Burt Bacharach, Hal David

Manuscript page of the musical theme from the James Bond film Casino Royale.

• Burt Bacharach (American).
• Hal David (American).
• Theme from Casino Royale. 
• [New York], 1965 – 1967.
• One page, on 12-stave paper.
• This work is presented framed and glazed.

With autograph notes by the scriptwriter Wolf Mankowitz affixed to the back of the frame explaining his connection with the film in 1965–1966 (‘. . . It was a lunatic waste of talent and money and did no-one any good . . .’) and that this manuscript page was given to him by the composers [1965–1966]. A sketch written in pencil on three systems, each of four staves, with Hal David’s lyrics (‘ . . . Have no fear Bond is Here/He’s Gonna save the world’), headed ‘Main Title/Page 4.’

The film adaptation of Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale, with David Niven as the retired Sir James Bond and Peter Sellers, Woody Allen and Orson Welles playing a host of other characters, has generally provoked the kind of critical reaction suggested by the scriptwriter himself. Its most memorable and most lasting feature is certainly the well-known musical theme, partly scored for Herb Alpers and the Tijuana Brass and here represented by a page of the composers’ original sketch presented to British playwright Wolf Mankowitz.

The title track of Casino Royale went into the Top 40 as a single and was later released in the official soundtrack of the movie. The album is widely considered to be one of the best-engineered vinyl press of all time and is very much sought after by collectors. Dynamics and notations by Bacharach are clearly visible and offer an insight into a veritable genius’ mind.