Thunderball (1965): 4th Bond Movie
Thunderball is the fourth official Bond film. The role of agent 007 was once again played by Sean Connery.
Plot
James Bond is called into action to discover and retrieve two atomic bombs seized by the criminal organization SPECTRE. SPECTRE managed to steal the bombs from the NATO alliance after a long-planned operation, in which a pilot, Angelo Palazzi, poses as French pilot Françoise Derval.
To perfect the conspiracy, Angelo Palazzi underwent plastic surgery and studied Françoise Derval's behavior. He kills Derval and takes his place in the aircraft. After a pre-planned sabotage, the aircraft carrying the two nuclear bombs is sunk near the Bahamas.
SPECTRE intends to use the bombs to blackmail Great Britain and the USA. They demand a ransom of 100 million pounds in diamonds in exchange for not destroying an unspecified city in England or the USA. It was later revealed that the target would have been Miami.
Bond's investigation leads him to the Bahamas, where he encounters Emilio Largo, number 2 in the SPECTRE organization. Once again, James Bond is assisted by his CIA colleague Felix Leiter and, of course, by the Bond girl Domino, who is Largo's mistress.
Bond's search culminates in an underwater battle with Largo's henchmen. Thunderball was the first Bond film to run for over two hours, with more than a quarter of it taken up by underwater scenes.
Originally, Thunderball was supposed to be the first Bond film shot in 1962. However, the film was plagued by copyright disputes from the beginning, so Dr. No was given priority.
Thunderball also received a remake in the form of the film Never Say Never Again (1983), although the film is considered unofficial as its producer was Warner Bros (only films from Eon Productions are considered official Bond films).
Bond Song
The title song for the fourth Bond film, Thunderball, holds a special place in the franchise's musical history. Sung by the legendary Tom Jones, the song is a powerful and dynamic anthem that perfectly captures the high-octane energy and suspense of the film.
Tom Jones' robust and soulful vocals soar over the driving rhythm and bold brass instrumentation, creating a sense of excitement and anticipation. The song's lyrics evoke themes of danger, intrigue, and seduction, reflecting the thrilling adventures of James Bond as he embarks on his latest mission.
With its electrifying sound and undeniable charisma, Thunderball by Tom Jones has become synonymous with the Bond franchise, standing as a timeless classic that continues to resonate with audiences worldwide. It's a testament to the enduring legacy of both the film series and the incomparable talent of Tom Jones himself.
Cast
| Role | Actor | Role Description |
|---|---|---|
| James Bond | Sean Connery | The main character, a British MI6 secret agent. |
| Dominique "Domino" Derval | Claudine Auger | A woman who becomes Bond's main ally during the mission. |
| M | Bernard Lee | The head of the British MI6 secret service. |
| Moneypenny | Lois Maxwell | M's assistant. |
| Q | Desmond Llewelyn | A technical expert who provides Bond with special equipment. |
| Felix Leiter | Rik van Nutter | An American CIA agent and Bond's ally. |
| Ernst Stavro Blofeld | Anthony Dawson | The head of the criminal organization SPECTRE. |
| Emilio Largo | Adolfo Celi | Blofeld's right-hand man and the main villain in the story. |
| François Derval / Angelo Palazzi | Paul Stassino | A mercenary and Derval's stand-in, who is used in the planned rocket abduction. |
| Fiona Volpe | Luciana Paluzzi | A deadly SPECTRE agent who attempts to kill Bond. |
| Count Lippe | Guy Doleman | A fraudster and important member of Largo's group. |
| Vargas | Philip Locke | A ruthless and dangerous member of Largo's group. |
| Ladislav Kutze | George Pravda | A German scientist abducted by SPECTRE. |
| Paula Caplan | Martine Beswick | A fraudster and important member of Largo's group. |
| Patricia Fearing | Molly Peters | A housekeeper who has a brief relationship with Bond. |
| Mademoiselle La Porte | Maryse Guy Mitsouko | A woman who works at the clinic where agents recuperate. |
You Might Be Also Interested
- 3rd Bond Movie: Goldfinger (1964) ← → 5th Bond Movie: You Only Live Twice (1967);
- Bond Films: Stories of James Bond, Agent 007
- All Bond Songs: Iconic Title Songs From Bond Films
- Movies With Casino Themes and Betting.
Based on the original Czech article: Thunderball (1965) – 4. bondovka.