Bond Series, Pt. 1: Casino Royale

The name is Bond, James Bond!

I thought it would be fun to do a series on the most famous spy novels AND partner films of all time. Genre-defining sexism, campy villains, goofy gadgets, and all. This will be a discussion of both book and film. The films are an integral part of the Bond experience as they famously are often better than the books. I also have not read or watched most of the Bond books and movies!

I decided to do a highlights tour of six well-regarded or particularly notable or controversial Bond book/movie pairings. This will mean skipping some books. If that idea bothers you, since they’re spaced two months apart, you’re welcome to do a completionist consumption of all the Bond books/films. I’m not sure whether I will do this. I thought a full year of Bond and only Bond might be too much of a drag for those members who aren’t enamored with Bond, and frankly I’m not dying to watch Die Another Day (2002).

We need to start where the series begins: Casino Royale. The first Bond book. The 2006 film (not the 1967 version!) with Daniel Craig is the best-reviewed Bond film of all time to date. (If there are two films of a book, I will always choose the better regarded one.) Because neither is overly time-consuming, please read and watch.

Book:

Casino Royale by Ian Fleming
192 pp.

Film: Casino Royale (2006), starring Daniel Craig

Book Summary:

“Le Chiffre” is a ruthless operative and the accountant for a soviet SMERSH cell in France, but he’s on the verge of disaster after gambling away his client’s money. Taking the last of his stash, he lures a dozen wealthy players to a high-stakes baccarat game, hoping to hustle his way whole.

The British Secret Service would like to see this red thorn plucked from the hide of Europe, and sends their best card sharp, James Bond, to bankrupt Le Chiffre for good.

With the cards running against him and SMERSH operatives threatening to kill him and his beautiful ally, Vesper Lynd, 007 needs his luck to turn before he wagers away their lives.