Casino Royale. First presented live on CBS in '54. Then done as a Woody Allen parody in the late 60s. The DVD of the theatrical version includes a kinescope recording of the '54 live television play...what I can't figure out is why more restoration work wasn't done on this piece of history. It's the first film version of Bond. Due to the method of recording, the video is always going to be at least somewhat nasty, but they could get the sound very clear. Yet, in spots it has a lot of static. It's still fun seeing such a rare piece of Bond history, but it seems like it's worth restoring. King Kong proved that modern digital wizardry can do some amazing things with degraded footage - what could they do with Casino Royale?

Any thoughts? Anyone heard if there are plans to restore it?

Although I have heard and read about this version of Casino Royale - I have never seen it. "Static", (as the somewhat antiquated term is commonly used in relation to television) - which is basically the loss of picture information - would be difficult to "clean up". In fact, the only way to do it would be to artificially replace the missing picture information. Doing so with a 16mm kinescope of a fuzzy video image would be more challenging in a way than doing so with a 16mm dupe of one of the most beautifully photographed films of it's era. It's a matter of justified expense as well. "King Kong" is one of the great classics of American film. The 1954 Casino Royale doesn't quite match it in importance or profitability.

Actually, I was referring to static in the soundtrack, which is prominent in several spots. The video isn't that bad for a 52 year old kinescope image. Digital restoration would certainly help, though. Look at the difference in something like King Kong before and after restoration, or even the video quality in the original and "SE" versions of Star Wars.

On a related old Bond note, I grabbed a copy of the From Russia with Love PS2 videogame at our favorite used DVD store.

The game's a blast so far, it's a real hoot flying the Jetpack, driving the Astin Martin, and visiting the locations from the film and shooting 'em up real good.

The only off-putting thing about the game is the guy voicing Bond, he sounds too old and feeble and has the wrong accent.

The odd thing is it's Sean Connery.

But it's Sean Connery talking like he does now, not in his earlier Bond days.

It's very strange to hear.

On a related old Bond note, I grabbed a copy of the From Russia with Love PS2 videogame at our favorite used DVD store.

The game's a blast so far, it's a real hoot flying the Jetpack, driving the Astin Martin, and visiting the locations from the film and shooting 'em up real good.

The only off-putting thing about the game is the guy voicing Bond, he sounds too old and feeble and has the wrong accent.

The odd thing is it's Sean Connery.

But it's Sean Connery talking like he does now, not in his earlier Bond days.

It's very strange to hear.

Oh you mean like..."Not In The R's Trebeck?, That Not What your Mother Said" :p Sorry phil

John

The game's a blast so far, it's a real hoot flying the Jetpack, driving the Astin Martin, and visiting the locations from the film and shooting 'em up real good.I enjoyed the game. It's not as good or as challenging as EA's previous Bond game, Everything or Nothing, but it has a similar feel. I do miss the slow-motion "Bond Sense" of the previous game. EON also had more missions, as well. I did find that the driving portions were better in FRWL, though; the cars seem a little easier to control. In EON, I had a devil of a time controlling the Vanquish; the Porsche Cayenne was easier to drive.

I'd still like to build a replica of the "platinum tank" from EON, but I've never been able to determine what Russian tank was used as the basis for it.
The only off-putting thing about the game is the guy voicing Bond, he sounds too old and feeble and has the wrong accent.

The odd thing is it's Sean Connery.I don't know that I'd say he sounds "feeble," but there's a definite difference. His voice sounds more gruff and "thicker" than when the movie was made. They did a good job on the voice performances of the other characters, in my opinion. As M, Pete Renoudet sounds more like Bernard Lee than Bernard Lee did!

This might be the last Bond game from EA; the license is now being shared with Activision, and next year it becomes exclusive to Activision. I hope they'll continue with the best of what made the last couple of games so good.

Qapla'

SSB

I don't know that I'd say he sounds "feeble," but there's a definite difference. His voice sounds more gruff and "thicker" than when the movie was made. They did a good job on the voice performances of the other characters, in my opinion.Qapla'

SSB

Having played it a lot more than when I posted that, feeble is a poor description. I do think, that for whatever reasons, Connery wasn't terribly enthusiastic about voice acting. There's a distinctly bored flavor to his performance that kind of reminds me of Harrison Ford's Blade Runner narration.I still think it's a great game though!

Not to derail the thread, but I've been impressed by many of the licensed games since I got a PS2, most licensed games for my earlier systems sucked. But I've really enjoyed some of the movie & TV inspired games I've picked up, namely Battlestar Galactica, The Thing, the Star Wars Battlefronts, Futurama, Black Hawk Down, and The Simpson's Hit & Run. Fans of the movies or shows would probably find them fun, especially since so many places sell used games so cheap!

