Loved Thunderball - saw it when I was 13 in 1966. I stayed in the theater to see it 3 times, then went back a week or 2 later to see it 3 more times. Claudine Auger is my favorite Bond Girl - what a stunningly beautiful woman! While I think Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig did commendable jobs playing James Bond, nobody in my book comes even close to the outstanding job Sean Connery did. Having Connery play Bond was the most perfect casting decision in the history of cinema IMO.
They were the good ol days when you could watch another showing and not pay . They had a cartoon sometimes. So many generations grew up on 007 that the one of your generation is the best ours Connery nowadays Craig. I am flexible and enjoy them all except Moore they became a family film .
❤ I had to purchase the movie 🎬 instead of watching on 📺 TV Together ❤ the Italian lady villain: sexy Italian voice: red hair ; male villain;; remind me of Aristotle Onassis; mult millionaire
The producers always come up with astoundingly beautiful Bond Girls. And, yes, casting Connery to play Bond was right up there with casting Clark Gable as Rhett Butler.
White-Dragon Yes, it was created for the Nick Fury agent of Shield series when Marvel turned Sergeant Fury which into a secret agent to capitalize on the 1960s Spy craze.
This is one Bond film that I keep coming back to. Sean's first three Bond outings -- Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger are all certified classic. But this one has a lot going for it. The story actually feels like a legit spy story, the scenery is beautiful, there are couple of killer Bond girls (Domino is so ethereally beautiful), and a memorable villain in Largo. The underwater sequences might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I personally appreciate it for being groundbreaking for it's time. Connery's last great Bond film in my opinion.
it took a long while for this film to grow on me even though I grew up watching it on tv in the 70s, but Thunderball is my favorite action flick. The epitome of style and class.
It's steadily grown on me since I first saw it in the 90's. I used to find it a real chore to get through but strangely it's easily in my top 5 or 6 Bond films now.
@@kalsolarUK I vaguely remember seeing this movie in the theater in its original run in 1965 when I was 5. I remember Sean Connery in a scuba suit on the cover of Life magazine in early '66 even more. It wasn't until I saw it on a movie screen in college in the early 80s that it finally clicked. A tv screen does not do it justice.
I love this film. I never understood all of the hate for the underwater sequences, I thought they were great and unique. Certainly a change of pace from traditional action sequences.
They go on way too long and there are too many. Maybe back in 1965 people would find it innovative and the same way they ate up all the international locations.
In 1965, nobody had ever seen anything remotely like the underwater battle against SPECTRE. I know. I was in the cinema when Thunderball was first shown. People were applauding at the end of those astonishing scenes. To think that was filmed with only one camera! A massive influence on George Lucas and Jack Kirby for "Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D".
THUNDERBALL is the epitome of the James Bond movies. And the peak of Sean Connery as James Bond. In Dr No, Connery is experimenting how to be James Bond and is a little stiff. In FRWL he explores more the "dark" side of the character. In Goldfinger he adds more witticism and completes the formula. But In Thunderball he finally IS James Bond and perfects the formula. Connery's performance is unique. He seems more self confident than ever. His style, his movement, his lines, even his looks, everything that was in built up to the previous 3 films, came to absolute perfection. He is dark and gritty but also suave and charming. He is tough and ruthless and at the same time witty (with some of the best one-liners in the franchise) and with unreachable style. And it is obvious that he enjoys playing the character more than ever, before or afterwards. Also this movie travels you. It is the absolute escapism movie. Beautifull exotic places, wonderful settings, incomparable style, extraordinary women. (Fiona Volpe is unbelievable and Domino one of the hottest). It is even considered a fashion icon movie! The plot is simple (but believable) because for the first time the movie focuses on Bond and not the vilains. The action scenes are superb (except maybe for the final scene). The gadjets are believable (the jet-pack was real). And in spite of what some say, the underwater battle scene is a revolutionary and unique piece of cinematography, especially for that period! So at first with Goldfinger but especially with Thunderball Connery touches the thin line of perfection by beeing at the same time tough and elegant, witty and ruthless, a real killer with a sense of humor, who lives at the edge of death, so he is enjoying every moment of his life as his last. Goldfinger at 80% and Thunderball at 100%, epitomized the character of James Bond, before Connery becoming bored in YOLT or the producers make the turn to a silly spoof of Bond with DAF and the Moore era. For me THUNDERBALL is the best Bond film of all time. Second comes FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE which is one of the most iconic and thrilling espionage - spy movies of all time (beyond the Bond franchise) and the fight with Grant on the train which is one of the most classic scenes in the history of cinema.
Jeez, I remember the only way to see a Bond flick was on the ABC Sunday Night Movie. I nearly shat my pants when TBS started running the whole series sometime in the 90s for like two weeks. I rescheduled my entire life just to watch them. Now? I can watch them 24 hours a day if I want to (I don't want to). My young self would have been over the moon.
@@JoBloOriginals It was available by pay tv in 1992 along with WSBK Boston and WGN Chicago. Occasionally there would be free preview weekends where one could catch the 007 marathon on TBS.
