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007 MAGAZINE
Issue #18 (Autumn 1988)

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Casino Royale Act III

ACT III (52) Bond is lying on the floor unconscious after a preliminary roughing up by Le Chiffre's bodyguards.  [SLIDESHOW]
LE CHIFFRE: Oh Basil you're so clumsy. I, I asked you to hit him I, I didn't ask you to hit him so hard.
Bond attempts to surprise the bodyguards, but in his weakened state he is easily overcome once more.
LE CHIFFRE: Easy! Not so hard — heh! Tough man uh! Very tough. Well if he fights again — hit him again — but please, only a little at a time. Now Mr. Bond as you might have noticed we, we are very serious people, your good health is of no concern to us whatsoever.
The phone rings.
(53) LE CHIFFRE: And Just in case you get ambitious Mr. Bond — believe me! (He points his gun threateningly at Valerie) (54) Bond is forced to answer the telephone. The caller is Leiter, and he asks if Bond has found Valerie, and if Le Chiffre has made a run for it yet. He also tells Bond he has released the story of Le Chiffre’s big loss to the newspapers. Bond tries to warn Leiter of the dangerous spot he is in, but is only able to give his apologies for losing Leiter's shirt at baccarat. Leiter replies, "You're a pal. I'll talk  to you tomorrow."

Casino Royale 1954 storypics

LE CHIFFRE: Maybe he'll talk to you tomorrow — but only if you've given us that cheque.
BOND: It took me long enough to win it — it'll take you longer to get it back!
(54) LE CHIFFRE: I don't think so — I honestly don't think so. It's about time we stopped joking huh! I, I think he's ready for the bathtub. Oh pardon me beautiful I, I didn't mean to neglect you. Who knows, maybe — maybe you can persuade him. Ha!-Ha! Basil, take her in — but if she screams, at her first scream — he's dead!
(55) The action moves to the bathroom where Bond is placed in the bath, his hands are bound and his bare feet are tied to the bath taps.
(56) LE CHIFFRE: Alright Mr. Bond where's that money? Look Mr. Bond as you should know by now I, I'm quite without mercy and, if you continue to be that obstinate I, I'll have to torture — you'll be tortured to the edge of madness — believe me! You have no hope whatsoever, you hear — none!
Nor has she!

(57) BOND: You're an ugly little man. Why don't you stop talking!

Barry Nelson as James Bond

Le Chiffre threatens Bond

Casino Royale 1954 storypics

(58) LE CHIFFRE: Alright! See this tool Mr. Bond, it's a very handy little tool, it serves all sorts of purposes. Oh er, my little friend, you remember, the one who had the gun that passed for a cane. Oh he was an expert with this hmm, unfortunately he's gone but er, I've learned a few of his tricks. Now Mr. Bond are you going to tell me where that cheque is?
(59) Bond Just sneers at Le Chiffre.
(60) LE CHIFFRE: You won't huh? All right I think I know how to make you tell.
(61) Le Chiffre 'goes to work' on Bond's feet with his "handy little tool." Valerie is forced to watch Bond writhe in agony, knowing her first  scream  will spell instant death for 007.

(62) LE CHIFFRE: Excruciating huh? Look Mr. Bond if you, if you continue like this I, I have to start on poor Valerie. You leave me no choice I, I cannot let you destroy me.
(63) BOND: I've already destroyed you!
LE CHIFFRE: You think so huh!

Casino Royale 1954 storypics

BOND: I'm no hero I don't like pain, but I can tell you one thing right now, you won't get anything out of me. Pain and killing is part of my job.