And my current fave, Heroes of the Pacific, plays like a period WWII movie and has a really cool replay feature.

Oh you mean like..."Not In The R's Trebeck?, That Not What your Mother Said" :p Sorry phil

John

No problem, I love Celebrity Jeopardy.

Having played it a lot more than when I posted that, feeble is a poor description. I do think, that for whatever reasons, Connery wasn't terribly enthusiastic about voice acting. There's a distinctly bored flavor to his performance that kind of reminds me of Harrison Ford's Blade Runner narration.I still think it's a great game though!Yes, they did a pretty good job of building on the plot of the movie and adding new things to it.
I've been impressed by many of the licensed games since I got a PS2Have you played 007 Everything or Nothing?

Qapla'

SSB

Yes, they did a pretty good job of building on the plot of the movie and adding new things to it.
Have you played 007 Everything or Nothing?

Qapla'

SSB

I have it, but haven't seriously tried it yet. I kind of got James Bonded-out a while back with all the Bond games, but after I finish FRWL I'll give it a serious try.

I actually enjoyed most of EA's Bond games immensely, though they tend to blur together because of the similiarities.

Have you tried Alias yet, Scott? It's a lot of fun if you are a fan of the show and enjoy the Bond gameplay, though it's not as challanging as the Bond games. Definately worth a rent or cheap used.

I do think, that for whatever reasons, Connery wasn't terribly enthusiastic about voice acting. There's a distinctly bored flavor to his performance that kind of reminds me of Harrison Ford's Blade Runner narration.I still think it's a great game though!They probably would have done better to get someone who does a good Connery impersonation. Like when they lost the soundtrack and had Anthony Hopkins dub the late Sir Laurence Olivier's voice in the restored "oysters and snails" scene in Spartacus. ;) ;)

They probably would have done better to get someone who does a good Connery impersonation. Like when they lost the soundtrack and had Anthony Hopkins dub the late Sir Laurence Olivier's voice in the restored "oysters and snails" scene in Spartacus. ;) ;)

YEAH the guy guy who does that ROTFLMAO Version of Sean on SNL! :jest:


John/Lonfan

YEAH the guy guy who does that ROTFLMAO Version of Sean on SNL! :jest:


John/Lonfan

I LOVE those skits! They kill me every time. Sean is dead on! :lol:

Have you tried Alias yet, Scott? It's a lot of fun if you are a fan of the show and enjoy the Bond gameplay, though it's not as challanging as the Bond games. Definately worth a rent or cheap used.I picked up a copy on the cheap -- I don't understand the negative reviews of it, especially in light of the (deserved) positive reviews of Everything or Nothing. The gameplay has a similar feel. It does do a good job of capturing the feel of the show, of which I was a big fan. After I finished the game, I later went back and watched some of the earlier seasons of the series -- virtually all (or maybe just all, period) of the gadgets Marshall supplies to Sydney in the game were actually used on the show. I'm not sure whether they were in the game first or on the show, though I'd bet on the latter.

Qapla'

SSB

Say, How was that Movie Where Sean Voiced the Dragon and the dragon Hung out with Dennis Quaid? Never saw it. iirc Connery has a line "I AM THE LAST ONE!!" I can't remember the Title though Also I thought he was Good in that film with Cathrine Zeta Jones (Well Her Sliding under the Motion Sensors was the best part! lol)


John/Lonfan

I picked up a copy on the cheap -- I don't understand the negative reviews of it, especially in light of the (deserved) positive reviews of Everything or Nothing. Qapla'

SSB

Battlestar Galactica got terrible reviews too, I love it. Yes, the missions are tough and there's no save points during the missions. But flying the Viper is a blast, and like Alias, BSG vets Richard Hatch and Dirk Benedict lend their voices to the game, as well as Dwight Shultz. And also like Alias, I picked it up for $6.99 at our CD Warehouse, which has some great deals on used games.

They probably would have done better to get someone who does a good Connery impersonation.

You're probably right, I mean what James Bond video game sound designer is going to tell Sean Connery his delivery is lackluster or that he doesn't sound like he did thirty years ago. And given Connery's age, it's probably very likely he's never played a video game and has no idea how bad voicework can sink a otherwise good game, not to mention he's seemed supremely uninterested in the whole Bond phenomona for decades now.

given Connery's age, it's probably very likely he's never played a video game and has no idea how bad voicework can sink a otherwise good game, not to mention he's seemed supremely uninterested in the whole Bond phenomona for decades now.It might also have something to do with this being a bit of a repeat performance for him -- he's already done most of the same lines for the movie. Some actors might find it hard to get deeply interested in that sort of thing.

Qapla'

SSB

It's not like he didn't make Thunderball twice...

This thread has complete derailed from the original topic - the 1954 CBS production of "Casino Royale."