I remember the first time I watched Goldfinger on ABC and they cut the beginning scene and started with the credits. Wasnt till I rented the VHS I finally saw thhe whole film . I enjoy Thunderball he had chemistry with Domino and Largo was nefarious but Connery looked great and in shape since he lost weight on the set of the film The Hill .
It's underwater action on a scale never before seen (or since, maybe?) So it was a great novelty at the time. But that highlights the problem, that underwater action is inherently slow.
The underwater rebreather is one of my favorite movie props of all time. It's obviously useful, but nonsensical in any real world terms. But it LOOKS like something that could really exist and work as advertised, so much that the design is copied for props in other, completely unrelated, movies! It's gotta be a Props Hall of Famer.
It's an exaggeration of possible technology. Artificial gills haven't been invented, and may never be (in a portable form), but so called rebreathers do exist in the real world. When a person breathes out, they actually expel some oxygen too, and rebreathers scrub the carbon dioxide while returning the oxygen to be "rebreathed". Not exactly the Bond device and a lot bulkier. Military divers like them because they produce few bubbles.
I was in the 5th grade, when my dad took me to see 'Thunderball'......my first James Bond film. I still remember the photo of Sean Connery on the cover of LIFE magazine....& one of my all-time favorite toys: My James Bond Secret Agent 007 Attache Case.......complete with a decoder & pistol & an extended barrel & shoulder stock.....& a scope. I clearly recall feeling embarrassed during the sauna scene. That naked lady's flesh pressed up against the frosted glass......LOL. Well, sitting there next to my old man in the theater anyway.
Need to make a correction here. Underwater sequences were shot by my friend Jordan Klein, who is still with us here in Florida. Credit was given here to Ricou of Creature Of The Black Lagoon. They worked together on that film. Jordan was a cinemotographer and Ricou was one of the actors who played The Creature. Ricou was the competetive swimmer who played the Creature under water. He is still friends with Jordan, and they live fairly close together. Jordan had a stellar career in filmaking. Particularly shooting underwater scenes. He worked on JAWS, and waa involved with the mechanical shark. Also had a PT Boat, and a real sub. Thunderball is where he created the Spectre BOMBSLED SUB, AND TOW SLED one man unit, but also designed and made the Bond powered Aqua Lung pack with gadgets, not to mention doing the filming. He was involved with over 50 motion pictures & TV Shows. Including SEA HUNT. His son is caring on the family tradition.
TCOTBL is an astonishing film. The underwater scenes with the Creature are utterly brilliant. Hard to believe it was filmed with only one camera! A great, great 50s horror film.
Love the 'behind the scenes' info's! I remember watching it on a rerun in Theaters and loving it, for now my Number two. 1. From Russia with Love 2. Thunderball 3. Goldfinger 4. Dr. No ...to be continued ;-)
Brill video.... Thunderball was the first James Bond movie I ever saw!!!! Hamilton New Zealand 🇳🇿 1966.... I was eleven years old!!!! My father took me to the picture theatre!!!! When I saw Connery in the orange wetsuit and white shorts ..... my father was no longer my hero!!!! Thunderball completely changed the direction of my life!!!! Been to Goldeneye in Jamaica.... met Connery in Wellington New Zealand while he was checking out Lord of the Rings 1995!!! Yep Thunderball was life changing!!!! But OHMSS..... is the greatest Bond film ever!!! And lucky Connery was not in it!!! Again great video!!! Regards Ian 👨🎤😎😇🤔👍✊🇺🇦✊🇳🇿
Controversial opinion: This is my favourite Bond. I said it. Goldfinger, Majesty’s and Skyfall are THAT close but not quite beating it. The soundtrack is one of the best soundtracks on a Bond film - Barry outdoes himself with the beautiful score, and credit to Tom Jones for the badass song (obviously there are better ones). The fight scenes are cracking - I honestly wasn’t even slightly bored with the underwater fight, I found them riveting and intense. It’s not flawless, but boy it’s awesome. I’m a Bond fan and a massive film buff too, so this doesn’t make sense me liking it so much - but it’s just such a cool film to me, not a “guilty pleasure” (that belongs to Die Another Day!).
I was eleven years old when this movie came out , this was the first Bond movie I ever saw ,and I saw it at the theater ,.At the time my family and I were living in a small town on a bay off of the Gulf of Mexico , and shows like Flipper were a big deal to a eleven year old , so going swimming, fishing, sailing, was a everyday occurrence for me and my friends , so I really liked the underwater scenes in Thunderball on the big screen .
@@lukasnummer1 with the exception of Beswick (who btw is the first black woman to appear in a Bond film and a personal favorite of mine) and maybe the hydrofoil captain, they are all dead (per imdb).
@@FindecanorNotGmail Sean Connery was one of the greatest cultural figures of the 20th century. He was THE symbol of Western culture for an entire decade (the 1960's) and one of Hollywood's most iconic actors.
It's weird to think that the James Bond films have been around since the early 1960s, and yet there have been more men who within a period of 5 years walked on The Moon then have portrayed James Bond in a period of 50 years.
I saw Thunderball in 1965, I was also 8 years old but saw it at a movie theater. Too young to go by my self so mom and dad took the family. I'm glad my parents like James Bond movies.
