Free Republic

Seventy years ago, in 1953, Ian Fleming, a British WWII planner and supervisor for commandos, published a brief espionage novel, Casino Royale, and thus James Bond was born. The book allowed Fleming to reimagine British imperial greatness and continue in fiction his command over manly men willing and able to kill and die for a cause, for the thrill of the fight, and for pride. He could speak for civilized society’s necessary assassins.By the use of his imagination, Fleming became far more successful and important than he had ever been in public service. He ended up orchestrating one of Britain’s...

James Bond actor Daniel Craig has recently admitted he believes the script for the latest Bond film is far better than Casino Royale. The Cowboys & Aliens actor said he was excited to reunite with Road to Perdition director Sam Mendes for the upcoming Bond 23, where he will be reprising his role as secret agent James Bond. During an interview, the actor told Cowboys & Aliens director Jon Favreau: "I think it's a great choice because Sam has a fervour and energy to really direct a Bond movie, with a capital B."

The first screen adaptation of a James Bond book was telecast on October 21, 1954 on the anthology series, Climax!. Barry Nelson played CIA agent Jimmy Bond. Wikipedia article IMDb article Casino Royale (1954) The Curious Legacy of Casino Royale In spite of the YouTube titles, this was shown in 1954, not 1953. You may have to crank up the volume a bit: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6

Linda Christian, a 1940s Hollywood actress nicknamed "anatomic bomb" by Life magazine for her stunning looks and famous for her marriage to actor Tyrone Power, has died aged 87, her daughter said here Saturday... She was also the first James Bond girl in the 1954 television adaptation of "Casino Royale"...

By some tortured, objective filmmaking standard it might be possible to make the case that Quantum of Solace isn’t the worst James Bond film of all time, but I defy anyone to argue that it isn’t the least satisfying. After all, a bad James Bond film is still a James Bond film. There is that going for it. Invisible cars and Grace Jones have done no small amount of damage but in the smoking, campy wreckage there still lies a James Bond film. Unfortunately, in the smoking, plodding wreckage of Quantum of Solace that scrap of comfort is nowhere to...

LONDON (AFP) - Royal hit film "The Queen" starring Helen Mirren and the new James Bond movie "Casino Royale" grabbed the lion's share of nominations for the top British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards. "The Queen" tops the list with 10 nods from the BAFTAs, which are seen as key indicators to success at the Oscars in Hollywood, including for best film and for best actress for Mirren's portrayal of the 80-year-old British monarch. The other best film nominees are "Babel," "The Departed," "The Last King Of Scotland" and "Little Miss Sunshine." Other nominees for best actress...

CRAIG WANTS GAY BOND SCENE DANIEL CRAIG is urging movie bosses to revolutionise the JAMES BOND franchise by including a gay scene involving the superspy in the follow-up to CASINO ROYALE. The heart-throb actor has also reportedly told studio chiefs he is prepared to film a full frontal nude scene to please both his male and female admirers. He says, "Why not? I think in this day and age, fans would have accepted it." "I mean, look at (British TV series) DOCTOR WHO - that has had gay scenes in it and no one blinks an eye." 29/11/2006 07:42

A dancing penguin was king of the Thanksgiving birds among movie-goers. The animated penguin romp "Happy Feet" remained the No. 1 movie with $37.9 million in ticket sales from Friday to Sunday, while the James Bond adventure "Casino Royale" stayed in second place with $31 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. Over the Wednesday-to-Sunday holiday period, "Happy Feet," from Warner Bros., took in $51.5 million while Sony's "Casino Royale" did $45.1 million. Disney's thriller "Deja Vu," starring Denzel Washington as a police officer bouncing back in time to try to prevent a deadly ferry explosion, led new movies with $20.8...

I just returned from Casino Royal, all I can say is O U T S T A N D I N G! Don't miss seeing this on the silver screen. It was nice for the franchise to get back to basics after all of the gimmicks, bad one liners and predictable plots/scripts. The action is intense, Bond gets "shaken not stirred". He actually bleeds and has scars for quite a while after his encounters with people bent on his destruction (I don't even want to tell you what the other guys look like) and there are enough twists and turns...

James Bond appears to have won over one of his toughest adversaries yet - China's film censor. The Film Board has passed 007's latest outing "Casino Royale" for release in China - the first time Ian Fleming's master spy has been seen in Chinese cinemas. Pic will screen on January 30th, according to Sony Pictures in China. "We are extremely pleased that the film has passed and expect it to be one of the highest grossing films next year in China," said Li Chow, Sony Pictures' general manager in China. Chinese auds are familiar with 007 through pirated copies, but...

