Review of Thunderball (1965) by Danny R — 25 Nov 2011

The fourth in the highly successful and now legendary United Artists James Bond series was the first Bond film to receive an Oscar for it's then cutting-edge special effects by John Stears, It was also the most financially lucrative to date firmly establishing this action/adventure saga as a genre in it's own right, a thrilling Bond adventure in which the ominous criminal organization know as SPECTRE has stolen two atomic bombs from a NATO Vulcan bomber and threatens to destroy the city of Miami, if it is not paid 100 million pounds sterling.

The dashing Sir Sean Connery gives an absolutely irresistible performance as James Bond and Aldo Celi as Emilio Largo the number two highest ranking agent of SPECTRE makes a formidable Bond villain. The studio pumped $9,000,000 worth of gadgetry and special effects into "Thunderball", the rocket pack used by Bond in thrilling pre-credit sequence was an actual working model developed by Bell Laboratories for U.

S. Army, an Army operator performed the flying stunt in the film for Sean Connery, Bond's impressive battle against the SPECTRE divers is one of the most elaborate underwater action sequences ever filmed, director Terence Young and underwater director Ricou Browing staged the gripping and suspenseful battle filmed on location in the Bahamas.

Thunderball packs one hell of a wallop it, became an international box office phenomenon which often was playing 24 hours a day in theaters around the world, for it's razor-sharp wit and escapist thrills and excitement this lavish Bond adventure can't be beat.

Highly Recommended.