This movie always gets panned by critics. It and Goldfinger are still my favorites. The charm , glamour and panache of the film cannot be denied, as is the witty dialogue provided by Hopkins.
I love Bond and have seen everyone since Live and Let Die first run in the theaters, but I've lost count of the times I've fallen asleep watching Thunderball on TV. And have really only seen the complete movie from start to finish about 5 years ago. Oh, almost forgot: I was too young for my Dad to take me to this when it first hit theaters. I was the youngest, but he took my two oldest brothers. For you see, the tickets for this were a mind-blowing $3! In the mid 1960's it was astronomically higher priced than other movies!
Whaaaaaa...??? The underwater scenes are what make this movie _great!_ I had never seen anything before and come to think of it, I never have *since.* Frogmen rule!
Thunderball is by far my favorite Bond film (was Sean Connery's as well) followed by From Russia with Love and Dr. No. Love all the underwater scenes, just perfect!, exciting and refreshing!!
Thank you for this great commentary! This is my favorite Bond movie of all. I don't think the water scenes are too long, everything about this movie is total Bond perfection.
Absolutely brilliant review - completely comprehensive with clips and photos I’ve actually never seen - and coming from a lifelong Bond fan since the 1960s who thought he’s seen everything - that’s pretty unbelievable! I first saw this film many years ago in a 007 double feature with Goldfinger and,like you, they were the first Bond movies I ever saw. In the days before VHS and DVD these double features and even triple features used to be pretty common. It has remained one of my very favorites ever since and really shows Sean Connery at his peak as James Bond. If you look at how he played him throughout his run, you could really see how influential he was on just about every action hero in Cinema that has come after him - right up until today. Looking forward to seeing your take on the rest of the series - great job!
After the big blowout Goldfinger made and put 007 on the map , I begged my father to take me to see Thunderball. My first Bond film seen in the theater and wow it was the biggest with the most gadgets at the time. This was a unforgettable 007 film with Sean Connery as James Bond 007
Sean Connery lost interest in the movies since the producers would not make him a partner in the franchise. The only reason he did you only live twice was because he was contractually bound to do it. Had he been made a partner, He probably would’ve stayed quite a while.
When I was a kid, my cousin and me went to see this movie on Christmas day. We were the only 2 people in the whole theater, and they only charged us a quarter each to go in and see it,.. We watched it like 3 times in a row.. lol
This and You Only Live Twice are my favorite movies. And one of Barry's best scores for the serious. Tom Jones almost fainted on that last high note. I saw Thunderball and You Only Live Twice in a New York City theater as a kid.
"It's a MAN, baby!" What a great introduction to Bond. And I think you're wrong. The underwater scenes in this movie totally sets it apart. Compared to all the other underwater adventures in this franchise, this is the best.
Moonraker was more boring to me . I never liked the Jaws character too invincible falling out of a plane in the previous film and surviving I was glad they got rid of him. Also the Moore films were too self parody I was more glad that Dalton took over who in my book is the second best Bond and then Craig who impressed me in Casino Royale and QOS but didn't like his other films.
I appreciate this movie because to me, it had the most plausible threat: it was a bit outlandish but seemed like a plot that could absolutely work. Goldfinger had the really clever conceit of making the gold radioactive, which was a cool twist they didn't lean into enough, but Thunderball seems like a well thought out and plausible terrorist plot.
Fiona Volpe was the first real Bad Bondgirl that was an actual threat physically. She was a reverse Bond with all the same type of skills but a woman and evil. And she was high ranked in SPECTRE. That's honestly pretty progressive for a movie in the 60s. I also wonder if a red-haired femme-fatale spy lady inspired others like Black Widow.
The movie that got me into SCUBA diving. Oddly enough, I got my certification in the Bahamas, at the dive spots used in the movie. Nothing remotely resembling a Vulcan bomber there now. When I dived the wreck, it looked like a combination erector set and jungle gym.
Top 5 Bond film of all time. The magic of the first 20 has been completely squandered by the current show runners. Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson need to watch some Bond films and remember what they are
I'm watching all the Bonds daily at the moment. Always look forward to seeing your breakdowns after each film. I enjoyed Thunderball, except for the action music towards the end. Just the same 4 bars over and over for half hour 😂😂😂
Good movies used to have more than one run in theaters. I had the great fortune of seeing it in a theater on the big screen, a few years after its initial release, with my father when I was like 6 or 7. The underwater sequence is just a few minutes too long for today. However, because of all the elements working together and Connery’s personification of the role, it remains the best Bond made.
Thunderball did good at the box office due to the masterpiece Goldfinger. People were expecting a lot in the next movie due to bond mania. The line in the movie “she’s just dead” may be the best in the series.
One has to remember in 1965 underwater filming was pretty new at the time. The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau wasn't released until 1968. It was something different and people didn't get to see. However it was a bit of a gimmick, and the action scenes have to slow down because it's filmed underwater. This was a movie in colour showing a lot of scuba diving. It didn't help the movie had a long run time, and probably a little too much padding and exposition.
In general, I think those large scale ]battles between the good guys and the bad guy's henchmen haven't aged too well but I kind of did like this underwater one. I still think it looks visually cool and unique. I imagine it was quite a sight back in the 60's.
