Thunderball (film)
Thunderball 
Theatrical release poster by Robert McGinnis and Frank McCarthyDirected by Terence Young Produced by Kevin McClory Screenplay by Richard Maibaum
John Hopkins Based on Screenplay
by Jack Whittingham
Story
by Kevin McClory
Jack Whittingham
Ian Fleming Starring Sean Connery
Claudine Auger
Adolfo Celi
Luciana Paluzzi
Rik Van Nutter Music by John Barry Cinematography Ted Moore Edited by Peter Hunt
Ernest Hosler Production
company Distributed by United Artists Release date - 9 December 1965 (Tokyo, premiere)
- 21 December 1965 (United States)
- 29 December 1965 (United Kingdom)
Running time 130 minutes Country United Kingdom Language English Budget $9 million Box office $141.2 million
Thunderball is a 1965 British spy film and the fourth in the James Bond series produced by Eon Productions, starring Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. It is an adaptation of the 1961 novel of the same name by Ian Fleming, which in turn was based on an original story by Kevin McClory, Jack Whittingham, and Fleming. It was the third and final Bond film to be directed by Terence Young, with its screenplay by Richard Maibaum and John Hopkins. The movie would have been the first of the Bond series if not for legal disputes over copyright issues.[1]
The film follows Bond's mission to find two NATO atomic bombs stolen by SPECTRE, which holds the world to ransom for £100 million in diamonds, in exchange for not destroying an unspecified major city in either the United Kingdom or the United States (later revealed to be Miami). The search leads Bond to the Bahamas, where he encounters Emilio Largo, the card-playing, eye patch-wearing SPECTRE Number Two. Backed by CIA agent Felix Leiter and Largo's mistress, Domino Derval, Bond's search culminates in an underwater battle with Largo's henchmen. The film had a complex production, with four different units and about a quarter of the film consisting of underwater scenes.[2] Thunderball was the first Bond film shot in widescreen Panavision and the first to have a running time of over two hours.
Thunderball was associated with a legal dispute in 1961 when former Ian Fleming collaborators McClory and Whittingham sued him shortly after the 1961 publication of the novel, claiming he based it upon the screenplay the trio had written in a failed cinematic translation of James Bond. The lawsuit was settled out of court and Bond film series producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, fearing a rival McClory film, allowed him to retain certain screen rights to the novel's story, plot, and characters,[3] and for McClory to receive sole producer credit on this film; Broccoli and Saltzman instead served as executive producers.[4]
The film was a success, earning a total of $141.2 million worldwide, exceeding the earnings of the three previous Bond films. In 1966, John Stears won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects[5] and production designer Ken Adam was also nominated for a BAFTA award.[6] Thunderball is the most financially successful film of the series in North America when adjusting for ticket price inflation.[7] Some critics and viewers praised the film and branded it a welcome addition to the series, while others found the aquatic action repetitious and the film's length excessive. In 1983, Warner Bros. released a second film adaptation of the novel under the title Never Say Never Again, with McClory as executive producer.
| Thunderball | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster by Robert McGinnis and Frank McCarthy | |
| Directed by | Terence Young |
| Produced by | Kevin McClory |
| Screenplay by | Richard Maibaum John Hopkins |
| Based on | Screenplay by Jack Whittingham Story by Kevin McClory Jack Whittingham Ian Fleming |
| Starring | Sean Connery Claudine Auger Adolfo Celi Luciana Paluzzi Rik Van Nutter |
| Music by | John Barry |
| Cinematography | Ted Moore |
| Edited by | Peter Hunt Ernest Hosler |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
|
Running time | 130 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $9 million |
| Box office | $141.2 million |
Thunderball is a 1965 British spy film and the fourth in the James Bond series produced by Eon Productions, starring Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. It is an adaptation of the 1961 novel of the same name by Ian Fleming, which in turn was based on an original story by Kevin McClory, Jack Whittingham, and Fleming. It was the third and final Bond film to be directed by Terence Young, with its screenplay by Richard Maibaum and John Hopkins. The movie would have been the first of the Bond series if not for legal disputes over copyright issues.[1]
The film follows Bond's mission to find two NATO atomic bombs stolen by SPECTRE, which holds the world to ransom for £100 million in diamonds, in exchange for not destroying an unspecified major city in either the United Kingdom or the United States (later revealed to be Miami). The search leads Bond to the Bahamas, where he encounters Emilio Largo, the card-playing, eye patch-wearing SPECTRE Number Two. Backed by CIA agent Felix Leiter and Largo's mistress, Domino Derval, Bond's search culminates in an underwater battle with Largo's henchmen. The film had a complex production, with four different units and about a quarter of the film consisting of underwater scenes.[2] Thunderball was the first Bond film shot in widescreen Panavision and the first to have a running time of over two hours.
