Casino Royale is an oddity compared with the other James Bond films thanks to the way in which it was finally brought to the screen in 2006. Although it was actually the first book in the series, written by Ian Fleming, the producers of the official James Bond series had been unable to secure the rights to it.
The reason for this was simply because Fleming had sold the television and film rights to the book back in 1954 and when the rest of the film rights were sold, they did not include Casino Royale.
Actually it was first produced as a CBS television play, when Barry Nelson played the role of "Jimmy" Bond, a CIA agent. Later , when the film series had started to reach success, the rights to Casino Royale were picked up by Charles K. Feldman. He tried to persuade Sean Connery to be in a film version, and when Connery's salary demands scuppered that idea, Feldman decided to make it as a comedy as an alternative.
The result was released in 1967, the same year as You Only Live Twice; although it stars many large name actors, the film is rather a mess.
Meanwhile there continued a dispute between Eon, the producers of the Bond films, and Kevin McClory, who had produced Thunderball and whose work on that story is acknowledged on the books after he took Fleming to court.
McClory claimed the privilege to produce a rival James Bond series, with the backing of Sony, who by this point owned the Casino Royale rights. He went to the court on 1 or 2 occasions, the final time was in the late 1990s; nevertheless the lawsuit was thrown out and the rights to Casino Royale were sold to MGM, the studio that backed Eon financially.
When Casino Royale made it to the big-screen in 2006, the whole world went Bond crazy again. With Daniel Craig as 007 and Eva Green as Algerian love knot wearing Vesper Lynd, the film proved to be an exceptional success.
The reason for this was simply because Fleming had sold the television and film rights to the book back in 1954 and when the rest of the film rights were sold, they did not include Casino Royale.
Actually it was first produced as a CBS television play, when Barry Nelson played the role of "Jimmy" Bond, a CIA agent. Later , when the film series had started to reach success, the rights to Casino Royale were picked up by Charles K. Feldman. He tried to persuade Sean Connery to be in a film version, and when Connery's salary demands scuppered that idea, Feldman decided to make it as a comedy as an alternative.
The result was released in 1967, the same year as You Only Live Twice; although it stars many large name actors, the film is rather a mess.
Meanwhile there continued a dispute between Eon, the producers of the Bond films, and Kevin McClory, who had produced Thunderball and whose work on that story is acknowledged on the books after he took Fleming to court.
McClory claimed the privilege to produce a rival James Bond series, with the backing of Sony, who by this point owned the Casino Royale rights. He went to the court on 1 or 2 occasions, the final time was in the late 1990s; nevertheless the lawsuit was thrown out and the rights to Casino Royale were sold to MGM, the studio that backed Eon financially.
When Casino Royale made it to the big-screen in 2006, the whole world went Bond crazy again. With Daniel Craig as 007 and Eva Green as Algerian love knot wearing Vesper Lynd, the film proved to be an exceptional success.
About the Author:
Vesper Lynd was the best Bond girl for years. In Casino Royale she wears an Algerian Love Knot given to her by her lover. You can read more articles about the Algerian love knot on my website.
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