Non-Who Review 1 - James Bond 007: Casino Royale, written by Ian Fleming (1953 Novel)

Released: April 1953

Review:

The book that started a cultural phenomenon. A now iconic leading hero, and the most famous and fantasised, albeit fictional, Spy ever written – James Bond. His mythologised status in British culture, is nearly akin to other folk and fictional heroes like Robin Hood and Sherlock Holmes, and so far, till now, is getting ever stronger. It all starts here.

Casino Royale is both the character’s first thrilling adventure, but also his introduction. The storyline is almost as well known as many other famous literary works. James Bond takes on a Communist – Le Chiffre, a paymaster for Soviet spy organisation SMERSH; and effectively bankrupts him, by beating him in a high-risk game of baccarat at a high-class Casino in North France. The story is a solid and straight-forward affair, with few of the series’ trademark frills that would appear later, bar its exciting plot and character twists in the third act. Casino Royale reads like many of the great travelogue novels of the 1950s and 60s. The text is an easy flowing read, with the plot developing at a decent and fine pace, with no page or time wasted. One can also easily understand the appeal of Bond at that time: the continuous references and descriptions of the expensive food and drink, the sun-kissed European beaches, and classical Hotel fronts. While painting the rich tapestry of Bond’s World in the imagination, it also brings an immersive sense of luxury, the like of which was near-impossible for the usual reader to experience, even now. The lure of aspirational living. Just one of the first things that you notice about the book series.

Furthermore, its fascinating to notice the big differences between this original novel, and the very successful 2006 film adaptation starring Daniel Craig. Even in Casino Royale, the James Bond of the novels, is a very assured, and confident persona. Perhaps an essential quality for a Spy in the field, so you may think, but I feel it never really explains the character’s earlier life, and hides away all sense of vulnerability, even during some of the alarming torture moments. Maybe Fleming was keen to give us James Bond fully formed, as he meant to go on, but it takes away some of the impact of the book’s final twist. This is an aspect, which I feel the 2006 film is a huge improvement on. Not only does it develop more of Bond’s backstory, but it also show’s the character gradually develop into the personality we know, through a series of side incidents, but also through the visceral experiences of the main story from the book, showing their effect on Bond to mould him into the more aloof, assured character we’re familiar with.

Oddly, the changes to Vesper, are almost in detriment. Vesper, Bond’s female ally, is private, enigmatic, but still a feeling, caring and sweet-natured person in the Novel. When her true motives are revealed, her emotional breakdown is very moving, and all too easy to empathise with. In the film adaption though, Vesper is a colder, albeit stronger, and braver individual, who never really commits much of her emotion, even to the audience. Unlike the film also, the Novel has a fairly neat, and concise ending, even if its more downbeat. The 2006 film adds an extra climatic fourth act, to finish the production on a bang, and a more triumphant note. However, unlike the novel it doesn’t come across as organically written.

Although, the novel is still, in context, just the opening stepping stone of this book series. As a result, the narrative, twists aside, is fairly plain and unambitious, for the most part. James Bond has far greater storylines, better development, and moments to come. As Casino Royale is also written in the 1950s, and by a man of the Edwardian era, its perhaps not surprising that James Bond is an ardent sexist. However, what is surprising, is how few times it is called upon during the characterisation of the novel, so in that regard, it feels quite modern for its day. In fact, having been written just a matter of years after the Second World War, both Casino Royale and the book and film series depict an interesting theme of modernity battling the crumbling ruin of tradition and history. Even the Casino itself, is a posh, restored venue, amongst the rebuilding ruins of war-stricken France.

The baccarat game, remains a surprisingly gripping segment of the novel, never being overstated or overblown. Of course, the now infamous kidnap and torture scene, remains a tour de force, and is probably the moment Casino Royale turns from a standard adventure novel, into something greater, more creative, exciting and special. The revelation of Vesper’s true loyalties is one final extra twist that cements Casino Royale as one of the finest thrillers of the 1950s.

Score: 9/10