CLIMAX! -- CASINO ROYALE

Barry Nelson with Michael Pate

CLIMAX! Season One; episode 3. "Casino Royale" by Ian Fleming.  1954. Director: William H. Brown Jr. Colorized. 

Nearly ten years before the film Dr., No, the character of James Bond was unveiled for the viewing public for the first time on an hour-long episode of the anthology series, Climax! Based on Ian Fleming's very first Bond novel, it follows the story rather closely: Bond -- now an American agent with "Combined Intelligence" -- must prevent the Soviet agent, Le Chiffre (Peter Lorre) -- or The Cipher -- from winning a bundle at baccarat as he has amassed huge debts which will hopefully end his effectiveness as an agent. Bullets nearly take out Bond at the very opening, and later he is subjected to torture (although nowhere near as horrific as in the novel) in a bathtub. 

Linda Christian and Peter Lorre

Although not English, Nelson makes a very adept Bond (although it's disconcerting to have him referred to as "Jimmy".) He exudes competence and class in equal measure. Matching him is Linda Christian (of The Happy Time), as French agent Valerie (a variation on the British agent Vesper Lynn). She has to deliver some romantic dialogue during a very difficult moment and comes through with flying colors. Michael Pate also scores as another agent, Clarence (as opposed to Felix) Leiter. The one disappointing cast member is, surprisingly, Peter Lorre, who fails to make Le Chiffre menacing even when he is employing pliers on Bond in a fiendish manner. By this time the actor had become too avuncular -- he simply is too perfunctory and weak as the villain. 

Roth, Lorre, Nelson, Christian

"Casino Royale" was presented LIVE, and there are no slip-ups that I could see throughout the production. Telewriters Antony Ellis and Charles Bennett intelligently adapt the source material, cutting out some of the more gruesome moments (such as a bomb meant for Bond killing two Soviet agents). The novel was an excellent introduction to 007, who is much more dimensional than he ever was in most of the films, and this TV version is quite well-done. The show is hosted by William Lundigan and Gene Roth plays one of Le Chiffre's hoodlums. Linda Christian was married to Tyrone Power for several years; after their divorce she married Edmund Purdom and that union only lasted a year.

Verdict: Very interesting Bond piece is more than just a curio. ***.