Thunderball (1965): Exotic Locations,
Beautiful Women and Action Galore

Thunderball is one of the most popular James Bond movies and is renowned for its spectacular underwater scenes. Sean Connery is Agent 007 and faces the menacing organisation known as SPECTRE.

The film is an adaptation of the Ian Fleming novel and features exotic locations, beautiful women, and plenty of action.

SPECTRE mastermind Emilio Largo (Celi), an international business executive, has devised a scheme to hijack nuclear bombs, hide them under the ocean and threaten to detonate the weapons unless a hefty ransom is paid.

James Bond heads to the Bahamas where he encounters Largo and meets the beautiful Domino Derval (Auger). Bond then has a race against time to recover the stolen weapons, culminating in a thrilling undersea action sequence.

Sir Tom Jones sung the theme song to Thunderball at the 2012 British Academy Film Awards marking fifty years of the James Bond movies.

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CAST

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 Home Secretary
Earl Cameron Pinder
Paul Stassino Angelo Palazzi
Rose Alba Madame Boitier
Philip Locke Vargas
George Pravda Ladislav Kutze
Michael Brennan Janni

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DIRECTOR

Terence Young

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TAG LINE

‘Look Up! Look Down! Look Out! Here comes the biggest Bond of all!’

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THEME SONG

‘Thunderball’ by Tom Jones

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LOCATIONS

Bahamas, England, France, USA.

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QUOTES

Bond: ‘Most girls just paddle around. You swim like a man’

Bond: ‘That gun, it looks more fitting for a woman.’
Largo: ‘You know much about guns, Mr. Bond?’
Bond: ‘No, but I know a little about women.’

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INTERESTING FEATURES

In Thunderball, a subsonic jet had gone down in the North Atlantic Ocean in the vicinity of the Caribbean loaded with two nuclear weapons. The menacing organisation known as SPECTRE then notified authorities that it had seized the aircraft’s atomic bombs.

It was a grave state of affairs for the British government, so MI6 summoned its leading agents - but it was Agent 007 who had a tip off. If a payment of £100 million was unpaid in one week, a key city in the United States or England would be destroyed.

James Bond arrived in The Bahamas with four days to go before the deadline. Here he came across a nasty criminal known as Emilio Largo, as well as a gorgeous retaliator, and a dangerously seductive woman.

James Bond and Domino Derval in The Bahamas

Great Clock of Westminster
As an indication of a promise to the conditions set down by SPECTRE, London's Big Ben struck seven times at 6pm.

Fiona Volpe
An assassin for SPECTRE, Fiona made sure irresponsible associates were eradicated and coordinated the capture of the jet aircraft.

Devious Association
Fiona Volpe had begun a relationship with Major Derval, a NATO pilot. She organised his murder in order for an agent from SPECTRE to imitate him and subsequently hijack a subsonic jet.

The agent then murdered the crew of the jet and proceeded to crash the plane in the ocean near the Caribbean.

Violent Abduction
Directed by the dangerous Vargas, Paula was apprehended by Fiona Volpe and Largo’s henchmen at her hotel, while Agent 007 was at a street party together with Domino.

Paula Caplan
James Bond was unable to save this MI6 agent from Palmyra, Largo’s residence. She had put her life on the line to protect 007 in his duty.

Domino Derval
Domino was the prize lover to Largo, and the sister of Major Derval, a pilot for NATO. She is the major girl in Thunderball, living a simple and relaxed lifestyle at Largo's exotic mansion in The Bahamas.

Claudine Auger is Domino Derval

Soon she became engrossed in 007 after growing tired of her protectors domineering behaviour. When she discovered that Largo was responsible for her brother’s death she wanted Bond to make sure he was killed.

The Final Waltz
James Bond came across the deceased body of Paula at the stately home of Largo. He then discovered Fiona Volpe in his bathroom at his hotel with the idea of ensnaring him.

Later as they danced in the open air she intended for him to die as they held each other. 007 however was quick thinking and turned her around to take the gun shot aimed for him.

Emilio Largo
The menacing Number Two of SPECTRE did not enjoying being defeated in any way - Agent 007 found this out when the pair ran into each other at a casino with Bond beating him at baccarat.

The main villain of Thunderball, Largo was the pompous owner of an enormous ego, a luxury seaside residence, and a magnificent cruise vessel.

Disco Volante
In Thunderball the luxurious Disco Volante was the base for Largo's operations. This was located off the Bermuda coast and looked like just a play toy owned by the affluent Emilio Largo.

Emilo Largo's vessel - the Disco Volante

In truth it was a craft controlled by a ferocious bandit - the 100 ton extravagant vessel was a stronghold resting on the ocean.

For SPECTRE’s grand proposal in stealing two nuclear weapons the boat was a vital part in the demand of a hefty ransom.

Vargas
Vargas had a great desire to arrange murders and enjoyed harming people - he was the favourite killer for Largo. After he endeavoured to kill Domino and James Bond on the beach he was subsequently spear gunned by Bond.

The Shark Pools
The villain’s shark pools were one of the more extreme and unusual characteristics of Palmyra, Largo’s lavish home. 007 was incredibly lucky to escape a vicious death after precariously meeting the sharks in the swimming pool.

However, the sharks were still able to have a great dinner after Bond swapped his place with one of Largo’s henchmen.

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