Thunderball was associated with a legal dispute in 1961 when former Ian Fleming collaborators McClory and Whittingham sued him shortly after the 1961 publication of the novel, claiming he based it upon the screenplay the trio had written in a failed cinematic translation of James Bond. The lawsuit was settled out of court and Bond film series producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, fearing a rival McClory film, allowed him to retain certain screen rights to the novel's story, plot, and characters,[3] and for McClory to receive sole producer credit on this film; Broccoli and Saltzman instead served as executive producers.[4]
The film was a success, earning a total of $141.2 million worldwide, exceeding the earnings of the three previous Bond films. In 1966, John Stears won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects[5] and production designer Ken Adam was also nominated for a BAFTA award.[6] Thunderball is the most financially successful film of the series in North America when adjusting for ticket price inflation.[7] Some critics and viewers praised the film and branded it a welcome addition to the series, while others found the aquatic action repetitious and the film's length excessive. In 1983, Warner Bros. released a second film adaptation of the novel under the title Never Say Never Again, with McClory as executive producer.
Contents
Plot[edit]
SPECTRE operative Emilio Largo devises a plan to have NATO be held for ransom by hijacking two atomic bombs from an Royal Air Force (RAF) Avro Vulcan strategic jet bomber during a training exercise. To facilitate Largo's plans, SPECTRE operative Count Lippe recruits Angelo Palazzi to oversee the theft of the bombs, and with help from SPECTRE agent Fiona Volpe, has him surgically alter his face to match that of French Air Force pilot François Derval, who is assisting in the exercise. Volpe and Angelo eliminate the real Derval, while they are staying at the Shrublands health resort, only for the latter to demand more money. Fiona acquiesces, merely to have him continue with their operation. Following the plan, Angelo successfully hijacks the bomber, killing its crew, and lands it into shallow waters within the Bahamas. While the bombs are recovered by his men, Largo murders Angelo for reneging on his original deal with SPECTRE.
British secret agent James Bond, recuperating at Shrublands after a previous assignment, notices Lippe's presence and keeps him under observation, discovering Derval's body. Upon being urgently recalled back to London, Bond finds himself targeted by Lippe for trying to interfere. Before he can defend himself, Lippe is killed by Fiona for nearly jeopardizing Largo's scheme. Once back in London, Bond learns that all 00 agents are being put on high alert following the theft of the bombs, after being informed a major city in the United States or the United Kingdom will be destroyed unless £100 million is paid to SPECTRE within seven days. While in talks with M on his assignment, Bond requests he be assigned to Nassau, Bahamas, to contact Derval's sister Domino, after recognising Derval from the photo given to the agents in their main briefing as the body he found at the resort.
Bond meets with Domino, who he learns is the mistress of Largo when he visits a local casino. Both men recognise each other as adversaries and engage in a tense cat-and-mouse game while still pretending ignorance of each other's true nature. Following their initial meeting, Bond meets with his friend, CIA agent Felix Leiter, fellow agent Paula Caplan, and MI6 quartermaster Q, to receive equipment to help with finding the bombs, including an underwater infrared camera and miniature underwater breathing apparatus. Investigating Largo's ship, Disco Volante, he notices an underwater hatch beneath her that intrigues him. The next day, he visits Largo at his estate during the night, only to find that Paula had been abducted and committed suicide before she could talk. Forced to escape and killing Volpe in the process, Bond evades Largo's men during a Junkanoo celebration.
Suspecting the bombs were brought to the area, Bond and Felix search for the Vulcan and find it camouflaged underwater, along with the body of Angelo. Upon returning to the island, Bond reveals to Domino that her brother was killed by Largo and gets her to help him search Disco Volante. However, Largo catches her in the act and has her imprisoned. Meanwhile, Bond replaces one of Largo's men, as SPECTRE prepares to move the bombs, and manages to learn where one of them is being moved to before being forced to escape. Contacting Felix, the pair gets the U.S. Navy to intercept Disco Volante and recover one of the bombs. Bond pursues Largo, and grabs hold of Disco Volante as she sheds the rear half to become a hydrofoil to escape. Bond gets on deck, defeats Largo's men and fights Largo, but Largo gets the upper hand and is about to shoot Bond, when Domino kills Largo in revenge after his hired nuclear physicist frees her. The group quickly flee Disco Volante moments before she is destroyed, whereupon Bond and Domino are retrieved by a plane with the Fulton system.
