_**A bizarre spy comedy featuring a remarkable ensemble cast**_ An organization known as SMERSH begins eliminating prominent spies from various nations, prompting James Bond’s return to active duty (David Niven). Peter Sellers portrays a younger “James Bond” operative, and Woody Allen appears as a smaller-statured “James Bond.” Orson Welles takes on the role of the primary antagonist, while William Holden and John Huston have brief appearances. “Casino Royale” (1967) has a reputation in film history for being disliked by critics and serious movie fans, but it’s actually better than other spy spoofs from that time like “In Like Flint” (1967) and “Fathom” (1967). The production was initially conceived with four different directors planned for separate sections, though ultimately six ended up involved. There were originally four writers credited (including Ian Fleming’s novel), but eleven writers were eventually included. Welles and Sellers had a difficult working relationship and declined to share scenes together. The film carried a substantial price tag, exceeding the budgets of earlier James Bond films. Against expectations, it manages to be quite funny as a 1960s secret agent spoof, even with the issue of Sellers being dismissed before all his footage was completed. I would recommend using subtitles so you can understand all the clever dialogue and keep track of what's going on. The female performers are exceptional, with Barbara Bouchet (Moneypenny) and Joanna Pettet (Mata Bond) standing out, alongside Ursula Andress (Vesper Lynd), Jacqueline Bisset (Miss Goodthighs), Deborah Kerr (Lady Fiona), and several others, including Caroline Munro and Veronica Carlson in smaller roles. The film runs a bit too long at 2 hours, 11 minutes. Filming took place in Ireland, Scotland, and England. GRADE: B-

Source on TMDB