Disagree with your screenplay rating - this is a 10 not lower. Your gadget rating should have been 10 also - the jet pack was amazing in 1965 and still is TODAY! Claudine Auger was the best Bond Girl.
Thunderball was never my cup of tea, one reason is that underwater ambient isn't something I find most attractive and the second is that I didn't enjoy 2.35.1 format. I do love Cinemascope, but to me, 16:9 is a far better format for Bond.
It's amazing how they pull off those under water shots in 60s ... watched this film in 2023 ...it was an awesome experience
Loved Thunderball - saw it when I was 13 in 1966. I stayed in the theater to see it 3 times, then went back a week or 2 later to see it 3 more times.
Claudine Auger is my favorite Bond Girl - what a stunningly beautiful woman!
While I think Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig did commendable jobs playing James Bond, nobody in my book comes even close to the outstanding job Sean Connery did. Having Connery play Bond was the most perfect casting decision in the history of cinema IMO.
Claudine was gorgeous.
They were the good ol days when you could watch another showing and not pay . They had a cartoon sometimes.
So many generations grew up on 007 that the one of your generation is the best ours Connery nowadays Craig. I am flexible and enjoy them all except Moore they became a family film .
@@herbpetrillo163 and some ❤
❤ I had to purchase the movie 🎬 instead of watching on 📺 TV Together ❤ the Italian lady villain: sexy Italian voice: red hair ; male villain;; remind me of Aristotle Onassis; mult millionaire
The producers always come up with astoundingly beautiful Bond Girls. And, yes, casting Connery to play Bond was right up there with casting Clark Gable as Rhett Butler.
Hydra in the Marvel comics was undoubtedly based on Spectre.
White-Dragon
Yes, it was created for the Nick Fury agent of Shield series when Marvel turned Sergeant Fury which into a secret agent to capitalize on the 1960s Spy craze.
Yes and Lex Luther was based in Ernst Stavro Blofeld
@@RobertK1993 and so was kingpin
@@stsolomon618 I don't think so he a gangster
@@RobertK1993 true, but the original version of the character he was just like a Blofeld.
The opening hand to hand fight with the guy in drag was utterly excellent, and the ending battle on the water was very good also.
This is one Bond film that I keep coming back to. Sean's first three Bond outings -- Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger are all certified classic. But this one has a lot going for it. The story actually feels like a legit spy story, the scenery is beautiful, there are couple of killer Bond girls (Domino is so ethereally beautiful), and a memorable villain in Largo. The underwater sequences might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I personally appreciate it for being groundbreaking for it's time. Connery's last great Bond film in my opinion.
So did Sean Connery in "Never Say Never Again". Thunderball is Sean's favourite Bond movie.
Thunderball is still my favorite bond movie, the underwater end fight sequence is just beautiful to watch
it took a long while for this film to grow on me even though I grew up watching it on tv in the 70s, but Thunderball is my favorite action flick. The epitome of style and class.
It's steadily grown on me since I first saw it in the 90's. I used to find it a real chore to get through but strangely it's easily in my top 5 or 6 Bond films now.
@@kalsolarUK I vaguely remember seeing this movie in the theater in its original run in 1965 when I was 5. I remember Sean Connery in a scuba suit on the cover of Life magazine in early '66 even more. It wasn't until I saw it on a movie screen in college in the early 80s that it finally clicked. A tv screen does not do it justice.
@@MrEab2010 You're quite right, it really does benefit hugely from being seen on the big screen.
somehow it is still my fave jb ever... good soundtrack, story of strategic impact, and classic spectre... and that spectre girl is really beautiful
Weird Al Yankovic did a spoof on the title sequence for a comedy. I more partial to Domino but the red head has more sex appeal.
I love this film. I never understood all of the hate for the underwater sequences, I thought they were great and unique. Certainly a change of pace from traditional action sequences.
And, fairly novel, if not exactly innovative, for the period. The scale of underwater action sequences were pretty unparalleled for quite some time.
They go on way too long and there are too many.
Maybe back in 1965 people would find it innovative and the same way they ate up all the international locations.
Tom Jones apparently passed out when he hit that final note and kept going till he keeled over in the booth.
I heard his lung exploded, and he had to be rushed to hospital. He was still singing that note when the doctor attended him some 45 minutes later.
@@SmithMrCorona 🤣
Some say he's still singing it.
Damn, what a legend 😂
BigBubbaloola oh
He should have asked for hazard pay.
In 1965, nobody had ever seen anything remotely like the underwater battle against
SPECTRE. I know. I was in the cinema when Thunderball was first shown.
People were applauding at the end of those astonishing scenes.
To think that was filmed with only one camera!
A massive influence on George Lucas and Jack Kirby for "Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D".
Me too,
The Nick Fury by Steranko was the best adaptation.
My first ever Bond movie as a kid. Once he ate that grape I was hooked. 🍇
THUNDERBALL is the epitome of the James Bond movies. And the peak of Sean Connery as James Bond.
