Thunderball (1965)

Director:

Terence Young

Writers:

Richard Maibaum (screenplay) and
John Hopkins (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

29 December 1965 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Thriller

Tagline:

Look Out! Here Comes The Biggest Bond Of All! (British quad poster)

Plot:

James Bond heads to The Bahamas to recover two nuclear warheads stolen by SPECTRE agent Emilio Largo in an international extortion scheme.

Plot Keywords:

British | Extortion | Bahamas | Island | Fight

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Fri. Nov. 27

8:00 AM

SYFY

Cast

Sean Connery	...	James Bond
Claudine Auger	...	Domino Derval
Adolfo Celi	...	Emilio Largo
Luciana Paluzzi	...	Fiona Volpe
Rik Van Nutter	...	Felix Leiter
Guy Doleman	...	Count Lippe
Molly Peters	...	Patricia Fearing
Martine Beswick	...	Paula Caplan
Bernard Lee	...	M
Desmond Llewelyn	...	Q
Lois Maxwell	...	Miss Moneypenny
Roland Culver	...	Foreign Secretary
Earl Cameron	...	Pinder
Paul Stassino	...	Palazzi
Rose Alba	...	Madame Boitier
Philip Locke	...	Vargas
George Pravda	...	Kutze
Michael Brennan	...	Janni
Leonard Sachs	...	Group Captain
Edward Underdown	...	Air Vice Marshal
Reginald Beckwith	...	Kenniston
Harold Sanderson	...	Hydrofoil Captain
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Anthony Bailey	...	Radar Navigator (uncredited)
Gábor Baraker	...	SPECTRE #11 (uncredited)
Amelia Bayntun	...	Mrs. Karlski (uncredited)
Anthony Blackshaw	...	Sentry at RAF Base (uncredited)
Dana Broccoli	...	Woman Dancing at the Cafe Martinique (uncredited)
Courtney Brown	...	SPECTRE Diver (uncredited)
Ian Bulloch	...	SPECTRE Henchman (uncredited)
Clive Cazes	...	SPECTRE #9 (uncredited)
Cecil Cheng	...	SPECTRE #7 (uncredited)
Michael Culver	...	Vulcan Bomber Crewman (uncredited)
Bill Cummings	...	Quist (uncredited)
Anthony Dawson	...	Ernst Stavro Blofeld (uncredited)
Henry Ford II	...	Extra at the Nassau Casino (uncredited)
Jack Gwillim	...	Senior RAF Staff Officer (uncredited)
Neil Hallett	...	Vulcan Bomber Pilot (uncredited)
Diane Hartford	...	Girl in Kiss Kiss Club (uncredited)
Philo Hauser	...	Mr. Karlski (uncredited)
Patrick Holt	...	Group Captain Dawson (uncredited)
Suzy Kendall	...	Prue (uncredited)
George Leech	...	Disco Volante Crewman (uncredited)
André Maranne	...	SPECTRE #10 (uncredited)
Kevin McClory	...	Man Smoking at the Nassau Casino (uncredited)
Albert Michel	...	Priest at Bouvar's Funeral (uncredited)
Mitsouko	...	Madame LaPorte (uncredited)
Derek Partridge	...	Vulcan Bomber Crewman (uncredited)
Eric Pohlmann	...	Ernst Stavro Blofeld (voice) (uncredited)
Lloyd Reckord	...	Pinder's Assistant (uncredited)
Robert Rietty	...	Emilio Largo (voice) (uncredited)
Charles Russhon	...	Air Force Officer (uncredited)
Bill Sawyer	...	Ambulance Attendant (uncredited)
Bob Simmons	...	Colonel Jacques Bouvar - SPECTRE #6 (uncredited)
Philip Stone	...	SPECTRE #5 (uncredited)

Directed by
Terence Young

Writing credits
Richard Maibaum		(screenplay) and
John Hopkins		(screenplay)
Jack Whittingham		(original screenplay)
Kevin McClory		(original story) &
Jack Whittingham		(original story) and
Ian Fleming		(original story)

Produced by
Kevin McClory	....	producer
Albert R. Broccoli	....	producer (uncredited)
Harry Saltzman	....	producer (uncredited)
Stanley Sopel	....	associate producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
John Barry

Cinematography by
Ted Moore		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Ernest Hosler

Production Design by
Ken Adam

Art Direction by
Peter Murton

Set Decoration by
Peter Lamont		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Basil Newall	....	makeup artist
Paul Rabiger	....	makeup artist
Eileen Warwick	....	hairdresser

