How does Casino Royale use conventions of Film Noir?

Casino Royale, although classified as an action movie rather than a Film Noir, uses distinct conventions of the genre Noir in it's opening title sequence, as Noir is well renounced for it's dramatic, eventful and on edge openings, and therefore was used as a basis style for the opening of this film.

Below are some example screen shots of the James Bond Film Casino Royale.
                                                             Here is one of the first shots from the opening scene, and it is clear immediately that it has a film Noir genre feel to it. This idea is portrayed not only through the monochromatic colour , which because of the large number of  releases of black and white Noir films, has become associated with the genre, but it immediately feels like a noir film simply because of the deserted night time urban location which adds to the eerie and tense atmosphere created within the shot. The urban setting is used as it is a modern contemporary setting, and therefore makes the scene feel more realistic, and is the basis for the setting in many Noir Films such as 'The Third Man' and 'Double Indemnity.'
 The one alone standing street light and car are used here to create a sense of enigma, as we are unaware of who is alone at night, what they may be doing, or indeed why. Although floodlighting is used to light the scene from below, a street lamp is placed by the building so that the audience can clearly gather enough about the setting and the surroundings to know that it is in a modern deserted location. The use of lighting on the ground and darkness around the edge of the frame, as well as towards the top of the building subtly implies to the audience that whoever has left the car, has left the safety of the light which connotes safety, and goodness, and has unknowingly ascended to his own doom in the darkness, which could represent the fear of the unknown, and the danger the character has putting himself in.

The portrayal of characters in Noir are often misleading and leave the audience speculating about the role of the character within the film. This is shown here by the facial expression of a character in  the opening sequence, where the male appears to have a calm and collective facial expression, which because of the deviant situation he is in, makes the audience feel as if he has grown used to, and is untroubled by the prospect of being in an building alone where he appears he shouldn't be, at night by himself. This feeling of power is also enhanced by the other symbolic codes within the shot such as what the character is wearing. The character is dressed and presented in a smart suit which would imply the character is wealthy and has a high status in society, making him again seem more powerful. 
However, the director has chosen to make the audience question his power, as they have used a high angle shot which makes him appear weak and superior to the audience, along with his eyes which are looking up above him, which could have an interpreted meaning that he subconsciously is looking for guidance and advice, consequently meaning that he is not as in control of the situation as we first assume.

It is a frequent Film Noir feature to use obscured shots to make the audience feel more involved and to feel the moods and tones of the genre, such as the mystery, spying, deceit, lying, and betrayal that are so commonly the key themes in Film Noir films. This Film Noir quality is borrowed and used here, with the obscured shot with the chair placed in the foreground of the camera lens to make the audience feel as if their vision is partially blocked, and the fact that they cannot change the position they view the scene from along with the partially blocked view, makes the audience feel vulnerable, and therefore builds suspense as they are not fully aware of what is going on. This also as previously mentioned, makes the audience feel more involved as it makes them feel as if they are spying on the character. 
Low key lighting is also used here to add to the suspense that the audience may be feeling, as not much is made visible, and so the audience are effectively thrown into a dark room with seemingly ambiguous characters, adding to the terror the audience may already be feeling.
                                                                 

 Composition within Film Noir is usually very carefully selected to show a vibe or feeling to the audience, as well as from characters. This shot has used the rule of thirds to make the effect more dramatic upon the audience, by drawing their attention to the two characters at seemingly opposite ends of the frame. The audiences eyes are then drawn to the centre of the frame where they realise the vastness of the space that is between them, which highlights the level of distrust and suspicion that both characters have towards each other. Also, because of the way this shot is composed, the audience are unable to read the characters facial expressions, and are therefore unaware as to how they are reacting to one another, but have to use the composition of the shot to assess the situation and speculate about how they are feeling towards each other. This is again very Film Noir as the audience are left in the unknown about actions and feelings of the characters, and therefore are put on edge waiting for their response.


This shot is an example of how Casino Royale uses extreme lighting within it's shots to create an atmospheric Film Noir feel. The chiaroscuro lighting is used here to reflect the characters moral ambiguity, with half of his face exposed to the light, and the other half cast in extreme shadows. The side cast in shadows is left hidden and kept away from the audience to suggest that he has a dark, evil and corrupt side to him that he doesn't want to display to the audience, giving them the impression  that he is dangerous and potentially lethal as we do not know what he is hiding.
However, the side exposed to the lighting leaves the audience able to clearly see one half of him which is lit by strong artificial lighting, connoting that he has a good side to him, and that he is genuine and pure and has good intentions. The fact that he has more light than dark exposed on him would suggest that he is more good than he is bad, but it still reflects that he is not entirely innocent and pure and therefore is a morally ambiguous hero in this film. This is again supported by his hand, which is exposed by the light, and therefore supposedly his good side, holding a gun, which is not something we would think of as being morally right, but this could be interpreted that he has to use necessary evil to aid the good, and that is why he has his 'dark side.'


Guns are a common important prop used in Noir Films, and is one that is again used in the James Bond film- Casino Royale. The gun is used as an important symbol of power, and as we can not see as to whom the gun belongs to, the audience are not sure of who has the power within the scene, and therefore this shot is quite enigmatic as it keeps the audience guessing. This enigma is further carried on by the use of shot, as it is a close up so even if somebody were to take the gun, the audience would be left unaware of who it belonged to. Also, the way that it is positioned in the drawer suggests that no great care is taken with it as it is just left amongst other items, which means that the owner of the gun itself is used to using the gun and does not see it as a potential danger to themselves, which implies that they feel more powerful than the gun, which heightens the power that this unknown character has.
The use of the office draw in which the gun is placed in could also represent the double life that many of the characters in Casino Royale and Noir Films lead, as they all seem to have a dark side, which appears seemingly innocent (i.e the desk draw) but the other characters are unaware of what is lurking beneath their act.