Le Chiffre taunts Bond

LE CHIFFRE: And of mine too Mr. Bond!
BOND: I bet you love it!
LE CHIFFRE: How did you find that out uh! (said in mock surprise) Oh you're an obstinate man Mr. Bond, but I, I think I think you've had enough huh! Where's that money?
BOND: What's the difference, it's a cheque — the police will trace it to you.
(64) LE CHIFFRE: Oh please, please, don't worry about that — that's very easy you see, the story will be that after our little game at the casino we met and you being such a good sportsman, you turned it over to me, so therefore you signed the check over to me — that simple heh! Now where's that money? Where is it? I know you've hidden it somewhere here in this suite. We've searched it but you're very clever — now where is it? Alright! Oh er Surok you better go downstairs because you see Mr. Leiter might arrive, and I'm quite certain he'll be very upset when he sees his friend after we have finished with him. (Le Chiffre orders his henchman to torture Bond) Go ahead Basil, and this time you don't have to restrain yourself!

Casino Royale 1954 storypics
Peter Lorre as Le Chiffre

Basil's painful onslaught on Bond causes Valerie to break.
VALERIE: I will tell you what I know!
BOND: Shut up Valerie! She knows nothing.
VALERIE: He was holding a screwdriver when I came in.
(65) LE CHIFFRE: A screwdriver!
Where could he use a screwdriver? Where did you use it?
BOND: Find it yourself!
LE CHIFFRE: Alright, alright, have it your way then Mr. Bond. We have searched your rooms, now we are going to take them apart, and if I don't find it I'll take you apart — both of you!
Le Chiffre, Basil and Surok leave the bathroom to search for the cheque once more.

Casino Royale 1954 storypics

VALERIE: I'm sorry I couldn't help it, I couldn't stand what they were doing to you! Darling you're very brave, I couldn't be like that.
(66) Bond notices that Le Chiffre has left his cigarette case on the edge of the bath and remembers it also contains a razor blade. Bond tells Valerie to keep talking and keep a look out for Le Chiffre and his men (67) whilst she knocks the case into the bath, enabling Bond to cut the ropes that bind him. From outside the bathroom we hear Le Chiffre ordering his men to try the number plate on the door, as Bond struggles free from the bath and releases Valerie from her bonds.
(outside we hear)
LE CHIFFRE: Here it is, we've found it! Thank you Mr. Bond!
(68) Bond hides against the bathroom wall and calls outside to Le Chiffre for water.
LE CHIFFRE: Oh yes with pleasure! Basil — give him all the water he wants. Get me some water too.
(69) Basil enters the bathroom and Bond surprises him, knocking him unconscious with several well aimed blows and takes his gun.
(70) LE CHIFFRE: Heh Basil what's the matter?
Le Chiffre enters the bathroom. We hear two shots and (71) Le Chiffre staggers wounded from the bathroom. Valerie screams as Bond is threatened by Basil — who has regained consciousness — Bond finishes him with two shots. (72) Valerie helps the injured Bond from the bathroom into an armchair.
BOND: (to Le Chiffre) That's far enough, sit down you!
LE CHIFFRE: Alright!

Casino Royale 1954 storypics
TV Guide listing

VALERIE: Are you going to kill him Jimmy?
(73) LE CHIFFRE: Yes why don't you eh? Be fair Mr. Bond, it's all in the game, we're, we're both gamblers (coughing) — and I've lost.
Le Chiffre fiddles with his hat while he is talking to Bond, who is close to unconsciousness.
BOND: Give me the check!
(74) Le Chiffre lunges at Bond with the razor blade from his hat band — Bond shoots him dead!
(75) BOND: Go on Valerie, call the police.
*

Original remade end title card Credits (missing from the original rediscovered version and remade with the errors noted below for the commercially released editions)

Casino Royale by lan Fleming

Starring Barry Nelson as James Bond
Peter Lorre as Le Chiffre
Linda Christian as Valerie Mathis

Co-Starring Michael Pate as Leiter [Mis-spelled as Letter]
with Eugene Borden as Chef de partie [Mis-spelled as Chef DeParte]
Jean Del Val as Croupier [Mis-spelled as Jean DeVal]
Gene Roth and Kurt Katch as Le Chiffre's Henchmen

