Thunderball screens this Thursday, April 21, at 7 PM at the Pickwick Theatre in Park Ridge. Doors open at 6 PM.
When two atomic bombs are stolen and held for ransom by the organization SPECTRE, Agent 007 is called into service. His search takes him to the Bahamas where he encounters SPECTRE’s Number Two, Emilio Largo. It’s a race against time when a U.S. city is threatened with atomic terrorism. The chase leads to a spectacular underwater confrontation between James Bond and the frogmen of SPECTRE.
James Bond mania reached its zenith with the release of 1965’s Thunderball, the fourth film in the franchise. The Bond craze was everywhere by the mid-sixties, from merchandising to knock-off movie imitations. Though the series has continued to the present-day, never again would a Bond film generate as much excitement. What makes the film so well remembered fifty years after its release is that it lives up to the hype.
In anticipation of our anniversary screening at the Pickwick Theatre, we’ve met many fans who have cited Thunderball as their favorite Bond movie. This is high praise considering it followed From Russia With Love and Goldfinger! Reasons why are varied. “It has the most beautiful Bond girls,” is one of the more frequent responses. Regardless of its critical ranking in the 007 pantheon, Thunderball remains the most successful film of the franchise.
The definitive Bond, Sean Connery.
James Bond author/historian Raymond Benson will be a guest on April 21 to discuss the film’s complicated genesis. The original story was based on an abandoned screenplay written by 007 creator Ian Fleming, along with Kevin McClory and Jack Whittingham. Their intent was to make Thunderball the first James Bond movie. When this plan fell through, Fleming turned the screenplay into another Bond novel in 1961. McClory immediately sued, claiming he owned the rights to the story with Fleming. The case was eventually settled out of court. In the wake of this legal issue and the incredible success of the early Bond films, Eon producers Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman made a deal with McClory in 1964. They would allow him a producing credit on Thunderball. This was done in order to avoid McClory making a competing Bond film, as would be the case twenty years later with Never Say Never Again (1983).
Luciana Paluzzi as villainess Fiona Volpe. She originally tested for the role of Domino (played by Claudine Auger). On Thursday night, Luciana will be sending us a special message for the Pickwick audience!
Thunderball was directed by Terence Young, a stylish British filmmaker who had already directed the first two Bond films. He was adept at mixing elegance with adventure, giving Thunderball a high gloss. The film benefits from beautiful locations in the Bahamas, spectacular underwater footage choreographed by Ricou Browning, and memorable set designs by production designer Ken Adam. Adam, who recently passed away at the age of 95, was one of the men most responsible for the look of the James Bond movies. His sets were never bland or static, but rather sophisticated and kinetic. Something was always moving in the frame, whether it was a giant map in Goldfinger or a Spectre agent’s electrified chair in Thunderball.
The famous Bell Rocket jet pack.
In addition, Thunderball features one of the best John Barry musical scores, a witty script by Richard Maibaum that balances the danger with the sex, and lush cinematography by Ted Moore (shot in the Widescreen Panavision format), which captures the romance of the West Indies. The film would win an Oscar for special effects by John Stears. With so many talents involved, Thunderball stands as a testament to the collaborative art of epic filmmaking.
Contact sheet with scenes from the movie.
