Re: RARA-AVIS: Helm vs Bond:

TERRILL LANKFORD (TOLANKFORD@webtv.net)
Fri, 29 Jan 1999 18:54:11 -0800 (PST) CASINO ROYALE was the first Bond novel brought to screen, but it was the
TV screen. The live TV show CLIMAX broadcast a one hour version of
CASINO ROYALE in 1954. Barry Nelson played an Americanized version of
"Jmmy" Bond, CIA agent. Michael Pate played his English counterpart
"Clarence" Leiter (changed from Felix for some reason) and Peter Lorre
played the villian Le Chiffre.

Agent-turned-Producer Charles Feldman bought the feature film rights in
1955, beating Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman to the punch by a few
years. Feldman capitalized on those rghts in 1967. When Broccoli
wouldn't loan him Sean Connery to play Bond he decided to take the film
in the direction of a spoof.

A few years ago Tarantino tried to buy the rights to CR but the
Broccolis cut him off at the pass and aquired the rights to protect
their Golden Goose.

It's too bad. I would like to see the character explored by other
filmmakers. The Bond flicks have a tendency to blend together nowadays.

TL

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