In Dr No, Connery is experimenting how to be James Bond and is a little stiff. In FRWL he explores more the "dark" side of the character. In Goldfinger he adds more witticism and completes the formula. But In Thunderball he finally IS James Bond and perfects the formula. Connery's performance is unique. He seems more self confident than ever. His style, his movement, his lines, even his looks, everything that was in built up to the previous 3 films, came to absolute perfection. He is dark and gritty but also suave and charming. He is tough and ruthless and at the same time witty (with some of the best one-liners in the franchise) and with unreachable style. And it is obvious that he enjoys playing the character more than ever, before or afterwards.
Also this movie travels you. It is the absolute escapism movie. Beautifull exotic places, wonderful settings, incomparable style, extraordinary women. (Fiona Volpe is unbelievable and Domino one of the hottest). It is even considered a fashion icon movie! The plot is simple (but believable) because for the first time the movie focuses on Bond and not the vilains. The action scenes are superb (except maybe for the final scene). The gadjets are believable (the jet-pack was real). And in spite of what some say, the underwater battle scene is a revolutionary and unique piece of cinematography, especially for that period!
So at first with Goldfinger but especially with Thunderball Connery touches the thin line of perfection by beeing at the same time tough and elegant, witty and ruthless, a real killer with a sense of humor, who lives at the edge of death, so he is enjoying every moment of his life as his last. Goldfinger at 80% and Thunderball at 100%, epitomized the character of James Bond, before Connery becoming bored in YOLT or the producers make the turn to a silly spoof of Bond with DAF and the Moore era.
For me THUNDERBALL is the best Bond film of all time. Second comes FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE which is one of the most iconic and thrilling espionage - spy movies of all time (beyond the Bond franchise) and the fight with Grant on the train which is one of the most classic scenes in the history of cinema.
Jeez, I remember the only way to see a Bond flick was on the ABC Sunday Night Movie. I nearly shat my pants when TBS started running the whole series sometime in the 90s for like two weeks. I rescheduled my entire life just to watch them. Now? I can watch them 24 hours a day if I want to (I don't want to). My young self would have been over the moon.
We didn’t get TBS in Canada until 1994. So was an issue.
@@JoBloOriginals It was available by pay tv in 1992 along with WSBK Boston and WGN Chicago. Occasionally there would be free preview weekends where one could catch the 007 marathon on TBS.
I remember the first time I watched Goldfinger on ABC and they cut the beginning scene and started with the credits. Wasnt till I rented the VHS I finally saw thhe whole film . I enjoy Thunderball he had chemistry with Domino and Largo was nefarious but Connery looked great and in shape since he lost weight on the set of the film The Hill .
I miss the 12 days of 007
The speed and change of direction in the boats windows during the fight in the wheelhouse are something else , it's like 80 mph.
The underwater fight scene at the end was a major highlight
It's underwater action on a scale never before seen (or since, maybe?) So it was a great novelty at the time. But that highlights the problem, that underwater action is inherently slow.
Was pretty boring and was hard to tell who was who
I'm sorry that underwater fight scene is like 24 mins of slow and boring fighting
the film won an Oscar for Best Special Effects in 1966.
Unlike many under your comment, I absolutely agree with you.
The underwater rebreather is one of my favorite movie props of all time. It's obviously useful, but nonsensical in any real world terms. But it LOOKS like something that could really exist and work as advertised, so much that the design is copied for props in other, completely unrelated, movies!
It's gotta be a Props Hall of Famer.
It's an exaggeration of possible technology. Artificial gills haven't been invented, and may never be (in a portable form), but so called rebreathers do exist in the real world. When a person breathes out, they actually expel some oxygen too, and rebreathers scrub the carbon dioxide while returning the oxygen to be "rebreathed". Not exactly the Bond device and a lot bulkier. Military divers like them because they produce few bubbles.
I love how the US tried to patent the rebreather, even though it didn’t work.
Yea I agree - sad that they still haven’t figured out a way to make that device for real!
I think they used this device underwater in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.
Q always comes up with just the right tools to fit the job...he must live in the future.
I was in the 5th grade, when my dad took me to see 'Thunderball'......my first James Bond film. I still remember the photo of Sean Connery on the cover of LIFE magazine....& one of my all-time favorite toys: My James Bond Secret Agent 007 Attache Case.......complete with a decoder & pistol & an extended barrel & shoulder stock.....& a scope. I clearly recall feeling embarrassed during the sauna scene. That naked lady's flesh pressed up against the frosted glass......LOL. Well, sitting there next to my old man in the theater anyway.
Oh the attache case how I wanted that toy , the knife that came out of the side of the case was the epitome of cool to me
the jetpack could not fly 20 minutes, it could fly for 21 seconds.
Need to make a correction here.
Underwater sequences were shot by my friend Jordan Klein, who is still with us here in Florida.
Credit was given here to Ricou of Creature Of The Black Lagoon.
They worked together on that film.
Jordan was a cinemotographer and Ricou was one of the actors who played The Creature.
Ricou was the competetive swimmer who played the Creature under water. He is still friends with Jordan, and they live fairly close together.
Jordan had a stellar career in filmaking. Particularly shooting underwater scenes.
He worked on JAWS, and waa involved with the mechanical shark.