Written for Television by Antony Ellis and Charles Bennett [Mis-spelled as Bennet]
Art Direction Robert Tyler Lee and James D. Vance [incorrectly credited a DeVal]
Produced by Bretaigne Windust
Associate Producer Elliott Lewis [Mis-spelled Elliot]
Directed by William H. Brown
Your Host for Climax William Lundigan

Music by Jerry Goldsmith (uncredited)

*The original 16mm version discovered in Chicago by film and TV historian Jim Schoenberger was missing the last 2½-minutes of the production which included the final confrontation between James Bond (Barry Nelson), Valerie Mathis (Linda Christian) and Le Chiffre (Peter Lorre). Also missing was the on-screen appearance of show host, William Lundigan, and the original end credits. This was the version originally released on VHS included as an extra on the 2002 MGM DVD release of Casino Royale (1967). The remade end credits contained a number of errors listed above. The missing minutes were discovered some years later and included in a video release by the US collectables company Spyguise. The original ending was therefore missing at the time this article was published in 007 MAGAZINE #18 in Autumn 1988. For the sake of completeness the original ending is transcribed below.

Casino Royale (1954) Original ending

Le Chiffre grabs Valerie and threatens her with a razor blade.
(76) LE CHIFFE: (laughing) See. See how the game goes huh? Interesting eh? You know, suddenly I... I find a great desire to live. What are you going to do Mr. Bond? Huh?... What are you going to do? Well if you want that check that badly just pull the trigger, but then... then you lose you beloved Valerie, and if I live, believe me I'll lie about everything, and I can lie better than you... much, much better, so you see either way I win.
Bond is on the edge of consciousness as he aims at Le Chiffre.
LE CHIFFRE: (still laughing) Why don't you pull that trigger?
(77) Bond shoots...
LE CHIFFRE: (collapsing on the floor) Thank you Mr. Bond.
(78) Bond throws his gun down and embraces Valerie.

WILLIAM LUNDIGAN: Next week we bring you the Broadway smash hit Lend An Ear. Our stars next Thursday will be Edgar Bergan & Charlie McCarthy; Gene Nelson; Sheree North, and as a special attraction Mario Lanza. Incidentally ladies and gentlemen, delegates from all over the world are now meeting in Chicago with the 42nd National Safety Congress. We salute the Congress and its accident prevention work. I'd like each one of you to help too by being careful. And now until next Thursday and Lend An Ear, this is William Lundigan saying good night, and thank you.
**

Original end credits:
CASINO ROYALE BY IAN FLEMING

BARRY NELSON AS JAMES BOND
PETER LORRE AS LE CHIFFRE
LINDA CHRISTIAN AS VALERIE MATHIS
AND YOUR HOST WILLIAM LUNDIGAN
FEATURING MICHAEL PATE AS LEITER

PRODUCED BY BRETAIGNE WINDUST
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER ELLIOTT LEWIS
DIRECTED BY WILLIAM H. BROWN
WRITTEN FOR TELEVISION BY
ANTONY ELLIS AND CHARLES BENNETT
ART DIRECTION BY ROBERT TYLER LEE AND JAMES D. VANCE

EUGENE BORDEN as CHEF DE PARTIE
JEAN DEL VAL as CROUPIER
GENE ROTH as BASIL
KURT KATCH as ZOLTAN

Casino Royale (1954) Original ending
Casino Royale (1954) original end credits

**William Lundigan's closing announcement was not related to CLIMAX! - Lend An Ear was an episode of Shower of Stars - a CBS-TV variety show that ran monthly from 1954-1958, and broadcast in colour. It has been reported that the CLIMAX! presentation of Casino Royale (1954) was also originally broadcast live from Hollywood in colour, but was only recorded as a black & white 16mm Kinescope. As was the case with most feature films of the 1950s, colour was usually reserved for pre-filmed musical or variety shows, and not live television dramas. No contemporary TV listings or reviews mention the fact that the show was broadcast in colour, so 007 MAGAZINE is unable to corroborate this information.


Casino Royale storypics PART 2

Casino Royale (1954) FACT FILE

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