Movies have been influenced by casinos since the early days of Hollywood. Cinematic masterpieces such as Flames of Barbary Coast and the original Ocean’s Eleven were heavily centred around casinos and gambling. These movies portrayed suave and chic protagonists in the world of casinos in the 1940s and 50s. Back then, casinos were popular with a certain section of society but were not so mainstream, appearing in some movies and books but still considered a place for mobsters or the rich and famous.
Overtime, casinos gradually became more popular with people from all walks of life due to increased accessibility and general acceptance in society. Nowadays you can even whip out your phone or laptop and play for real money prizes in an online casino whenever and wherever you like. These developments were helped in no small part by their portrayal in movies like the ones above and also in other mainstream media.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the James Bond movie franchise. James Bond has always been influenced by classic casino themes, and we could see another casino inspired Bond film in the near future. Below, we’ll take a look at how casinos have influenced the James Bond franchise.
The Longevity of James Bond
The first James Bond movie came out in 1963 after being adapted from the novels written by Ian Fleming. James Bond is the longest continually running film series in history and is also one of the most well-known movie franchises in the world. Ever since Dr. No was released in movie theatres to critical acclaim, the Bond movies have continued to be cinematic hits with different generations of fans.
A big factor in their success is down to the casting and production value of the movies. From Sean Connery to Daniel Craig, and everyone in between, the main character of the series has always delivered a cool performance on the screen. The allure of the fast cars, sharp clothes and beautiful women has proven to be a recipe for success every time. Add to this the timeless appeal of casino glamour and it is easy to see why the series has remained popular to this day.
The Best Casino Scenes in James Bond
Some of James Bond’s greatest showcase moments were inside the casino when he was simply playing poker or blackjack. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the most iconic casino scenes in the Bond franchise.
DR. NO (1962)
The casino scene in Dr. No is considered one of the most iconic moments in the whole franchise. It begins with Bond playing a tense game at the Baccarat table, immediately grabbing the audience’s attention. Bond is then introduced as a hero by using the winnings from the game to bankrupt the main villain, Dr. No.
Diamonds are Forever (1971)
This Bond movie is one of the most famous and is popular with old and new fans alike. The plot revolves around Bond taking a trip to one of the most iconic casino destinations in the world, Las Vegas. Here, Bond must track down a diamond smuggler who he finds in a casino of all places.
There’s a common theme in each of the movies that casinos are used to create moments of tension and depict a key part of a character’s personality. To this day, Diamonds are Forever remains one of the most popular Bond movies in the series.
Casino Royale (2006)
Casino Royale turns the series on its head as we are introduced to a new James Bond (Daniel Craig). Bond defeats Le Chiffre and walks away with a huge jackpot of $115 million US Dollars.
Skyfall (2012)
Skyfall is one of the latest Bond movies in the franchise and features an incredibly memorable casino scene. The scene revolves around Bond playing against Raoul Silva in a highly tense game of poker. Bond seems to be losing for most of the game while Silva has the upper hand, however Bond manages to turn the game around and comes out with a victory in true heroic James Bond fashion.
The Influence of the Bond Movies on Casinos
While the casino industry has had a significant influence on the Bond franchise, the same can be said for the Bond franchise having a great impact on the popularity of casinos. Even today, in a lot of countries around the world gambling is seen as something shameful and is still illegal in many places. The Bond franchise introduced gambling as a high-class activity and helped bring casinos into the mainstream.