Thunderball (1965)

One of my all time favorites.

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

As Good As It Gets

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Movie Review: "007: Thunderball" (1965)After a fulminate success with the critics and in worldwide revenues of "Goldfinger" directed by Guy Hamilton, Producers Albert R. Broccoli (1909-1996) and Harry Saltzman (1915-1994) jump from a 3 Million Dollar budget to 9 Million Dollar for the fourth installment of a James Bond movie, yet creatively retreating to initial Director Terence Young (1915-1994) for his final assignment as "007" film director."Thunderball" has one of the most engaging title songs in the whole "007" movie series performed by Tom Jones emotionally enriching a classical eternal-feminine-inducted underwater opening credit sequence designed by job-reprising main title designer Maurice Binder (1925-1991). A promise to be fulfilled by the picture "Thunderball" that gives the audience less gadgets but a major conspiracy plot surrounding the crime syndicate "Spectre", when No.2 in hierarchy the character of Largo, performed strangle-holding and iron-handed leading antagonist actor Adolfo Celi (1922-1986), who has the ability to live up to a yacht-transforming, speed-boating showdown by confronting Sean Connery as once-again charm, coolness-bringing main character of James Bond.The production value shows off with major underwater sequences from recovering two nuclear warheads from the bottom of sea out of water-landed combat jet. James Bond follows the trail from health santorium to this picture's main location at Nassau, Bahamas sharing a summer feeling as the first action-oriented love interest for "007" in shape of actress Claudia Auger as the character of Domino; a sight to be seen for any spy-action-enjoying spectator of an first-encountered Holiday Season movie release for a Bond movie on December 21st 1965.Nevertheless the editorial of "Thunderball", with more than 20 minutes longer than "Goldfinger", weakens the picture with an overlong mission briefing that at this time shares no humour-given story-lifting acting beats between the character of James Bond and secretary Miss Moneypenny, portrayed by actress Lois Maxwell (1927-2007), while MI6 headmaster "M", performed by occasionally pale-looking actor Bernard Lee, who calls in for a major crisis meeting into another magnificiently scouted as dressed-up city hall location by production designer Ken Adam (1921-2016).© 2017 Felix Alexander Dausend (Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC)

James Bond (Sean Connery) heads to the Bahamas to recover two nuclear warheads stolen by SPECTRE agent Emilio Largo in an international extortion scheme.Of all the James Bond films, this one has one of the less-notable Bond girls. After passing on Julie Christie and Raquel Welch, we end up with Claudine Auger as Dominique "Domino" Derval. The character of Domino is interesting, but Auger is hardly well known. (Though fans of Italian horror may recognize her for Mario Bava's "Twitch of the Death Nerve".) Sean Connery is the definitive Bond, and this film shows us why. He is smooth and chats up the ladies in ways that no other Bond has. Sorry, Roger Moore. But it is the case.

Thunderball has be one of the greatest Bond films of all time. Sean Connery was firmly cemented in his role as 007 and played it to perfection. A number of elements need to be in place for an excellent Bond film. Besides a great actor it should contain a great plot, a good villain to pull of this plot, excellent supporting characters and good direction to ensure the film does not go astray. Thunderball contained all these elements and follows this formula after Goldfinger. Since a lot of this film is related to the sea and being under water it was quite enjoyable to watch some good action sequences under water. Despite being made in 1965 this film has aged very well and one can almost appreciate watching it today as one would have in the 1960s. Thunderball keeps you on the edge of your seat and time really went by fast in this iconic spy film.

Did anybody notice, what tragedy could have happened in the very last scene of this movie? When Bond and Domino are in the dinghy and he loosens the inflatable arrow, he does a lot of movements and finally embraces the girl ... If that scene were to continue uncut, Bond would loose - at least - an arm, if not worse ... In the scene before they are both lifted by the plane, the cable ends up under Bond's armpit which in turn embraces Domino ... He will be hanged by his shoulder an get shredded by the sudden tear of the wire ... He was luckier than ever ...