After over forty-five years and twenty-one movies, it’s hard to image Bond’s debut being anything, but memorable, but it wasn’t, at least on television. Broadcast for the CBS television network in 1954, “Casino Royale” a back-door pilot, it aired as an episode of “Climax Theater.” Actor Barry Nelson portrayed 007 as a boring Yankee known as “Jimmy Bond.” Ratings were terrible and interest in the James Bond television series was scrapped. James Bond seemed dead for awhile until the film rights to “Casino Royale”, Ian Fleming’s first James Bond novel, were soon sold off to producer Charles K. Feldman, who would eventually make the story into the awful 1967 Peter Sellers/David Niven/Woody Allen movie spoof. In 1958, the film rights to every other Bond novel were sold to EON productions, (Now owned and operated by daughter Barbara Broccoli and step-son Michael Wilson) save for “Casino Royale,” which was not purchased until 1999. EON Productions had rather strange beginnings as producers Albert “Cubby” Broccoli and Harry Saltzman started out as competitors chasing after the Bond movie rights. When neither could secure the rights independently, they decided on a partnership to bring James Bond to the big screen; a union that lasted until 1975, with Saltzman being bought out by Broccoli. After offering the title role to the likes of James Mason and David Niven, (both refused saying they were too old) Cary Grant finally accepted the part, but only if he could do one film. Wanting to do a series of films, the producers passed and settled on an unknown Scottish actor, Sean Connery, a 32 year-old former Mr. Universe and coffin polisher. The potential gamble paid off, as Connery won over audiences and Bond creator, Ian Fleming, who initially rejected him as the suave British Super Spy. A movie icon was born. Although the action would be considered too slow by today's standards, the film has a gloriously dark sense of humor and would change the action movie template forever. It's easy to see why Connery is still held in such regard as his first outing as 007, he's a calm, cool and very collected. We understand totally why woman want him and men want to be him. His most famous character moment is also his most jarring- as he shoots a man in cold blood, and then fires and extra bullet into for just for kicks. The franchise had yet to find its tone, as the film’s pacing is quaint and the Bond theme underscores the most mundane of actions-hey look, he's walking across the room! The larger-than-life elements show up, but are considerably understated with Joseph Wiseman (originally offered to playwright, Noel Coward who’s refusal read Dr. No? No! No!) as the human oil slick, Dr. Julian No, a Super Villain who plans on toppling U.S. missiles and of course plotting world domination from a less than conspicuous elaborate hi-tech hideout. No Q or gadgets in this outing, but Ursula Andres would set the paradigm for what exactly makes a Bond Girl. Hotter than a Mexican’s lunch, she became an icon as Honey Ryder, walking out of the ocean provoking Connery and the audience to go, WOW! John Barry's famous score rounds out the action and makes for an impressive debut. Although not my favorite Bond film, it's a must to check out if you are just now discovering the greatness of the Bond universe.