Also had a PT Boat, and a real sub.
Thunderball is where he created the Spectre BOMBSLED SUB, AND TOW SLED one man unit, but also designed and made the Bond powered Aqua Lung pack with gadgets, not to mention doing the filming.
He was involved with over 50 motion pictures & TV Shows.
Including SEA HUNT.
His son is caring on the family tradition.
Wow the underwater scenes were great they made the movie in my eyes
TCOTBL is an astonishing film.
The underwater scenes with the Creature are
utterly brilliant. Hard to believe it was filmed with
only one camera! A great, great 50s horror film.
Thunderball is a very iconic bond film. A memorable film when I was growing up. 8.5/10
You stated that "Largo hijacked 2 nukes from the US Navy." That is wrong. It clearly is a RAF Vulcan that carries the nukes.
Largo didn't steal the nuclear missiles from the US navy but from an RAF Vulcan bomber.
Yeah, I picked up on that.
Yessir! During a NATO training op. Francois Deval was with the French air force
Largo stole the nuclear missiles from the sexiest looking bomber ever made.
They were bombs not missiles. Minor quibble.
@@RM-we7px My mistake.Thanks.
Absolutely one of my favorite Bond movies as a SCUBA enthusiast! Great film!
I took Scuba lessons because of this movie , except my sinuses put a stop to that after twenty feet ouch
Love the 'behind the scenes' info's! I remember watching it on a rerun in Theaters and loving it, for now my Number two.
1. From Russia with Love
2. Thunderball
3. Goldfinger
4. Dr. No
...to be continued ;-)
Brill video.... Thunderball was the first James Bond movie I ever saw!!!!
Hamilton New Zealand 🇳🇿 1966.... I was eleven years old!!!! My father took me to the picture theatre!!!!
When I saw Connery in the orange wetsuit and white shorts ..... my father was no longer my hero!!!!
Thunderball completely changed the direction of my life!!!!
Been to Goldeneye in Jamaica.... met Connery in Wellington New Zealand while he was checking out Lord of the Rings 1995!!!
Yep Thunderball was life changing!!!!
But OHMSS..... is the greatest Bond film ever!!! And lucky Connery was not in it!!!
Again great video!!!
Regards Ian 👨🎤😎😇🤔👍✊🇺🇦✊🇳🇿
I liked it a lot more in 65 than I do now but it still fun to watch and Fiona Volpe is a great villianess
Well written and well narrated, thanks for taking the time to make this video Chris.
9 out of 10 imo. Connery's best performance as James Bond. From Russia with Love is my favorite James Bond film of all time.
10/10. The most complete Bond movie.
Controversial opinion:
This is my favourite Bond.
I said it. Goldfinger, Majesty’s and Skyfall are THAT close but not quite beating it.
The soundtrack is one of the best soundtracks on a Bond film - Barry outdoes himself with the beautiful score, and credit to Tom Jones for the badass song (obviously there are better ones).
The fight scenes are cracking - I honestly wasn’t even slightly bored with the underwater fight, I found them riveting and intense.
It’s not flawless, but boy it’s awesome.
I’m a Bond fan and a massive film buff too, so this doesn’t make sense me liking it so much - but it’s just such a cool film to me, not a “guilty pleasure” (that belongs to Die Another Day!).
not controversial at all. It's my favorite Bond film too.
This is a great cure for insomnia.
@@ricardocantoral7672 the film? Or was my comment that boring?
@@Rob_-dv6ei Both.
Just kidding. 😉
@@ricardocantoral7672 I’m confused as hell but hey, sounds good to me👌
I was eleven years old when this movie came out , this was the first Bond movie I ever saw ,and I saw it at the theater ,.At the time my family and I were living in a small town on a bay off of the Gulf of Mexico , and shows like Flipper were a big deal to a eleven year old , so going swimming, fishing, sailing, was a everyday occurrence for me and my friends , so I really liked the underwater scenes in Thunderball on the big screen .
Trivia note: the only cast members still alive are Luciana Paluzzi (Vona Volpe) and Connery himself, who turned 90 last month.
Well, that's not really true. Martine Beswick (Paula) is certainly a cast member, as are others who played less important roles.
@@lukasnummer1 with the exception of Beswick (who btw is the first black woman to appear in a Bond film and a personal favorite of mine) and maybe the hydrofoil captain, they are all dead (per imdb).
@Darryl Ruiz "do you mind giving me something to put on?" Connery hands her a pair of shoes. :D
Sean Connery passed away today in the Bahamas. RIP
@@FindecanorNotGmail Sean Connery was one of the greatest cultural figures of the 20th century. He was THE symbol of Western culture for an entire decade (the 1960's) and one of Hollywood's most iconic actors.
Always loved the underwater action - never been surpassed
It's weird to think that the James Bond films have been around since the early 1960s, and yet there have been more men who within a period of 5 years walked on The Moon then have portrayed James Bond in a period of 50 years.
It's slightly easier and a bit more profitable to have men pretend to kill baddies and bed women, I reckon.
The 1960s Casino Royale has more people playing James Bond than the other franchise does.
