IMDb >
Thunderball (1965)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsThunderball (1965) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 81 | slideshow) |
Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
29 December 1965 (USA) moreTagline:
Look Out! Here Comes The Biggest Bond Of All! (British quad poster) morePlot:
James Bond heads to The Bahamas to recover two nuclear warheads stolen by SPECTRE agent Emilio Largo in an international extortion scheme. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
Won Oscar. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(30 articles)
Michael Sheen as Blofeld for Bond 23...? (From CinemaSpy. 17 June 2009, 12:10 PM, PDT)
Rare Movie Alert! Tonight's TCM Sean Connery Festival Includes Rare Showing Of "Woman Of Straw"
(From CinemaRetro. 8 May 2009, 6:26 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
"I hope we didn't scare the fishes." moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Sean Connery | ... | James Bond | |
| Claudine Auger | ... | Domino | |
| Adolfo Celi | ... | Largo | |
| Luciana Paluzzi | ... | Fiona | |
| Rik Van Nutter | ... | Felix Leiter | |
| Guy Doleman | ... | Count Lippe | |
| Molly Peters | ... | Patricia | |
| Martine Beswick | ... | Paula | |
| Bernard Lee | ... | 'M' | |
| Desmond Llewelyn | ... | 'Q' | |
| Lois Maxwell | ... | Moneypenny | |
| Roland Culver | ... | Foreign Secretary | |
| Earl Cameron | ... | Pinder | |
| Paul Stassino | ... | Palazzi | |
| Rose Alba | ... | Madame Boitier |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Ian Fleming's Thunderball (UK) (complete title)James Bond, Secret Agent (International: English title) (original script title)
Longitude 78 West (UK) (original script title)
more
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
130 minCountry:
UKLanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 moreSound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)Certification:
Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Iceland:12 | Singapore:PG | Germany:12 (DVD rating) | West Germany:16 (nf) | South Korea:15 | Brazil:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Canada:PG (video rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 (re-rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Peru:14 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG (video rating) (1987) | USA:Approved (original rating) | USA:GP (re-rating) (1970) | USA:PG (re-rating) (1994) | UK:A (original rating) (cut)Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The first outline for this movie was written by Ernest Cuneo on 27th May 1959. moreGoofs:
Continuity: When Bond arrives for the conference with M and the other officials, he leaves his hat in M's anteroom, as usual. Later on, after receiving his individual assignment, he's back in the anteroom where he remarks, "I think I had a hat when I came in." Indeed he had - so what happened to it? moreQuotes:
[first lines]French Woman: The coffin - it has your initials: J.B.
Bond: At the moment, rather him than me.
French Woman: At least you've been saved the effort of removing him. Colonel Bouvar passed away in his sleep, so they tell me.
Bond: Mm...
French Woman: You sound disappointed you did not kill him yourself.
Bond: I am. Jacques Bouvar murdered two of my colleagues.
more
Soundtrack:
Thunderball moreFAQ
Why does Largo wear an eye patch?How does the movie end?
What card game do Bond and Largo play?
more
more
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Thunderball (1965) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Never Say Never Again | Goldfinger | GoldenEye | On Her Majesty's Secret Service | The World Is Not Enough |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Action section | IMDb UK section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |












Out of the 20 official entries of the James Bond series (to date) "Thunderball" is often mentioned as 'the underwater one' and for a very good reason. It had big shoes to fill since the previous year's "Goldfinger" became a box-office phenomenon across the world. Although Thunderball was even more successful, there are debates on weather or not it was a better film. In this fan's opinion, it was.
Picking up after the most unusual pre-titles scene featuring MI6 secret agent James Bond meeting his match with a man in drag and escaping in a jet-pack, "Thunderball" features the most generic (and parodied) Bond plot: The international terrorist organization SPECTRE, led by a mysterious unseen cat stroking leader, hijacks two nuclear bombs for a huge extortion plan. James Bond (Sean Connery) is sent to Nassau where Domino Derval (Claudine Auger), the sister of the pilot who appears to be responsible for the theft, resides with her wealthy and older husband Emilio Largo (Adolfo Celi). Bond eventually finds out Largo himself is the eye patch wearing SPECTRE #2 and he is in charge of the nuclear warheads. Will he survive Largo's squad, including lethal assassin Fiona Volpe (Luciana Paluzzi), and a tank of sharks?
"Thunderball" is directed by Terence Young picking up after Guy Hamilton from the previous film. Young, who directed the first two films of the series, is certainly one of the most important filmmakers of the Bond saga. In the hands of some hack, "Thunderball" could have easily been an overlong boring disastrous attempt, but Young fills the screen with the same thrilling charm and glamour that made the first two Bonds so unique. The most cinematic of all Fleming novels, the movie is quite faithful to its source material while adding some welcomed changes (the character of Fiona Volpe for example) an therefore making it a more entertaining movie-going experience.
The action is mostly underwater and that is what usually divides fans of the series since some find them sleep-inducing. The special effects crew was awarded with a Best Special Effects Oscar in 1966 and for a very good reason. The film's extensive use of underwater photography was quite breath-taking for it's time. And the visual effects themselves are quite impressive, especially the explosion featured in the climax which shattered many windows in Nassau. Thunderball is based mostly on thrills than stunts, which is something recent Bond films should start to concentrate on. It is all well orchestrated to one of John Berry's most memorable contributions to the Bond saga. The '007 theme' is used at its best during the action sequences, especially during the climatic fight at Largo's yacht. The theme song, sung by Tom Jones, is one of the most memorable tunes of the series, although I prefer the original unused song "Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang".
Two usual standards of the series, villains and girls, are both filled quite successfully. Adolfo Celi is one of the most parodied villains (eye patch anyone?) but his portrayal of #2 is incredibly fun to watch. He is indeed a one-dimensional character, but a very memorable one. Claudine Auger is one stunning-looking woman and her acting skills are above average for the time. She is one of the most likable Bond girls around and her lack of clothing makes her quite heir apparent to Dr. No's Honey Rider in terms of sexiness. But Luciana Paluzzi steals the show with Fiona Volpe. She is the first Bond girl to stand up to the agent's charms (Pussy eventually gave up) and the psychotic look of rage in her eyes responding to Bond's macho insult is particularly memorable: 'But of course, I forgot your ego, Mr. Bond. James Bond, the one where he has to make love to a woman, and she starts to hear heavenly choirs singing. She repents, and turns to the side of right and virtue... (she steps on Bond's foot)... but not this one!' Volpe stands second only to Xenia Onatopp among the sexy girl villains.
This is the last time we see Connery at his best portraying 007 before he was eventually bored with the in later entries, particularly in "Diamonds are Forever". He indeed shows why he is considered by most fans to be the best among the Bonds. He has amazing screen presence and a suave charm of a sophisticated playboy that just makes every guy want to be him and every girl want to be with him.
One of my personal favourites and certainly on my top five, "Thunderball" is one of the most well rounded Bond adventures to date. Exotic locations, beautiful women, battle sequences, gadgets, suspense, terrific music, and a memorable villain add up to the best of the "popcorn" Bond movies. Terrific entertainment!