At The Movies

Casino Royale (1967), PG, 2 hr 8 min Franchise: James Bond (Non-Eon) Franchise #: N/A (Unofficial parody/spoof) Tagline: The new 007 has something to prove. Main Cast David Niven as Sir James Bond Peter Sellers as Evelyn Tremble Ursula Andress as Vesper Lynd Woody Allen as Jimmy Bond Orson Welles as Le Chiffre Joan Collins as Mata Bond Daliah Lavi as Fatima Barbara Bouchet as Miss Moneypenny Terence Cooper as Cooper Reviews Synopsis This Casino Royale is a wild comedy spoof of the James Bond franchise, featuring multiple men claiming to be James Bond trying to stop the villain Le Chiffre. It’s a chaotic mix of slapstick, satire, and farcical scenarios that poke fun at spy tropes. Overview Far from the serious tone of the official Bond films, this version is more of a zany comedy. It’s filled with absurd humor, exaggerated characters, and a star-studded cast playing offbeat roles. It has a cult following but can feel disjointed and uneven. Family Friendliness Rated PG, but the humor and...

Never Say Never Again (1983), PG, 2 hr 12 min Franchise: James Bond (Non-Eon) Franchise #: N/A (Unofficial remake of Thunderball) Tagline: Sean Connery is James Bond. Back in action. Main Cast Sean Connery as James Bond Kim Basinger as Domino Petachi Klaus Maria Brandauer as Maximilian Largo Barbara Carrera as Fatima Blush Max von Sydow as Ernst Stavro Blofeld Bernie Casey as Felix Leiter Edward Fox as M Alec McCowen as Q (here, "Algernon") Reviews Synopsis Never Say Never Again brings Sean Connery back to the role of 007 one last time. Bond is pulled out of retirement when SPECTRE steals two nuclear warheads. As he tracks down the weapons, he crosses paths with the villain Largo and his lover Domino. Overview This film is a remake of Thunderball made outside the official Bond franchise due to a legal rights issue. While the story is familiar, Connery’s return gave the film buzz. The tone is more grounded and mature, though the action feels slower compared to modern Bond movi...

Casino Royale (1954), Not Rated, 50 min Franchise: James Bond (Non-Eon) Franchise #: N/A (Unofficial TV adaptation — first-ever screen portrayal of James Bond) Tagline: None (originally aired as part of the Climax! anthology series on CBS) Main Cast Barry Nelson as James Bond (called “Jimmy Bond”) Peter Lorre as Le Chiffre Linda Christian as Valerie Mathis Michael Pate as Clarence Leiter Reviews Synopsis This early TV version of Casino Royale is very different from what most people think of as Bond. It was made for American audiences and aired live in black and white. Here, Bond is an American spy called "Jimmy," trying to bankrupt Le Chiffre at a casino to disrupt Soviet funding. Overview While the production is dated and low-budget, it’s historically fascinating. Peter Lorre adds real menace as Le Chiffre, and the poker scenes are still tense. Bond isn’t quite the suave agent we're used to—he’s more like a Cold War-era detective. Family Friendliness There’s little objec...