James Bond was by far the most popular fictional entertainment of the 1960s. I remember Bondmania vividly as a kid.
It's the franchise that keeps giving. It's nearly 60 years old and yet each new installment is still a major event. No other film series comes close.
@@vordman I think it's decades past its sell by date. Bond is a product of the Cold War.
Thunderball is one of my favourite Bond movies.
I saw Thunderball in 1965, I was also 8 years old but saw it at a movie theater. Too young to go by my self so mom and dad took the family. I'm glad my parents like James Bond movies.
This movie always gets panned by critics. It and Goldfinger are still my favorites. The charm , glamour and panache of the film cannot be denied, as is the witty dialogue provided by Hopkins.
8:30 The Bell Aerosystems rocket pack used in the movie had a maximum duration of flight of 21 SECONDS, with a range of only 120 m, not 20 minutes.
Beat me to it! It could sometimes make 30 seconds with a lighter pilot.
I love Bond and have seen everyone since Live and Let Die first run in the theaters, but I've lost count of the times I've fallen asleep watching Thunderball on TV. And have really only seen the complete movie from start to finish about 5 years ago. Oh, almost forgot: I was too young for my Dad to take me to this when it first hit theaters. I was the youngest, but he took my two oldest brothers. For you see, the tickets for this were a mind-blowing $3! In the mid 1960's it was astronomically higher priced than other movies!
Whaaaaaa...??? The underwater scenes are what make this movie _great!_ I had never seen anything before and come to think of it, I never have *since.* Frogmen rule!
Claudia Auger as Domino was the hottest Bond girl ever! Former Miss France was a perfect ten!
I agree 100%
Russia with love, actress, ❤ Italian woman actress sexy voice
Still one of my favorite Bond films to this day.
Thunderball is by far my favorite Bond film (was Sean Connery's as well) followed by From Russia with Love and Dr. No. Love all the underwater scenes, just perfect!, exciting and refreshing!!
Domino is my favourite Bond girl. Stunning in Thunderball
I really like the movie. The only criticism I have, is that fight scene on the boat at the end. The way it was filmed very haphazardly.
all of the 60s films where very haphazard effects wise, very obvious to see the jump cuts, green screens, and bad fight scenes.
This film was action packed I wasn't around in 1965 but I would of went to the Theaters to see this film it was real good
This is my favourite JoBlo Series so far! Great idea.
One of my favorite Bond films since early youth as well. Love the underwater stuff.
The fast fordward climax has aged atrociously. XD
My first Bond movie was Goldfinger and that's probably why it's my favorite.
Goldfinger made Bond into legend and along with Beatles
Great review again, always brilliant seeing these oldies again! 😁👌
One interesting fact is that Adolfo Celi and Tanaka ( YOLT) were dubbed by the same person, Robert Rietty.
Fer sure. Pretty distinctive voice.
The absolute pinnacle of the classic early Bond films.
my favorite bond film
Thank you for this great commentary! This is my favorite Bond movie of all. I don't think the water scenes are too long, everything about this movie is total Bond perfection.
This was a great Bond movie - one of the absolute best. Top three certainly. Disagree with this video’s creator
i truly have a fond spot for Thunderball, it is such a product of the 60s in everything. Probably my fav of the Connery's
Absolutely brilliant review - completely comprehensive with clips and photos I’ve actually never seen - and coming from a lifelong Bond fan since the 1960s who thought he’s seen everything - that’s pretty unbelievable!
I first saw this film many years ago in a 007 double feature with Goldfinger and,like you, they were the first Bond movies I ever saw.
In the days before VHS and DVD these double features and even triple features used to be pretty common.
It has remained one of my very favorites ever since and really shows Sean Connery at his peak as James Bond.
If you look at how he played him throughout his run, you could really see how influential he was on just about every action hero in Cinema that has come after him - right up until today.
Looking forward to seeing your take on the rest of the series - great job!
After the big blowout Goldfinger made and put 007 on the map , I begged my father to take me to see Thunderball. My first Bond film seen in the theater and wow it was the biggest with the most gadgets at the time. This was a unforgettable 007 film with Sean Connery as James Bond 007
BL00DY G00D!
These bond videos are awesome! Keep them coming please!!
Sean Connery lost interest in the movies since the producers would not make him a partner in the franchise. The only reason he did you only live twice was because he was contractually bound to do it. Had he been made a partner, He probably would’ve stayed quite a while.
For me, one of the best of Sean.
The last one with him in good shape.
ironically I thought most of the film was boring with the underwater battle being a highlight
When I was a kid, my cousin and me went to see this movie on Christmas day. We were the only 2 people in the whole theater, and they only charged us a quarter each to go in and see it,.. We watched it like 3 times in a row.. lol
This and You Only Live Twice are my favorite movies. And one of Barry's best scores for the serious. Tom Jones almost fainted on that last high note. I saw Thunderball and You Only Live Twice in a New York City theater as a kid.
Thunderball was my 1st Bond film all the way to Diamonds are forever and picked back up with Dalton to all Craigs films all in the theater.
"It's a MAN, baby!" What a great introduction to Bond. And I think you're wrong. The underwater scenes in this movie totally sets it apart. Compared to all the other underwater adventures in this franchise, this is the best.
