A look back: the filming of Casino Royale
By David Pegram
Twelve years ago this week, filming began on Casino Royale, the 21st official James Bond film and the first starring Daniel Craig. Little did anyone know at the time that the film would be a commercial and critical success and launch Craig into superstardom.
Shooting began at Modrany Studios, in Prague, under the direction of Martin Campbell. There, Craig began his tenure as James Bond, in the embassy chase and shootout scene. As it turned out, this scene was noteworthy, as it illustrated Bond’s recklessness. He ended up “killing a nobody,” as M later points out. She then adds, “Hardly the big picture.”
Now, twelve years later, we can see the big picture, indeed.
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Ian Fleming’s classic novel
The decision to reboot the franchise was made possible because EON productions finally secured the rights to Ian Fleming’s first novel. The book had been filmed before: a 1956 made-for- television drama, starring Barry as “JImmy Bond.” In 1967, a James Bond parody, titled Casino Royale was released, but it beared no resemblance to the book and was not considered an adaptation.
EON’s 2006 adaptation would require some changes and updates: 1. A backstory, as Bond investigates a terrorist threat; 2. Vesper Lynd’s role within the British government, as opposed to Russia; 3. Bond and LeChiffre play Texas hold ’em poker, rather than Baccarat.
Daniel Craig: something to prove
Daniel Craig was announced as James Bond, in October 2005, and met immediate backlash. A website, called danielcraigisnotbond, was launched to protest the selection of Craig, who was too blond and too short, apparently, to play 007. The website, as the link demonstrates, is still up and running…and quite an amusing read.
In an interview with Esquire, Craig would admit to feeling a need to prove himself, even to the point of showing he knew how to drive a manual transmission car. But Craig also believed in the script and direction of Casino Royale, and knew that if done right, the naysayers would dissipate. And that they did — mostly.
The filming
Filming remained in the Czech Republic for much of February, 2006. Then returned later in the spring. Locations in Prague doubled for other places: a monastery library as British intelligence offices; a museum as a Venice hotel; and the Ministry of Transport building as a Miami exhibition hall (a misstep, actually, as nothing in Prague looks like anything in Miami).
After initial filming in Prague, filming shifted to the Bahamas, where a construction site was used for the Bond-Mollaka chase scene (leading up to the earlier filmed embassy scene) and the Ocean Club hotel was used (by name) for Bond’s encounters with Dimitrios and Solange. Filming also took place in Italy (Venice, especially) and Pinewood Studios in London.
Unlike Skyfall and Spectre, Casino Royale did not kick off its filming with a roll call of the cast. Instead, both Eva Green and Mads Mikkelsen were announced as cast members after shooting had begun. In fact, while Daniel Craig and Caterina Murino filmed in the Bahamas, rumors circled that Rose Byrne would be playing Vesper Lynd.
Filming wrapped at Pinewood at the end of June.
The result
To date, Casino Royale has grossed over $200 million, in adjusted-for-inflation dollars. Diring its first weekend of release, November 17-19, only Happy Feet grossed more, though Casino Royale’s per-screen average was better.
Casino Royale currently carries a “Fresh” score of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. Manojla Dargis, at The New York Times, wrote, “The latest James Bond vehicle finds the British spy leaner, meaner and a whole lot darker.” Roger Ebert, still writing for the Chicago Sun-Times, stated, “I never thought I would see a Bond movie where I cared, actually cared, about the people.”
And about Daniel Craig, publicly humiliated over being cast as Bond? As we all know, he turned out just fine. His performance was hailed by critics and audiences alike. David Edelstein, writing for New York Magazine, said, “I hope Craig finds more moments like that in Bond. And I hope he gets to wear that tuxedo again and again and again.”
Indeed, Casino Royale is considered one of the very best James Bond films ever made. And it all began, under scrutiny, twelve years ago.