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Thunderball is a James Bond novel written by Ian Fleming, based on a screen treatment by Kevin McClory, Jack Whittingham and Ian Fleming. It was published in 1961 as the ninth Bond book. It also stands, technically, as the first novelization of a James Bond screenplay, even though at the time it was written and published, no such film had yet been produced.
Thunderball is, to date, the only Bond novel to be adapted twice in film. The first adaptation was released in 1965 with James Bond played by Sean Connery. It was the fourth official Bond movie in EON Productions' franchise. McClory later produced an unofficial remake, 1983's Never Say Never Again, which again starred Connery as Bond. Thunderball was actually supposed to be the first James Bond movie in 1962, but this was later switched to Dr. No due to a lawsuit brought about by McClory (see below).
The novel
1963 paperback edition by Pan Books. Plot summary
The SPecial Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge, and Extortion, S.P.E.C.T.R.E., has hijacked a nuclear bomb and is threatening to destroy a major city unless a ransom is paid. James Bond is assigned to foil the plot and travels to the Bahamas where he meets Domino Vitale, the sister of a pilot killed when the nuclear bomb was stolen.
The novel features the first appearance in the Bond books of S.P.E.C.T.R.E., and of Bond's greatest enemy, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, although 007 does not meet the man in this book; differing from the films, which introduced S.P.E.C.T.R.E. in Dr. No and Blofeld in From Russia with Love.
The book is the first chapter in what is known as the 'Blofeld Trilogy', which, after the interlude novel The Spy Who Loved Me, resumes with On Her Majesty's Secret Service, and concludes with You Only Live Twice.
The controversy over the novel
Thunderball was originally conceived as the first episode of a proposed James Bond television series, or possibly as a film. For the project, Ian Fleming collaborated with Kevin McClory and Jack Whittingham on a story and a screenplay. When the series idea collapsed, Fleming took the story and the screenplay and novelized them as his ninth James Bond novel.
Initially, the novel credited only Ian Fleming as writer. Consequently, his collaborators filed suit against him, which prevented Thunderball from becoming the first James Bond movie.
As consequence of the lawsuit, the credit line: "based on a screen treatment by Kevin McClory, Jack Whittingham, and Ian Fleming" (in that order) was to be included in future editions of the novel (though Ian Fleming's main author credit remained). Additionally, McClory was given the right to be producer of any film adaptation of the book (the first occurred in 1965). He also received the rights to produce a second adaptation of the book a set time after the first movie's release. It allowed him to later produce Never Say Never Again in 1983. In the 1990s Sony and McClory had planned a third remake of Thunderball, titled Warhead 2000 A.D. with either Liam Neeson or Timothy Dalton as James Bond. Because of that, MGM and Danjaq, L.L.C. (owner of EON Productions) filed suit against Sony and McClory, barring them from making the film. Plans for this third movie were abandoned in 1999 when Sony settled with MGM, ceding any rights to making James Bond films. MGM obtained the film distribution rights to Never Say Never Again in 1997.
Comic strip adaptation
As with all previous Bond books, a comic strip adaptation of Fleming's original novel was published as a daily comic strip which was printed in the British Daily Express newspaper and syndicated around the world. The adaptation began on December 11, 1961, but for reasons unknown (though possibly related to the lawsuit), the Daily Express suddenly cancelled the strip (on the orders of Lord Beaverbrook) as of February 10, 1962. Writer Henry Gammidge and illustrator John McLusky were given only a few days notice and were forced to wrap up the story in only two daily strips. The James Bond comic strip would resume in the Daily Express in 1964 with an adaptation of On Her Majesty's Secret Service. The abbreviated Thunderball strip was reprinted by Titan Books in 2004.
The film
Plot summary
The movie version of Thunderball is a close adaptation of the Ian Fleming novel, possibly because the book, itself, was an adapted screenplay; except for minor fluctuations, the plots of the film and the novel are almost identical.
Filmed in Caribbean locales, Thunderball is remarkable for its underwater scenes, which contributed greatly to the popularisation of scuba diving as recreation.
