Rather than a SMERSH assassin killing Le Chiffre, 1954’s Casino Royale has Barry Nelson’s James Bond take out the villain himself. The live television episode marked the first on-screen appearance of the iconic 007, following American agent James “Jimmy” Bond as he gambles against Soviet spy Le Chiffre in an attempt to make his leaders “ retire” him. The first official adaptation of Casino Royale wasn’t on the big screen, but rather as a 50-minute television installment of the anthology series Climax! in 1954.
