thunderball

Sean Connery as James Bond in You Only Live Twice (1967)

RIP Sir Sean Connery

Sean Connery is and always will be the best and my favorite actor to portray James Bond. My favorite James Bond movie may change periodically, but I’ll always point to Connery’s iconic introduction scene from Dr. No as the true definition of James Bond. RIP.

The henchman in Thunderball (1965) is shark bait!

Little fish

It seems to me that in Thunderball (1965), whenever there’s little to no dialogue or when the iconic hazy, lazy elevator music plays, it’s always an enjoyable scene. That’s not to say that the music in question here is poor – I actually think it’s catchy and I get the melody stuck in my head after a viewing and get a bit drowsy the more I hum it to myself. I think it perfectly encapsulates the laid-back Caribbean setting of the movie, alongside its sinister villain. And this scene is a perfect example of that.

It starts out with Bond arriving at his hotel, where the receptionist (like most) is smitten – so much so that they show a second shot of her adoring face as Bond leaves! Bond skips his room and heads to Paula Caplan’s, where he checks his previously set up hollowed-out book recording device. The harpsichord (I think that’s the instrument at least…) part of this music gets me every time! Love it!

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Ladislav Kutze (George Pravda), Domino Derval (Claudine Auger) and James Bond (Sean Connery) at the end of Thunderball (1965)

Kutze Got Shafted

Ladislav Kutze (George Pravda), Domino Derval (Claudine Auger) and James Bond (Sean Connery) at the end of Thunderball (1965)

Ladislav Kutze (George Pravda), Domino Derval (Claudine Auger) and James Bond (Sean Connery) at the end of Thunderball (1965)

No glory for Ladislav Kutze – the true hero of Thunderball!

Desmond Llewelyn as Q, his loud shirt as a fashion statement and Sean Connery as James Bond in Thunderball (1965)

Q’s Pineapple Thunderball Shirt is LOUD!

Desmond Llewelyn as Q, his loud shirt as a fashion statement and Sean Connery as James Bond in Thunderball (1965)

Desmond Llewelyn as Q, his loud shirt as a fashion statement and Sean Connery as James Bond in Thunderball (1965)

Q and his awesome pineapple Hawaiian shirt from Thunderball (1965)

Q and his awesome pineapple Hawaiian shirt from Thunderball (1965)

Leave it to the gadget man to make a fashion statement. The crazy pineapple shirt is fitting for a trip to Jamaica (along with his straw fedora)! I’d buy both if they were available for a good Bond themed Halloween costume…

Adolfo Celi as Emilio Largo and Sean Connery as James Bond in Thunderball (1965)

Seems terribly difficult

Adolfo Celi as Emilio Largo and Sean Connery as James Bond in Thunderball (1965)

Adolfo Celi as Emilio Largo and Sean Connery as James Bond in Thunderball (1965)

“No it isn’t, is it?”

Every James Bond Movie Title Animation

Thunderball Trailer Animation

Thunderball Trailer Animation

Thunderball Trailer AnimationCool GIF from Thunderball’s trailer. I’ve always loved the simplistic elements of retro James Bond movie trailers!

Atomic Bomb from Thunderball (1965) saying Handle Like Eggs

Atomic Bomb – “Handle Like Eggs”

An atomic bomb in Thunderball (1965) advises to Handle Like EggsAn atomic bomb in Thunderball (1965) advises to “Handle Like Eggs”

Sean Connery as James Bond in Thunderball (1965)

Shadow Bond

Sean Connery as James Bond in Thunderball (1965)Sean Connery as James Bond in Thunderball (1965)

Adolfo Celi as Emilio Largo in Thunderball (1965)

We were THIS close to losing Number 2…

Adolfo Celi as Emilio Largo in Thunderball (1965)Adolfo Celi as Emilio Largo in Thunderball (1965)

Largo needs to look both ways before crossing the street!