Pre Dr. No Bond Movies

Subject: Pre Dr. No Bond Movies Mon Feb 13, 2017 1:14 am

Are these movies worth a watch?

Subject: Re: Pre Dr. No Bond Movies Mon Feb 13, 2017 7:42 pm

I take it you mean the likes of North By Northwest, seeing as there aren't actually any Bond films pre-Dr. No?

Subject: Re: Pre Dr. No Bond Movies Mon Feb 13, 2017 8:15 pm

Unless he means Casino Royale (1954) for TV?

Subject: Re: Pre Dr. No Bond Movies Tue Feb 14, 2017 6:48 pm

Ah yes, I'd forgotten that. Haven't seen it myself.

Subject: Re: Pre Dr. No Bond Movies Fri Feb 17, 2017 11:32 am

Blunt Instrument wrote:: Ah yes, I'd forgotten that. Haven't seen it myself.

Me either yet, though it is available on You Tube.

Subject: Re: Pre Dr. No Bond Movies Fri Feb 17, 2017 11:35 pm

Secret Files wrote:

Blunt Instrument wrote:: Ah yes, I'd forgotten that. Haven't seen it myself.

Me either yet, though it is available on You Tube.

Oh really? I'll have to take a look. Haven't seen it, either.

Subject: Re: Pre Dr. No Bond Movies Sun Feb 19, 2017 12:43 am

Secret Files wrote:: Unless he means Casino Royale (1954) for TV?

Yep thats what I was referring to. If you look at the description for this part of the forums it mentions Casino Royale 1954 and Casino Royale 1967 and NSNA. I've seen NSNA, but I have heard very little about those other ones and I'm wondering if they are worth a watch.

Subject: Re: Pre Dr. No Bond Movies Sun Feb 19, 2017 12:02 pm

I have never been able to get all the way through the '67 Casino Royale ... the chaotic nature of its production is pretty evident on screen.

NSNA. for me, suffers badly due to its 'unofficial' status - I can't help missing things like the gunbarrel opening and the Bond theme.

Subject: Re: Pre Dr. No Bond Movies Sun Feb 19, 2017 12:05 pm

Blunt Instrument wrote:: NSNA. for me, suffers badly due to its 'unofficial' status - I can't help missing things like the gunbarrel opening and the Bond theme.

I could get passed those things if I had too, but I can't take to the some of the elements of the film - the video game, the dancing, the unmemorable music, clunky dialogue - it felt like a cheap parody, overall.

Subject: Re: Pre Dr. No Bond Movies Sun Feb 19, 2017 2:41 pm

Blunt Instrument wrote:: I have never been able to get all the way through the '67 Casino Royale ... the chaotic nature of its production is pretty evident on screen.

Just watched the first 15 min on youtube. It was very blurry, but that might just be the version thats on youtube.

I dont want to judge it unfairly based on 10% of the movie, but so far it doesnt have the same draw or appeal as all the other Bond movies. Bond is played by a much older actor who seems more like a stuffy nobleman than a spy. Considering that this came after Dr. No and FRWL and Goldfinger, the production value definitely feels inferior.

Just read the wikipedia entry for the movie. It looks like it was a somewhat similar situation as NSNA where multiple people had rights to make these movies. Its also interesting that they were able to get Ursula Andress to sign up for this movie.

Subject: Re: Pre Dr. No Bond Movies Mon Feb 20, 2017 7:12 pm

With it being a spoof, they maybe weren't as worried about production values as the official Bonds were.

Q Branch Posts : 648 Member Since : 2011-03-14

The live Casino Royale is not bad. It's pretty standard for a live tv show at the time. It's interesting to watch for the oddity of watching Barry Nelson playing Bond. Not that he was bad, I actually quite enjoy his performance. It's just odd to see an American play Bond and get called Jimmy.

Casino Royale '67. I tried to watch it once about 10-12 years ago? Made it about 10 minutes and stopped. Never tried to watch it again.

NSNA. This is an odd one for me. I don't hate it. But I never really ever feel compelled to watch it. I think I've maybe watched it twice in 15 years.