Moonraker was more boring to me . I never liked the Jaws character too invincible falling out of a plane in the previous film and surviving I was glad they got rid of him. Also the Moore films were too self parody I was more glad that Dalton took over who in my book is the second best Bond and then Craig who impressed me in Casino Royale and QOS but didn't like his other films.
I don't think this movie is as great as the first 3 but still a really great movie. I still rank it in my top 10 Bond movies
I’d put it above Dr No, and somewhere around 8th or 9th in the top 10
I appreciate this movie because to me, it had the most plausible threat: it was a bit outlandish but seemed like a plot that could absolutely work. Goldfinger had the really clever conceit of making the gold radioactive, which was a cool twist they didn't lean into enough, but Thunderball seems like a well thought out and plausible terrorist plot.
Thunderball is my favorite of all the Bond films.
Luciana Palluzzi rocks! Major female Bond villians didn't get that good again until Famke Janssen.
Fiona Volpe was the first real Bad Bondgirl that was an actual threat physically. She was a reverse Bond with all the same type of skills but a woman and evil. And she was high ranked in SPECTRE. That's honestly pretty progressive for a movie in the 60s. I also wonder if a red-haired femme-fatale spy lady inspired others like Black Widow.
The opening sequence is still awesome
This is my fav Bond movie. And my fav Bond theme song
The movie that got me into SCUBA diving. Oddly enough, I got my certification in the Bahamas, at the dive spots used in the movie. Nothing remotely resembling a Vulcan bomber there now. When I dived the wreck, it looked like a combination erector set and jungle gym.
Looked awful shallow in the film was it ?
@@speedracer1945 yes it was. I seem to remember it was about 30 feet deep, maybe a little more.
@@MyLateralThawts yeah certain scenes you could see the top of water . Nice that you seen what was supposed to be a plane. LoL
Thunderball was the best Bond film ever. I give it a 10 because it had everything.
One of the best movies in the series and movies of all time.
Top 5 Bond film of all time. The magic of the first 20 has been completely squandered by the current show runners. Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson need to watch some Bond films and remember what they are
One of the greatest moments of the movie was seeing Sean Connery make his Gunbarrell debut.
I'm watching all the Bonds daily at the moment. Always look forward to seeing your breakdowns after each film.
I enjoyed Thunderball, except for the action music towards the end. Just the same 4 bars over and over for half hour 😂😂😂
Good movies used to have more than one run in theaters. I had the great fortune of seeing it in a theater on the big screen, a few years after its initial release, with my father when I was like 6 or 7. The underwater sequence is just a few minutes too long for today. However, because of all the elements working together and Connery’s personification of the role, it remains the best Bond made.
We are in our 60s now . I was 8 yrs old in 1965 dont look that old but sure feel like it . LoL
This was my first Bond film so it holds a place in my heart too, but I saw it at the theater
First bond film I saw was Goldfinger on ABC's Sunday Night movie in 72!
Thunderball did good at the box office due to the masterpiece Goldfinger. People were expecting a lot in the next movie due to bond mania. The line in the movie “she’s just dead” may be the best in the series.
Fun Fact: the pilot double actor was a Cypriot actor called Fedros "Paul" Stasinos
This film would later be remade as NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN in 1983 as Sean Connery's final outing as 007.
big mistake IMO.
Never Say Never Again has an alternate title, "Fuck You, Cubby Broccoli".
I love all those under water scenes.
Loving this series, can't wait to the Bonds I grew up with. Thanx!!!!
You will , Remember Bond Will Be Back. Hopefully Tom Hardy and not a woman playing 007 .if so the series is doomed .
i agree, i remember seeing this on ABC in the 80's
I have a favorite Bond movie per actor and this one is my favorite Connery outing.
Hell ya, I have a soft spot for thunderball too. It's underrated imo
Just to note - Nassau is pronounced Nas-SAW.
One has to remember in 1965 underwater filming was pretty new at the time. The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau wasn't released until 1968. It was something different and people didn't get to see. However it was a bit of a gimmick, and the action scenes have to slow down because it's filmed underwater. This was a movie in colour showing a lot of scuba diving. It didn't help the movie had a long run time, and probably a little too much padding and exposition.
Those were the days. When we got a Bond film Every Year. No wonder Connery got fatigue.
In general, I think those large scale ]battles between the good guys and the bad guy's henchmen haven't aged too well but I kind of did like this underwater one. I still think it looks visually cool and unique. I imagine it was quite a sight back in the 60's.
Disagree with your screenplay rating - this is a 10 not lower. Your gadget rating should have been 10 also - the jet pack was amazing in 1965 and still is TODAY! Claudine Auger was the best Bond Girl.
Thunderball was never my cup of tea, one reason is that underwater ambient isn't something I find most attractive and the second is that I didn't enjoy 2.35.1 format. I do love Cinemascope, but to me, 16:9 is a far better format for Bond.
Love this series! Please do Majesty's Secret Service, Diamonds are Forever and Moonraker please❤❤👌
Moonraker is my favourite.
🎶 He is the man who wants it all....Thunderball 🎶
This was my first Bond movie too.