It’s more surprising, overall, when a Bond film chooses to omit one, let alone several. Such elements as the enemy stronghold that blows up in the action climax, the empty badinage with poor pining Miss Moneypenny, the give-and-take with his weapons master Q, the ordering of a martini (shaken not stirred), the final scene where Bond ignores a congratulatory message from his superiors in order to pursue celebratory sex with the rescued lady of the day, the McGuffin that often involves hijacked nuclear weaponry, and (most relevant to today’s examples), the gambling match with the villain where Bond beats the bad guy at the game he is enough of a cad to cheat at, are such series mainstays that they all appear, with only minimal variation, in most of the franchise’s outings. The James Bond films have become so cemented in their formula for success that their various inevitable ingredients sometimes make them seem less like individual stories than the same story, told and retold with only a few particulars changed. Other Known Versions: Seen by us but not reviewed for this essay, “Casino Royale,” episode of TV-anthology series Climax! (1954), starring Barry Nelson as “Jimmy” Bond and Peter Lorre as Le Chiffre.

Starring Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Madi Mikkelson, Judi Dench, and Giancarlo Giannini. Screenplay by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, with Paul Haggis, from the novel by Ian Fleming. Starring David Niven, Peter Sellers, Ursula Andress, and Orson Welles. Additional screenplay contributions by (take a deep breath), Woody Allen, Val Guest, Ben Hecht, Joseph Heller, Terry Southern, Billy Wilder, and Peter Sellers. Screenplay by Wolf Mankowitz, John Law, and Michael Sayers, from the novel by Ian Fleming. Directed by Val Guest, Ken Hughes, John Huston, Joseph McGrath, Robert Parrish, and Richard Talmadge. Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of AmericaĪn author’s intent, an actor’s fragile ego, a genial shambles and cruelty to testiclesĬasino Royale (1967).These Are Not Reasons To Vote For Me For A Hugo.The Totally Not Gay Last Voyage Of Captain Christian White.The Painful Moment When You Must Justify Your Beloved Pet's Trust.The Batman And Robin Murder Mystery - Solved!.The Art Of The Apology Is Broken Beyond Repair.Seven Atheist Arguments For The Existence of God.Open Letter To The Ants At the Base Of The Monument.Letter To A Child Whose First Book was GUSTAV GLOOM.Two Visits to Willy Wonka's CHOCOLATE FACTORY.THE MALTESE FALCONS and the Stuff that Dreams Aren't Made of.PSYCHO: A Remake that Was Just Plain Crazy.

One Pothole Away From Death: The Two Versions of 'The Wages Of Fear'.

Recommended Essays from 'The Remake Chronicles'.

Casino royale 1967 vs 2006