Claudine Auger, a former Miss France, and Luciana Paluzzi play Domino Derval and Fiona Volpe, the film's two Bond Girls. The Fiona Volpe character (who is not in the novel) is the first Bond Girl not to be redeemed by Bond during the course of the adventure; she is instead killed by a bullet intended for Bond. One of Volpe's fellow S.P.E.C.T.R.E. henchmen aimed a gun at Bond, as he and Volpe danced in a nightclub, but, in a typically over-the-top plot element, Bond sees the gunman while glancing to the rear, and the bullet passes between two of Bond's fingers and into Volpe's back. It is a matter of debate whether or not Bond intentionally turns Fiona into the bullet's path at the last moment or if her shooting is accidental.
You will find similarities beetween Fiona and Fatima Blush from Never Say Never Again
Originally, Thunderball's theme song was to have been a piece entitled "Mr. Kiss-Kiss Bang-Bang", reflecting the popularity of the character in non-English markets where he was given this nickname by Italian media. The producers insisted on having a theme song that incorporated the title of the film, however, so this song was rejected. The unusual title was used in some foreign releases of the film. The melody of "Mr. Kiss-Kiss Bang-Bang", meanwhile, remained an integral part of the soundtrack. The song was recorded by Dionne Warwick. When the new theme song, "Thunderball" was recorded, Tom Jones was hired; he reportedly fainted after singing the operatic high note heard at the end of the song.
Some sources suggest that the film was, at one point, going to be renamed Mr. Kiss-Kiss Bang-Bang however the documentary Inside Thunderball says the film was always intended to carry the title of Fleming's best-selling novel.
S.P.E.C.T.R.E.
This film is the third time S.P.E.C.T.R.E. was used in the Bond movies, the first being Dr. No, in which the title character tells Bond he works for the organization; S.P.E.C.T.R.E. is the force behind the events of the film From Russia with Love.
In the novels, S.P.E.C.T.R.E.'s first, and last, appearance was in Thunderball, although Ernst Stavro Blofeld would later reappear, working on his own.
Cast & characters
Crew
Thunderball is the only James Bond movie made during the lifetime of Albert R. Broccoli for which Broccoli was not the executive producer.
Soundtrack
Original Thunderball soundtrack cover The theme song Thunderball was sung by Tom Jones. Bond production legend has it that Jones fainted in the recording booth when singing the song's final, high note. The song "Mr. Kiss-Kiss, Bang-Bang" originally was to be the main title, however, it was changed, because the producers felt the theme song should be tied to the title of the film. That song was performed by Dionne Warwick and would be heard at film's end.
The soundtrack was composed by James Bond film crew veteran, John Barry; it is his third soundtrack for the series. This listing is the complete soundtrack of the film, the last seven tracks were unreleased in 1965.
Track listing
- Thunderball — Tom Jones
- Chateau Flight
- The Spa
- Switching the Body
- The Bomb
- Cafe Martinique
- Thunderball
- Death of Fiona
- Bond Below Disco Volante
- Search for the Vulcan
- 007
- Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
- Gunbarrel / Traction Table / Gassing the Plane / Car Chase
- Bond Meets Domino /Shark Tank / Lights out for Paula / For King and Country
- Street Chase
- Finding the Plane / Underwater Ballet / Bond with SPECTRE Frogmen / Leiter to the Rescue / Bond Joins
- Underwater Battle
- Underwater Mayhem / Death of Largo / End Titles
- Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (Mono) — Dionne Warwick
Vehicles & gadgets
- Aston Martin DB5 previously in Goldfinger, is reused in Thunderball with the hitherto surprise modification of rear water cannons.
- Jet Pack - Bond uses the Jet Pack to escape from the S.P.E.C.T.R.E. château in the teaser.
- Homer Pill - When Bond swallows it, its signal helps headquarters trace his whereabouts.
- Rebreather - A small scuba device that can be carried unnoticed on one's person, and, when used, provides a few minutes of air in underwater emergencies.
See also
Locations
Film locations
Shooting locations
Trivia
- Throughout the entire film, James Bond never introduces himself as "Bond, James Bond".
- Although this is the fourth, official James Bond film, it is the first time Sean Connery performed the gun barrel intro sequence. Previously, stuntman Bob Simmons performed the gun barrel shooting sequence.
- The name of Emilio Largo's yacht, the "Disco Volante" means "Flying Saucer" in Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. In the 1983 remake Never Say Never Again, Largo's ship is named the "Flying Saucer".
- Some prints of this film are lacking the trademark "James Bond will return" message at the end, while others include it.
Awards
See also
- Casino Royale for further information on the James Bond legal battles between Sony and MGM.
External links
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