Just got back from seeing, "Casino Royale," the new James Bond movie, the 21st installment. My reaction: Bring back Sean Connery . . . . Bring back Roger Moore . . . . Bring back George Lazenby . . . . Bring back almost anybody (but not Timothy Dalton or Pierce Brosnan). This new dude, Daniel Craig, just doesn't cut it. He's DULL. No charisma, no charm, no suavity and debonaireness. Too old and haggard looking. And he's way too thin (scrawny) and small (hair's too short and ears stick out, too--like Alfred E. Neuman). Very blah. Not sexy. Nice...

James Bond fans should prepare to be shaken and stirred. The normally suave secret agent, with a passion for Aston Martins and martini, seems to have developed some distinctly middleclass tastes. In the forthcoming 007 movie Casino Royale, actor Daniel Craig temporarily abandons his £200,000 supercar for the new £20,000 Ford Mondeo - reports ThisIsLondon. The original Mondeo had its first facelift in 1996, with a new version in 2000 and the fourth generation is due to hit showrooms in 2007. The latest edition has been given a new styling and a high quality interior - but sadly for 007...

Aston Martin DBS Unveiled 5th May 2006 Aston Martin have officially unveiled the new DBS model which James Bond will be driving in the forthcoming film "Casino Royale". Design Director, Marek Reichman, said: “This car encapsulates a link between our elegant DB9 road car and the powerful DBR9 race car. It signals an evolutionary development of Aston Martin’s world renowned style and elegance. While hinting at our future design direction, the DBS also has very clear links with our heritage – it is instantly recognisable as an Aston Martin.” Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez added: “The DBS...

Link to movie trailer to upcoming James Bond movie: Casino Royale (french version, 59sec.)

According to a video report from BBC News, Daniel Craig is under contract to play James Bond until 2012. With an average gap between films of two years, that could mean Craig shoots at least a further three 007 movies after "Casino Royale". Sean Connery squeezed in 5 movies in 6 years in his initial run as 007, Roger Moore bonded 7 times in 13 years, and Pierce Brosnan managed four films in 8 years.

You'd never catch James Bond having a manicure, but actor Daniel Craig certainly likes to pamper himself - reports ITN. While Bond is fast cars, guns and girls, Daniel Craig is nail files, baby lotion and wet wipes. Dan has shocked workers on new 007 movie Casino Royal by asking for beauty products to be delivered to his trailer. While these demands are slightly feminine, there is nothing ladylike about Dan's body - according to two women who broke into his trailer when he was naked! Dan is sure to have got the fright of his life when the pair...

Daniel Craig stunned James Bond bosses when he couldn't drive 007's classic car - reports LSE. Filmmakers had transported Bond's original Aston Martin DB5 to the Bahamas to shoot new movie 'Casino Royale'. But the star confessed he didn't have a license to drive the manual car, which Sean Connery drove when he played the dashing spy. The 39-year-old reportedly said: "Er... I don't do gears." An insider is quoted in Britain's Daily Star newspaper as saying: "They've started shooting here and are using the old DB5, which is absolutely sensational. It was shipped over and was ready to go...

EXCLUSIVE: THE NAME'S BOND.. BROKE BOND BIFF! 007 Craig loses two front teeth in first fight scene BASH! The baddie who whacked him was only a henchman Craig, 37, was in Prague filming the remake of Casino Royale when the stunt went wrong. As the shaken star staggered backwards clutching his bleeding mouth, cameramen thought it was a brilliant piece of acting. But they quickly realised the new 007 was really hurt. His injuries were so bad local dentistry experts could not treat him. So Craig's dentist was flown out from London for emergency surgery in the Czech capital Prague....

As the first phase of Casino Royale production wraps in the Czech Republic, a press conference is scheduled to be held today ahead of the move to the Bahamas. A James Bond press conference is skedded today at Prague's Barrandov Studios, where the Martin Campbell-directed pic has been shooting - reports Variety. Though Sony claims no casting will be announced, producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson could use the occasion to unveil its long-awaited supporting cast. But the studio, along with some of the talent's reps, claim nothing's been decided. Even so, the producers are apparently deciding on a...

The family of a Brazilian man shot dead after being mistaken for a terrorist are "shocked" that his killing is to be reportedly mirrored in the plot of the next James Bond blockbuster According to reports, a leaked script reveals that Bond kills an unarmed bomb suspect, only to find it was the wrong man. Bond, played by Daniel Craig, 37, tries to clear his name after CCTV footage of the death is broadcast worldwide. Asad Rehman, spokesman for the de Menezes family, said: "If you can imagine what it must feel like, to think in a year or two's...