SPECTRE operative Emilio Largo devises a plan to have NATO be held for ransom by hijacking two atomic bombs from an Royal Air Force (RAF) Avro Vulcan strategic jet bomber during a training exercise. To facilitate Largo's plans, SPECTRE operative Count Lippe recruits Angelo Palazzi to oversee the theft of the bombs, and with help from SPECTRE agent Fiona Volpe, has him surgically alter his face to match that of French Air Force pilot François Derval, who is assisting in the exercise. Volpe and Angelo eliminate the real Derval, while they are staying at the Shrublands health resort, only for the latter to demand more money. Fiona acquiesces, merely to have him continue with their operation. Following the plan, Angelo successfully hijacks the bomber, killing its crew, and lands it into shallow waters within the Bahamas. While the bombs are recovered by his men, Largo murders Angelo for reneging on his original deal with SPECTRE.
British secret agent James Bond, recuperating at Shrublands after a previous assignment, notices Lippe's presence and keeps him under observation, discovering Derval's body. Upon being urgently recalled back to London, Bond finds himself targeted by Lippe for trying to interfere. Before he can defend himself, Lippe is killed by Fiona for nearly jeopardizing Largo's scheme. Once back in London, Bond learns that all 00 agents are being put on high alert following the theft of the bombs, after being informed a major city in the United States or the United Kingdom will be destroyed unless £100 million is paid to SPECTRE within seven days. While in talks with M on his assignment, Bond requests he be assigned to Nassau, Bahamas, to contact Derval's sister Domino, after recognising Derval from the photo given to the agents in their main briefing as the body he found at the resort.
Bond meets with Domino, who he learns is the mistress of Largo when he visits a local casino. Both men recognise each other as adversaries and engage in a tense cat-and-mouse game while still pretending ignorance of each other's true nature. Following their initial meeting, Bond meets with his friend, CIA agent Felix Leiter, fellow agent Paula Caplan, and MI6 quartermaster Q, to receive equipment to help with finding the bombs, including an underwater infrared camera and miniature underwater breathing apparatus. Investigating Largo's ship, Disco Volante, he notices an underwater hatch beneath her that intrigues him. The next day, he visits Largo at his estate during the night, only to find that Paula had been abducted and committed suicide before she could talk. Forced to escape and killing Volpe in the process, Bond evades Largo's men during a Junkanoo celebration.
Suspecting the bombs were brought to the area, Bond and Felix search for the Vulcan and find it camouflaged underwater, along with the body of Angelo. Upon returning to the island, Bond reveals to Domino that her brother was killed by Largo and gets her to help him search Disco Volante. However, Largo catches her in the act and has her imprisoned. Meanwhile, Bond replaces one of Largo's men, as SPECTRE prepares to move the bombs, and manages to learn where one of them is being moved to before being forced to escape. Contacting Felix, the pair gets the U.S. Navy to intercept Disco Volante and recover one of the bombs. Bond pursues Largo, and grabs hold of Disco Volante as she sheds the rear half to become a hydrofoil to escape. Bond gets on deck, defeats Largo's men and fights Largo, but Largo gets the upper hand and is about to shoot Bond, when Domino kills Largo in revenge after his hired nuclear physicist frees her. The group quickly flee Disco Volante moments before she is destroyed, whereupon Bond and Domino are retrieved by a plane with the Fulton system.
Cast[edit]
- Sean Connery as James Bond: An MI6 agent assigned to retrieve two stolen nuclear weapons
- Claudine Auger as Domino (voice dubbed by Nikki van der Zyl):[8] Dominique "Domino" Derval is Largo's mistress. In early drafts of the screenplay, Domino's name was Dominetta Palazzi. When Claudine Auger was cast as Domino, the name was changed to Derval to reflect her nationality.[9] The character's wardrobe reflects her name, as she is usually dressed in black and/or white.
- Adolfo Celi as Emilio Largo (voice dubbed by Robert Rietty):[10] SPECTRE's Number Two, he creates a scheme to steal two atomic bombs.
- Luciana Paluzzi as Fiona Volpe: SPECTRE assassin who becomes Derval's mistress to kill and replace him with his double and later aids with Largo's plot in Nassau.
- Rik Van Nutter as Felix Leiter: CIA agent who helps Bond
- Guy Doleman as Count Lippe: the SPECTRE agent (ranked Number Four) in charge of the operation of replacing Derval with Angelo.
- Molly Peters (voice dubbed by Barbara Jefford) as Patricia Fearing: A physiotherapist at the health clinic
- Martine Beswick as Paula Caplan: Bond's CIA ally in Nassau who is kidnapped by Vargas and Janni and then commits suicide
- Bernard Lee as "M": Head of MI6
- Desmond Llewelyn as "Q": MI6's quartermaster, he supplies Bond with multipurpose vehicles and gadgets useful for the latter's missions.
