Day 04 - Thunderball (1965) - Film Review

Starring: Sean Connery, Adolfo Celi, Claudine Auger & Luciana Paluzzi

Screenplay: Richard Maibaum & John Hopkins

Directed By: Terence Young

Certificate: PG

Day 4 and we arrive at 'Thunderball'. After hijacking an RAF training mission, criminal organization SPECTRE obtain two atomic bombs. With the bombs in their possession, SPECTRE holds MI6 to ransom, demanding £100m in exchange for the bombs' return. Should they fail to meet their demands, SPECTRE threaten to destroy a major city in either the UK or the US. With potentially millions of lives at stake, MI6 task Bond with uncovering the location of the bombs and neutralizing them. Bond follows a trail of evidence to the Bahamas, where he encounters SPECTRE's No. 2 agent, the eyepatch-wearing Emilio Largo. With Largo making preparations to target Miami Beach, it's up to Bond to prevent disaster. 

Just like 'Goldfinger', 'Thunderball' opens confidently with Bond already on another mission attending the funeral of a SPECTRE operative. But there's clearly more going on than meets the eye, and said operative is still alive. And after dispatching of him, Bond makes his escape... by jetpack. Already I was being put in mind of the fun silliness from 'Goldfinger' and I couldn't stop grinning. Opening these films with Bond already on missions like this is a good way of getting them started, and as he escapes by blasting pursuing henchmen off with high pressure water, the stage is set for the large number of underwater sequences 'Thunderball' has to offer. In fact when I mentioned to people that 'Thunderball' was the next film on my Bond marathon, the underwater stuff was what seemed to be most remembered, and wouldn't you know even the opening credits are underwater. After the jazzy bombastic 'Goldfinger' theme, Tom Jones provides the theme for 'Thunderball'. Legend has it that Jones apparently fainted delivering the last high note and I can certainly believe it. While I don't think the song carries quite as much power as Bassey's, it's still gloriously dramatic and gets a thumbs up from me.

'Thunderball' is the first Bond film to break the 2hr mark, and does it justify that increased runtime? Honestly, no. While I think the film's premise is great, it takes way too long for the main plot to actually get started, and while we wait for that we end up with scenes that would've been better left on the cutting room floor. The "rack" scene in particular comes to mind. It's unintentionally funny rather than threatening, and awkwardly directed too. I mean how could Bond not see who flipped that switch on the machine? A plot where SPECTRE steal atomic bombs and hold NATO to ransom with them is a simple, effective set-up, but it takes half an hour before they even acquire them or make the threat. Similarly, the interplay between Bond and Largo is great but it takes even longer than 'Goldfinger' to get going. 'Thunderball' is a 90-100 minute film stretched out beyond its means. Several set-pieces feel like they could be trimmed, especially some of the underwater scenes, well realized as they are. I could say the same of where Bond flees Fiona Volpe amidst a crowded street festival. But then again, the way it ends with Volpe being shot and Bond putting her body at a random couple's table with "Do you mind if my friend sits this one out? She's just dead" is absolutely worth the wait. I'm becoming a sucker for a James Bond one-liner and that's up there with the very best of them. So's the "I think he got the point" line. 

When it comes to 'Thunderball's strengths, one of its greatest is again the villains. After taking a film off, Blofeld's appearance is teased once again and I just love how unsubtle SPECTRE are. When Blofeld believes one of his cabal have embezzled SPECTRE funds, he electrocutes him in his chair before carrying on with the meeting. If you could see his face, I guarantee he would be twirling a moustache in that moment. One SPECTRE agent even undergoes facial surgery and claims to have had two years of lessons to impersonate a French Air Force pilot. It's absolute batsh*t crazy and I love it! All that effort only to be betrayed and left to drown by 'Thunderball's big baddie, Emilio Largo. Largo is another great villain for the series. Just like Auric Goldfinger and his laser, Largo has a pool full of sharks to throw his more disappointing henchmen to. But there's less of a camp, comic edge to Largo and I think a large part of that comes down to Adolfo Celi just naturally being a more intimidating actor. With the reappearance of SPECTRE also comes the reappearance of some friendlier familiar faces for Bond, as Felix Leiter and the CIA put in another appearance. The problem with Felix however is that this is the third actor to play this role over three films. The fact that the actor keeps changing so much in such little time means I can't really latch onto the character. He's played very differently and by three very different actors too, which doesn't help things either. 

I feel as though I might've come across as more harsh on 'Thunderball' than I intended. So just to make things clear, I did enjoy this film. The reason I might sound more negative than intended is simply because the "good" stuff in 'Thunderball' is really good. But it's limited by the fact that it takes so long to actually get to it. With a tighter hold on the editing, 'Thunderball' could've been something quite special. But as it stands, we still have a good solid film with plenty to like. Connery continues to impress, the return to a beautiful Caribbean setting is welcome, and I continue to enjoy everything going on with SPECTRE.

7/10

NEXT TIME - You Only Live Twice