| Thunderball (1965) | |
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Rating: 6.9/10 (126,599 votes) Director: Terence Young Writer: Richard Maibaum, John Hopkins, Jack Whittingham Stars: Sean Connery, Claudine Auger, Adolfo Celi Runtime: 130 min Rated: PG Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller Released: 22 Dec 1965 |
| Plot: James Bond heads to the Bahamas to recover two nuclear warheads stolen by S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Agent Emilio Largo in an international extortion scheme. | |
With the fourth film we are reintroduced to the mysterious SPECTRE and their plans for world domination. Once again, their leader is referred to as Number 1 as he holds a meeting with his subordinates in a secret lair. But before we get to that we have a pre-credit segment which has Bond dispatching a spectre agent, which also introduces the jet-pack into Bond’s gadget array, and once more the classic DB5 gets to show off the bullet shield and rear spray. Yes, within five minutes it is clear that gadgets are becoming more important to the series with each additional film.
The film also has the first instance of a dubiously misguided scene, when Bond checks in for a medical. In this scene he practically forces himself upon the nurse giving him an exam, is strapped to a back-stretching machine which acts more like a sexual torture device, is almost humped to death on the table, and then, when the nurse worries that she could lose her job if the malfunction of the table is discovered, Bond basically blackmails her into having sex! The result is an uncomfortably ‘rapey’ scene which, in hindsight, is possibly one of the most unwise decisions so early in the franchise, and really shows how misogynistic the franchise was.
Despite this mis-step, this film is a fine example of the series at its best. The plot is strong, the action tight, and the main villain (Largo) another great addition to the lexicon of Bond baddies. The climactic battle between Largos men and the CIA in an underwater sequence is beautifully structured, and quite a cinematic achievement to choreograph so well. This segment is perhaps one of the most memorable in all of Bond history – no dialogue, just the thrilling music and staggeringly well-shot action melded together perfectly. The film takes its time building to this moment, being heavy on exposition early on in the proceedings, but it all pays off so well. It highlights that whist Bond may sometimes come across as a one-man army, it is when he is actually fighting alongside one that it really convinces and works. This film is certainly the most ambitious of the early films, and thankfully it all pays off. Maybe not as iconic as Goldfinger was, but this is easily the second best in the Connery era. After this film, it would all start to decline….
Extras wise on the Blu-ray release, we get yet more archive footage, promo materials, and various ‘making of’ and tv specials, all great additions, and offering some detail on the various versions of the film that have been shown through the years.
