UK, 1965
130m
35mm film, “filmed in Panavision”, “colour by Technicolor”, 2.35:1
mono, English
A British science fiction film directed by Terence Young.
Plot Summary
SPECTRE audaciously steals a pair of nuclear weapons by forcing a Vulcan bomber to crash into the sea off the Bahamas. James Bond is called in when the group holds the world to ransom, threatening to start World War III if their demands aren’t met in full.
Credits
* = uncredited
Crew
Directed by: Terence Young
Underwater Director: Ricou Browning
© Danjaq S.A.
United Artists Pictures Inc. [opening logo]. Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli present an Eon production. Released thru United Artists
Produced by: Kevin McClory; Albert R. Broccoli *, Harry Saltzman *
Screenplay by: Richard Maibaum and John Hopkins
Based on an Original Screenplay by: Jack Whittingham
Based on the Original Story by: Kevin McClory, Jack Whittingham and Ian Fleming
Director of Photography: Ted Moore
Supervising Editor: Peter Hunt
Editor: Ernest Hosler
Music Composed and Conducted by: John Barry
Song: “Thunderball” lyrics by Don Black, sung by Tom Jones
The James Bond Theme written by Monty Norman
Sound Recordists: Bert Ross, Maurice Askew
Wardrobe Designer: Anthony Mendleson
Make-up: Paul Rabiger & Basil Newall
Hairdresser: Eileen Warwick
Special Effects: John Stears, Frank George *
Main Title Designed by: Maurice Binder
Production Designed by: Ken Adam
Made on location in Paris and the Bahamas and at Pinewood Studios, London, England
Cast
Sean Connery (James Bond)
Claudine Auger (Domino)
Adolfo Celi (Largo)
Luciana Paluzzi (Fiona)
Rik Van Nutter (Felix Leiter)
Bernard Lee as ‘M’
Martine Beswick (Paula)
Guy Doleman (Count Lippe)
Molly Peters (Patricia)
Desmond Llewelyn (Q)
Lois Maxwell (Moneypenny)
Roland Culver (Foreign Secretary)
Earl Cameron (Pinder)
Paul Stassino (Palazzi)
Rose Alba (Madame Boitier)
Philip Locke (Vargas)
George Pravda (Kutze)
Michael Brennan (Janni)
Leonard Sachs (Group Captain)
Edward Underdown (Air Vice Marshal)
Reginald Beckwith (Kenniston)
Harold Sanderson (hydrofoil captain)
Suzy Kendall [Prue] *
Alternative Titles
Agente 007 i Ilden – Danish title
Agente 007 – Thunderball – Italian title
Åskbollen – Swedish title
Feuerball – German title
Operacion trueno – Spanish title
Operation Tonnerre – French title
Operazione tuono – Italian title
Links
Sequel to
Dr. No (1962)
From Russia With Love (1963)
Goldfinger (1964)
Sequels
You Only Live Twice (1967)
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)
Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
Live and Let Die (1973)
The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
Moonraker (1979)
For Your Eyes Only (1981)
Octopussy (1983)
A View to a Kill (1985)
The Living Daylights (1987)
Licence to Kill (1989)
GoldenEye (1995)
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
The World Is Not Enough (1999)
Die Another Day (2002)
Casino Royale (2006)
Quantum of Solace (2008)
Skyfall (2012)
Spectre (2015)
No Time to Die (2022)
Remake
Never Say Never Again (1983)
Extracts included in
Behind the Scenes With Thunderball (1995)
Happy Anniversary 007: 25 Years of James Bond (1987)
The James Bond Story (1999)
Premiere Bond: Die Another Day (2002)
Terence Young: Bond Vivant (2000)
The World of James Bond (1995)
References
Periodicals
Daily Express Saturday 18 July 2020 p.unpaginated – short review (Movies by Neil Batey)
Monthly Film Bulletin vol.3 no.385 (February 1966) p.20 – credits, synopsis, review
TV Times 31 December 1983 – 6 January 1984 p.31 – credits, synopsis, television data
Books
The Incredible World of 007 (2nd edition) by by Lee Pfeiffer pp.36-45, 146, 156 – illustrated article, synopsis
Kiss Kiss Bang! Bang!: The Unofficial James Bond Film Companion pp.44-55 – illustrated article, review, credits, synopsis
Reference Guide to Fantastic Films by Walt Lee p.493 – credits
Sean Connery by Robert Tanitch pp.67-71 – illustrated review, synopsis
