There are some bits from Fleming’s novel, particularly during Bond’s card game with Le Chiffre. Bond,” something that would be repeated throughout the Eon films.

Peter Lorre is the first actor to play a Bond villain referring to the agent constantly as “Mr. No M, no briefing from M.Īt one point, Leiter says Bond’s nickname is “card sense Jimmy Bond,” while Valerie calls Bond “Jimmy.” However, she also calls him “James Bond” when introducing the agent to Le Chiffre ahead of the big baccarat game. Shortly thereafter, Bond makes contact with Leiter, who explains to Bond (and the audience) how the agent’s mission to bankrupt Le Chiffre (Peter Lorre) in a high stakes game of baccarat. Bond ducks behind a column and the audience can see squibs going off to simulate gun fire. It’s not terribly convincing, mostly because of the limited resources of the production, which was broadcast live. At this point, Fleming and Bond weren’t huge names among the American public.Īnyway, to get things going, Act I opens with Bond being shot at outside a casino. Presumably, the idea of an American Bond stemmed from how this was airing on U.S. Felix Leiter is changed to a British agent and his name is now Clarence Leiter (Michael Pate).

Meanwhile, Bond is changed from being a British agent to an American one. Two Fleming characters, Vesper Lynd and French agent Rene Mathis, are merged into one character, Valerie Mathis (Linda Christian), a woman from Bond’s past who is working for French intelligence. Excluding commercials and titles, only about 50 minutes was available to tell the story.Īntony Ellis and Charles Bennett, who adapted the novel for television, certainly took plenty of liberties with the source material. While Ian Fleming’s first novel was short, it still covered too much ground to be covered in a 60-minute time slot. The television production, part of CBS’s Climax! anthology series and airing live on Oct. The only time he refers to his own name, he is making a telephone call and says, “This is James Bond.” Actor Barry Nelson also is clearly billed as playing James Bond in the end titles. When it does come up in fan conversation, it’s the subject of derision.Īn American as James Bond? Outrageous - although Eon Productions, which makes James Bond movies, seriously considered the notion twice, for Diamonds Are Forever (John Gavin was signed before Sean Connery was enticed back) and again for Octopussy (James Brolin was screen tested before Roger Moore was enticed back).Īnd he’s called Jimmy Bond! Outrageous - although Bond never calls himself Jimmy, other characters do. If there’s a red-headed stepchild in the world of James Bond, the 1954 CBS production of Casino Royale would be it.

Casino royale 1954 full summary