- Lois Maxwell as Moneypenny: M's secretary
- Roland Culver as the Foreign Secretary: British Minister who briefs the "00" agents for Operation Thunderball and has doubts about Bond's efficiency
- Earl Cameron as Pinder: Bahaman intelligence operative who serves as Bond and Leiter's contact in Nassau.
- Paul Stassino as François Derval / Angelo Palazzi (credited for Palazzi): François Derval is a French Air Force pilot assigned to the NATO staff and also Domino's brother. He is killed by Angelo, who impersonates him. Angelo hijacks the jet but is killed by Largo for trying to extort more money.
- Rose Alba as Madame Boitier, purportedly the widow of SPECTRE Number Six, Colonel Jacques Bouvar. In reality, 'she' is Bouvar, and is played by Bob Simmons.
- Philip Locke as Vargas: Largo's personal assistant and primary henchman.
- George Pravda as Ladislav Kutze: A nuclear physicist, he aids Largo with the captured bombs, but when Largo disregards the authorities firing on them, he pities and rescues Domino.
- Michael Brennan as Janni: one of Largo's henchmen, usually paired with Vargas
- Leonard Sachs as Group Captain Prichard, Bond's RAF liaison during Operation Thunderball.
- Edward Underdown as Air Vice Marshal, a senior RAF officer who briefs the 00 agents on the range of the missing Vulcan and its disappearance
- Reginald Beckwith as Kenniston, the Home Secretary's assistant.
- Harold Sanderson as Hydrofoil Captain
- Sean Connery as James Bond: An MI6 agent assigned to retrieve two stolen nuclear weapons
- Claudine Auger as Domino (voice dubbed by Nikki van der Zyl):[8] Dominique "Domino" Derval is Largo's mistress. In early drafts of the screenplay, Domino's name was Dominetta Palazzi. When Claudine Auger was cast as Domino, the name was changed to Derval to reflect her nationality.[9] The character's wardrobe reflects her name, as she is usually dressed in black and/or white.
- Adolfo Celi as Emilio Largo (voice dubbed by Robert Rietty):[10] SPECTRE's Number Two, he creates a scheme to steal two atomic bombs.
- Luciana Paluzzi as Fiona Volpe: SPECTRE assassin who becomes Derval's mistress to kill and replace him with his double and later aids with Largo's plot in Nassau.
- Rik Van Nutter as Felix Leiter: CIA agent who helps Bond
- Guy Doleman as Count Lippe: the SPECTRE agent (ranked Number Four) in charge of the operation of replacing Derval with Angelo.
- Molly Peters (voice dubbed by Barbara Jefford) as Patricia Fearing: A physiotherapist at the health clinic
- Martine Beswick as Paula Caplan: Bond's CIA ally in Nassau who is kidnapped by Vargas and Janni and then commits suicide
- Bernard Lee as "M": Head of MI6
- Desmond Llewelyn as "Q": MI6's quartermaster, he supplies Bond with multipurpose vehicles and gadgets useful for the latter's missions.
- Lois Maxwell as Moneypenny: M's secretary
- Roland Culver as the Foreign Secretary: British Minister who briefs the "00" agents for Operation Thunderball and has doubts about Bond's efficiency
- Earl Cameron as Pinder: Bahaman intelligence operative who serves as Bond and Leiter's contact in Nassau.
- Paul Stassino as François Derval / Angelo Palazzi (credited for Palazzi): François Derval is a French Air Force pilot assigned to the NATO staff and also Domino's brother. He is killed by Angelo, who impersonates him. Angelo hijacks the jet but is killed by Largo for trying to extort more money.
- Rose Alba as Madame Boitier, purportedly the widow of SPECTRE Number Six, Colonel Jacques Bouvar. In reality, 'she' is Bouvar, and is played by Bob Simmons.
- Philip Locke as Vargas: Largo's personal assistant and primary henchman.
- George Pravda as Ladislav Kutze: A nuclear physicist, he aids Largo with the captured bombs, but when Largo disregards the authorities firing on them, he pities and rescues Domino.
- Michael Brennan as Janni: one of Largo's henchmen, usually paired with Vargas
- Leonard Sachs as Group Captain Prichard, Bond's RAF liaison during Operation Thunderball.
- Edward Underdown as Air Vice Marshal, a senior RAF officer who briefs the 00 agents on the range of the missing Vulcan and its disappearance
- Reginald Beckwith as Kenniston, the Home Secretary's assistant.
- Harold Sanderson as Hydrofoil Captain
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