The Early Films: Notable Elements of Thunderball
1965 saw the release of Thunderball, the fourth James Bond adventure. Here Bond (played by Sean Connery) struggles against SPECTRE’s number two man, murderous Emilio Largo (Adolfo Celi), over two stolen atomic bombs. As expected, a beautiful woman’s presence complicates things. Thunderball’s leading femme is Domino Derval (played by Claudine Auger), mistress to the film’s villain.
Thunderball brought several changes to the James Bond film franchise, starting in theater lobbies. For the first time, posters offered panoramic images filled with intrigue and adventure. Prior posters featured Connery, accompanied by colorful women or adversaries. Thunderball posters showed Bond involved in three action-packed scenes: flying away in a jet pack, locked in undersea combat with SCUBA divers, or attended by four lovely ladies. “Look up! Look down! Look out!” the poster’s copy teased, “Here comes the biggest Bond yet!” This was no lie.
The images were literally larger and more sweeping than the spy’s previous exotic adventures. Thunderball was the first Bond film to be shot with Panavision’s widescreen process. Bond’s film adventures have never looked grander!
Maurice Binder was no stranger to 007, having created the gun barrel sequence for Dr. No. It has been reused through each subsequent 007 feature. However, Thunderball marked the first time Sean Connery played Bond in this sequence. Additionally, Thunderball was the first Bond film to feature Maurice Binder’s full credit sequences. As crooner Tom Jones sings the “Thunderball” song, shadowy women swim across the screen or fire spearguns while the titles play over them. This potent sex and violence combination has become iconic for the franchise. Binder continued creating 007′s credits until 1989′s License to Kill.
Thunderball was director Terence Young’s final Bond films. It was a high mark to leave on, as it proved to be the most popular entry in the series.