Casino Royale

Sir James Bond has retired, but when the Soviet agency SMERSH reappears he gets pulled back into a farcical scheme: every agent is given the name 'James Bond' so the enemy can't single him out. The film hops between several would-be Bonds, centering on Evelyn Tremble, who is planted to face the gambler Le Chiffre in a high-stakes baccarat match. Rather than a tight thriller, the movie strings together comic set pieces, romantic distractions and parody, letting an ensemble of leads trade awkward heroics and pratfalls. The tone is loose and episodic, focused on chaos, satire and broad comedy without hinging on a single twist or revelation overall.

Released in 1967, Casino Royale credits directors Val Guest, Ken Hughes, John Huston, Joseph McGrath and Robert Parrish, and notably draws on Ian Fleming's novel, with contributions from Wolf Mankowitz, John Law and Michael Sayers.

The film's box office was fueled by star names and its spoof angle, attracting curious audiences despite mixed reviews. It performed modestly during its initial run, later finding an afterlife on television and home video.

Casino Royale 1967 became a reference point for film parodies of espionage, remembered for its anarchic tone and daring casting. Scenes and publicity around Peter Sellers, David Niven, Orson Welles and Ursula Andress have kept it visible in pop culture, often as an example of 1960s excess and comic experimentation.

Contemporary critics were divided, and audience responses remain mixed, reflected in an average around 5.3/10 from 792 votes. The movie satirizes spy conventions with visual gags, absurdist set pieces and a fractured narrative. Some viewers savor the anarchic pastiche and star turns, while others criticize its inconsistent tone and episodic structure, which still provokes lively debate among modern fans today.