Sean Connery’s Best Bond Film
After yesterday’s blog on George Lazenby and my favorite James Bond movie, “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service,” Amanda Reed posted in a conversation with me on Facebook that “Sean Connery will always be my #1 Bond.” Quick aside for confused millennials, that’s not “hashtag 1,” believe it or not, that used to used as/known as “number.” 😉
Anyway, this is the feeling of the vast majority of fans. Sean Connery was the first to be the British super spy on the big screen, and would up playing him in seven movies. So, it’s natural that he would always be thought of as best. Among the Bond films he did, two are generally regarded as his finest (and therefore the series’ finest) are “From Russia With Love” and “Goldfinger.”
Both are GREAT choices. However, for me, the greatest Sean Connery, Bond film is 1965’s “Thunderball.” This was the fourth movie in the series and undoubtedly faced REAL pressure as it was the immediate follow-up to “Goldfinger.” That movie, with it’s Astin Martin DB5 equipped (see above) with an ejector seat (the first TRULY cool Bond gadget), had been an international blockbuster.
Not to be outdone, in it’s opening sequence, “Thunderball” shows 007 making a hasty getaway in a Bell Rocket Belt (developed by Bell Aircraft Corporation). It still looks fantastically cool today…and was completely legit-no special effects magic there.
However, what sets Thunderball aside for me are the combination of three things:
1. A believable plot. Let’s face it, some Bond films, you REALLY have to suspend disbelief. However, the best movies in the series are the ones where the threat presented seems totally plausible. “Thunderball’s” high-jacking of a military aircraft/theft of two nuclear warheads for worldwide extortion fits that bill.
2. Fantastic location. Especially in high definition, Nassau, Bahamas has never looked better
3. The amazing underwater photography. This was GROUNDBREAKING-especially in the climactic battle scene-so much so that John Stears won an Academy Award for his work in visual effects.
“Thunderball” earned over $141 million dollars worldwide making it far and away the most successful Bond film to date ($141 million is a good haul for a movie today…in 1965?! Forget about it!).
If you’ve never seen it, check it out. If you have…I bet it’s been awhile. Thunderball is definitely worth a summer download/streaming escape.
