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| 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) | |
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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!