TOMORROW NEVER DIES (1997), grossed more than $340
million around the world.
GOLDENEYE (1995) took in $345 million.
WHO IS 007?
T
he endurin
g
fi
lm
f
ranchise created b
y
the
l
ate producer, Albert R.
(C
ubb
y)
Broccoli,
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au
n
c
h
ed
in 1
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2 wi
t
h
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r.
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starr
i
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Sean Connery, who went on to play James
Bo
n
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i
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F
r
o
m
Russia
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ith
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v
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y
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iamonds are Foreve
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eor
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O
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er Majesty’s
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Die
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,The Spy who
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,
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nr
ake
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,
For Your E
y
es Onl
y
,
O
ctopuss
y
a
ndA View to a Kill
.
T
imoth
y
Dalton later inherited the role and
p
layed the
f
amed spy inThe Living Daylight
s
a
n
d
Li
ce
n
ce
to
Kil
l
.
The
m
ost
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t
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m
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n
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w
as
Pie
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ce
B
rosnan, w
h
o starre
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n t
h
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gl
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a
l
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oc
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usters GoldenE
y
e
,
T
omorrow
N
eve
r
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ies
,
The World is Not Enou
g
h and Die
Another Da
y
.
F
or more info check out www.sonypictures.co
m
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