Production Management
David Middlemas	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gus Agosti	....	assistant director
Peter R. Hunt	....	second unit director (uncredited)
Richard Jenkins	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Freda Pearson	....	set dresser
Michael White	....	assistant art director
John Chisholm	....	property master (uncredited)
William Creighton	....	carpenter: Vulcan Bomber mock-up (uncredited)
Peter Lamont	....	chief draughtsman (uncredited)
Ron Quelch	....	production buyer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Maurice Askew	....	sound recordist
Harry Miller	....	dubbing editor
Bert Ross	....	sound recordist
Norman Wanstall	....	dubbing editor
Lionel Strutt	....	re-recording engineer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John Stears	....	special effects
Frank George	....	special effects (uncredited)
Garth Inns	....	special effects (uncredited)
Bert Luxford	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
James Snow	....	special effects (uncredited)
Jimmy Ward	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Cliff Culley	....	optical effects supervisor (uncredited)
Roy Field	....	visual effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Ray Andrew	....	stunt diver (uncredited)
Bernard Barnsley	....	stunts (uncredited)
Evelyne Boren	....	underwater sequences stunt double: Claudine Auger (uncredited)
Courtney Brown	....	stunt diver (uncredited)
Courtney Brown	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ian Bulloch	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tom Clegg	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tim Condren	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Cummings	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Dunne	....	stunts (uncredited)
Richard Graydon	....	stunts (uncredited)
Arthur Howell	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Leech	....	stunts (uncredited)
John McLaughlin	....	underwater sequences stunt double: Largo (uncredited)
Nosher Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Harold Sanderson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Sawyer	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jack Silk	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Simmons	....	stunt double: Guy Doleman (uncredited)
Bob Simmons	....	stunt double: Sean Connery (uncredited)
Bob Simmons	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Suiter	....	flying stuntman (uncredited)
Gordy Yeager	....	rocket belt pilot (uncredited)
Dick Ziker	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Lamar Boren	....	underwater cameraman: Underwater Sequences
John Winbolt	....	camera operator
Egil S. Woxholt	....	cameraman: second unit (as Egil Woxholt)
Ray Andrew	....	clapper loader (uncredited)
Oscar Barber	....	camera operator: second unit (uncredited)
Edmund Gibson	....	underwater photographer (uncredited)
Richard Moore	....	underwater camera operator (uncredited)
George Pink	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
John Brady	....	wardrobe master
Anthony Mendleson	....	wardrobe designer
Anthony Sinclair	....	suits: Sean Connery
Eileen Sullivan	....	wardrobe mistress

Editorial Department
Peter R. Hunt	....	supervising editor (as Peter Hunt)
Ben Rayner	....	assembly editor
Steve Cuiffo	....	negative cutter (uncredited)

Music Department
John Barry	....	conductor
Monty Norman	....	composer: The James Bond theme
Vic Flick	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)
Sidney Margo	....	music contractor (uncredited)

Other crew
Maurice Binder	....	title designer: main title
Albert R. Broccoli	....	presenter
Ricou Browning	....	underwater director: underwater sequences
Joan Davis	....	continuity girl
Frank Ernst	....	location manager
Huntington Hartford	....	Paradise Island sequences courtesy of (as Mr Huntingdon Hartford)
Jordan Klein Sr.	....	underwater engineer: Underwater Sequences (as Jordan Klein)
Harry Saltzman	....	presenter
Bob Simmons	....	action sequences by
Lamar Boren	....	double: Claudine Auger (uncredited)
Ian Bulloch	....	double: Sean Connery (uncredited)
Charles Russhon	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Ivan Tors	....	supplier: divers and diving equipment (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Eon Productions (as An Eon Production)

Distributors

• United Artists Corporation (1965) (UK) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1965) (USA) (theatrical) (released thru) (as United [UA] Artists)
• C.B. Films (1965) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1965) (Norway) (theatrical)
• Tuschinski Film Distribution (1965) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (as Nova)
• United Artists (1965) (Australia) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1965) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1965) (France) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1965) (Italy) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1971) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1974) (USA) (TV) (original airing) (pan/scan)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (1981) (USA) (TV) (cable television)
• RCA (1981) (USA) (video) (Selectavision videodisc)
• CBS/Fox Home Video (1983) (USA) (video)
• Warner Home Video (1983) (Australia) (video)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2000) (UK) (DVD) (Special Edition)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (Brazil) (DVD) (Special Edition)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (2006) (worldwide) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Australia) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (UK) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2000) (Australia) (DVD) (Special Edition)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (Greece)
• CBS/Fox (USA) (VHS)
• CBS/Fox (USA) (laserdisc)
• MGM Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (video)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD) (ultimate edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (1999) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (special edition)
• Warner Home Video (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Bahamas Ministry of Tourism  the producers are grateful to, for their co-operation (as the Ministry of Tourism of the Bahamas)
• Branwell Film Productions  location facilities arranged by (as Branwell Film Productions Limited {Bahamas})
• Royal Navy  the producers gratefully acknowledge the co-operation of (as the Royal Navy)
• Royal Air Force (RAF)  the producers gratefully acknowledge the co-operation of (as the Royal Air Force)
• United States Air Force, The  the producers gratefully acknowledge the co-operation of (as the United States Air Force)
• United States Coast Guard  the producers gratefully acknowledge the co-operation of (as the United States Coast Guard)
• The Gate Recording Theatre  sound recorded at
• Ivan Tors Underwater Studios  underwater sequences (as Ivan Tors Underwater Studios Ltd)

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)

Runtime:

130 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound 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) (passed with cuts)

Filming Locations:

Anet, Eure-et-Loir, France

Company:

Eon Productions

Trivia:

Stuntman Bill Cumming was paid a $450 bonus to jump into Largo's shark infested pool.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Largo releases the sharks into the main swimming pool, where they move to devour the henchman Bond has just killed, the normal behavior of the species should result in a feeding frenzy that would to some extent rile the waters of the pool and cause the cover over it (which Largo had closed to keep the men trapped underwater) to move noticeably, even violently. But when the scene above the pool is shown, the cover is nearly still, and in fact, virtually all signs of underwater movement quickly die away.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Madame LaPorte: The coffin - it has your initials: J.B.
Bond: At the moment, rather him than me.
Madame LaPorte: At least you've been saved the effort of removing him. Colonel Bouvar passed away in his sleep, so they tell me.
Bond: Mm...
Madame LaPorte: You sound disappointed you did not kill him yourself.
Bond: I am. Jacques Bouvar murdered two of my colleagues.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Blunderball, or from Dr. Nofinger with Hate (1966)

Soundtrack:

Thunderball

"I hope we didn't scare the fishes."

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!