CASINO ROYALE
Year: 2006
USA & UK: Sony Pictures Releasing
Cast: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen, Judi Dench, Jeffrey Wright, Giancarlo Giannini, Caterina Murino, Simon Abkarian, Isaach De Bankole, Jesper Christensen, Ivana Milicevic, Tobias Menzies, Claudio Santamaria, Sebastien Foucan, Malcolm Sinclair, Richard Sammel, Ludger Pistor, Joseph Millson, Daud Shah, Clemens Schick, Emmanuel Avena, Tom Chadbon, Ade, Urbano Barberini, Tsai Chin, Charlie Levi Leroy, Lazar Ristovski, Tom So, Veruschka, Daniel Andreas, Carlos Leal, Christina Cole, Jurgen Tarrach, John Gold, Jerry Inzerillo, Diane Hartford, Jessica Miller, Leo Stransky, Paul Bhattacharjee, Crispin Bonham-Carter, Simon Cox, Rebecca Gethings, Peter Notley
Director: Martin Campbell
Countries: USA / UK / Czech Republic
USA & UK: 144 mins
USA Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of violent action, a scene of torture, sexual content and nudity
UK Certificate: 12A contains one scene of torture and strong action violence
USA Release Date: 17 November 2006
UK Release Date: 16 November 2006
Synopsis
CASINO ROYALE is the 21st James Bond film adventure and stars Daniel Craig in his debut as "007." The film is based on creator Ian Fleming's first novel published in 1953 about the debonair and dangerous British secret agent.
CASINO ROYALE introduces James Bond tracing his early career before he holds his license to kill. However Bond is no less dangerous, and when he carries out two professional assassinations in quick succession, he is elevated to "00" status.
Bond's first 007 mission takes him to Madagascar, where he is to spy on a terrorist, Mollaka (Sebastien Foucan). Not everything goes to plan and Bond decides to investigate, independently of MI6, in order to track down the rest of the terrorist cell. Following a lead to the Bahamas, he encounters Dimitrios (Simon Abkarian) and his girlfriend, Solange (Caterina Murino). He learns that Dimitrios is involved with Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), banker to the world's terrorist organizations.
In order to stop Le Chiffre, and bring down the terrorist network, Bond must beat him in a high-stakes poker game at Casino Royale. Bond is initially annoyed when a beautiful Treasury official, Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), is assigned to deliver his stake for the game and watch over the government's money. But, as Bond and Vesper survive a series of lethal attacks by Le Chiffre and his henchmen, a mutual attraction develops leading them both into further danger and events that will shape Bond's life forever.
Produced by Albert R Broccoli's EON Productions' Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, CASINO ROYALE is directed by Martin Campbell from a screenplay by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and Paul Haggis. Filming locations included Prague and Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic, on New Providence and Paradise Island in The Bahamas, Lake Como and Venice in Italy, before returning to the UK. Back in the UK, the production filmed at Dunsfold Airfield in Surrey, Eton College in Windsor, Buckinghamshire's Black Park and on the legendary 007 stage at Pinewood Studios.
British actor Daniel Craig is introduced in the role of James Bond in CASINO ROYALE, supported by a strong international cast. Dame Judi Dench returns as M, the Head of the British Secret Service. Vesper Lynd, the first woman with whom James Bond falls in love, is played by French actress Eva Green, and Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen takes the role of Le Chiffre, international money launderer and Bond's rival in the high stakes poker game at the heart of the film.
American actor Jeffrey Wright plays Felix Leiter, Bond's ally in the CIA, and distinguished Italian actor Giancarlo Giannini takes the role of Mathis, his MI6 contact. Caterina Murino, also Italian, plays Solange, the beautiful but unhappy wife of one of Le Chiffre's villainous associates, who succumbs to Bond's charms.
Featured in the film is the new Aston Martin DBS (in special finish "Casino Ice," which will not available for sale until 2007), alongside the Bond favourite Aston Martin DB5. And Bond reveals the recipe for his favourite martini, "The Vesper."