Fleming witnessed Popov win an “ outrageous” bet, and thus the inspiration for Bond was born. Popov played often played against Germans at Casino Estoril in the Portuguese Riviera. In 1941, Fleming shadowed Popov as he played a game of baccarat. In this role, Fleming liaised with many other military branches, including MI6. Bond himself, of course, is a member of MI6 in Fleming’s work.ĭuring World War II, Fleming served as a personal assistant to Rear Admiral John Godfrey, Director of Naval Intelligence of the Royal Navy.

He passed along disinformation to the Germans as a member of MI6, the Secret Intelligence Service. However, one influence that especially relates to Casino Royale comes in the form of Duško Popov, a Serbian double agent who served both the British and German governments during World War II. Let’s get one thing out of the way: no one man inspired Bond. Here’s a look at the real figures and stories that inspired Casino Royale.

This includes Fleming’s own experience in the service. Yet the film and Fleming’s novel were, in fact, inspired by real people and events. The plot of Casino Royale is wonderfully absurd. Of course, things don’t quite go as planned. The British government stakes him, thinking that if Bond beats Le Chiffre, he will have no choice but to accept asylum in the United Kingdom in exchange for information. Bond, fancying himself an excellent reader of people, buys-in too. After Bond foils one of the terror plots, Le Chiffre, who is a math genius, arranges a high-stakes poker game in Montenegro to win back his clients’ money. He takes their money and uses his insider knowledge to shorts stock and profit from terror events. Le Chiffre makes his living as a banker for terrorists. Some consider the film to be one of the franchise’s best. Eva Green plays Vesper and Mads Mikkelsen plays Le Chiffre. The 2006 version of the film stars Daniel Craig in his debut as Bond. Not for another thirty-nine years did the franchise’s inaugural story see a more “serious” adaptation as part of the series of films made by Eon Productions. David Niven plays Bond, Ursula Andress plays Vesper Lynd, and Orson Welles played Le Chiffre, the story’s chief antagonist. First, in 1967, when a group of five directors, including John Huston, created a parody film. Fleming’s novel has twice been adapted for the big screen.

Ian Fleming made history in 1953 when he published Casino Royale, the first of the novels to feature James Bond. This installment focuses on the true stories that inspired Casino Royale. Real Stories is an ongoing column about the true stories behind movies and TV shows.

Tortured Scene Casino Royale 1967