THUNDERBALL
UK, 1965, 130 minutes, Colour.
Sean Connery, Claudine Auger, Adolfo Celi, Luciana Paluzzi, Rik Van Nutter, Guy Doleman, Molly Peters, Martine Beswick, Bernard Lee, Desmond Llewelyn, Lois Maxwell, Roland Culver, Earl Cameron.
Directed by Terence Young.
Thunderball was the fourth in the film series of 007 action features. It was directed by Terence Young who also directed Dr No and From Russia With Love. Young had directed a number of British films in the 1950s including That Lady and The Red Beret but became an international director with Dr No?. Other films he directed include Wait Until Dark and Mayerling.
This is the last film more strongly based on an Ian Fleming novel. The next film, You Only Live Twice, began to expand the stories and rely much more on special effects. It also expanded the storylines to include much wider world conspiracies than the previous films. However, Thunderball won an Oscar for its special effects and action sequences.
Adolfo Celi is the villain, Largo, assisted by Luciana Paluzzi as Fiona. The usual backing of 007 is there with Bernard Lee as M and Desmond Llewelyn as Q, Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny. Some veteran British actors including Roland Culver appear as the British government representatives. The leading lady is Claudine Auger who also appeared in Terence Young’s Triple Cross.
The film is standard James Bond material, Sean Connery doing his suave thing.
1.The perennial popularity of the James Bond series? The contribution of Thunderball?
2.Ian Fleming’s work, his envisioning of James Bond? Sean Connery as the embodiment of James Bond during the 1960s? His particular manner, style – and Scottish accent?
3.The lavish production values, the variety of scenery? The action sequences? The underwater photography?
4.James Bond, his background, the opening, the pursuit, his outwitting his enemies? His being called in by M? His job? The investigation of Largo? Insinuating himself into Largo’s entourage? The encounters with Fiona? The encounters with Domino, her brother, her wanting vengeance? Helping him in the showdown with Largo? Killing Largo? The work with Felix Leiter? The encounter with Count Lippe, his death? Paula and her help – and her death? In the hospital, the liaison with Patricia? The clash with Fiona, her capturing him? His confronting her, her death? The time for discovering the whereabouts of the bombs? Bond and his wits, his action? The finale?
5.Largo, villain, his entourage? His personality? With Fiona, her style? The capturing of the bombs? His hiding them? The boat, the plan for the blackmail of the government? Recovering the bombs? The encounters with Bond, his killing Domino’s brother? The confrontation and his death?
6.The plausibility of the basic plot, the training of the substitute pilot, the killing of Duval? His substitute? The stealing of the bombs under the nose of the British? Landing underwater? Storing them? The plan, the blackmail and the contact with the government? The government meetings, the reactions, the Foreign Secretary, M? Bond and his mission?
7.Felix Leiter, the friendship with Bond, the CIA, helping in rescuing Bond, discovery of information?
8.The popular Bond ingredients? The variety of countries for action? The underwater chases? Fight? Bond living to fight another day?
