För James Bond och den brittiska underrättelsetjänsten kunde insatsen knappt ha varit högre. På ett franskt kasino i Royale-les-Eux måste Bond göra en rysk agent bankrutt genom att spela ut honom vid Baccarat-bordet. Mannen, känd som Le Chiffre, är en av av SMERSH:s (den sovjetiska organisationen för kontraspionage) dödligaste agenter, och han har under åratal varit måltavla för MI6. Om Bond spelar sina kort väl kommer Le Chiffre med stor sannolikhet att pensioneras av sina överordnade i Moskva. Vad händer om han satsar allt på fel hand? Casino Royale från 1953 är den inledande romanen i serien om den hemliga agenten James Bond. Romanen har filmatiserats flera gånger, senast 2006 med Daniel Craig i rollen som Bond. I svensk översättning av Carl Sundell.

IAN FLEMING [1908-1964] var en brittisk författare och journalist. Efter att ha tjänstgjort som underrättelseofficer under andra världskriget skapade Fleming sin legendariska romangestalt James Bond. Romanerna om Bond har sålts i hundra miljoner exemplar och filmatiserats otaliga gånger.

‘My doctor says that I shouldn’t have bullets entering my body at any time!’

The ’60s James Bond spoof Casino Royale is a psychedelic, multi-storylined extravaganza packed with star names, including Peter Sellers, Woody Allen, David Niven, Ursula Andress and Orson Welles. Poorly received at the time of its original release, it has since come to be regarded as a cult classic.

In this book, noted television and film researcher Michael Richardson gives the most detailed and comprehensive account ever published of the making of this extraordinary blockbuster, which got so out of control that it became arguably one of the most chaotic productions in cinema history – and certainly the most bizarre James Bond film ever!

A series of guides to some of the most talked-about films ever produced. From classics and acclaimed features to lesser-known or overlooked works, but all deserving of critical appraisal. Telos Movie Classics are the perfect way to gain a greater insight into the films you love.

JAMES BOND PLAYS A DEADLY GAME OF CHANCE IN IAN FLEMING’S LEGENDARY FIRST 007 NOVEL

“Le Chiffre” is a ruthless operative and the accountant for a soviet SMERSH cell in France, but he’s on the verge of disaster after gambling away his client’s money. Taking the last of his stash, he lures a dozen wealthy players to a high-stakes baccarat game, hoping to hustle his way whole.

The British Secret Service would like to see this red thorn plucked from the hide of Europe, and sends their best card sharp, James Bond, to bankrupt Le Chiffre for good.

With the cards running against him and SMERSH operatives threatening to kill him and his beautiful ally, Vesper Lynd, 007 needs his luck to turn before he wagers away their lives.