The unofficial Bond spoof Casino Royale (1967) remains as the only Bond “movie” to place what feels like a pre-title sequence near the end of the movie. Visually, the scene is a striking and surreal montage that accompanies Le Chiffre’s psychological torment of Bond after their baccarat showdown. It dives into a barrage of vivid, often striking imagery that, in isolation, could be considered bold and artistically compelling. Unfortunately, these moments are undercut by the movie’s chaotic and disjointed structure and scattershot humor.
Would I recommend this movie to a non-Bond fan? Absolutely not. Although for anyone interested in the stranger, more experimental side of 1960s parody spy cinema, it offers a fascinating (yet deeply flawed) counterpoint to the official series.
