Plot synopsis

Under the guidance of its number 2 operative, SPECTRE hijacks two atomic bombs from a British Vulcan aircraft during a NATO training exercise off the coast of Nassau. An ultimatum is delivered to the prime minister of England threatening to use the bombs to destroy a major city in Britain or the USA unless an exorbitant ransom is paid. In a desperate race against time, M assigns 007 to the Bahamas to thwart SPECTRE. Bond makes the acquaintance of Largo, who poses as a wealthy legitimate businessman, and seduces Largo's mistress, Domino Derval, who ultimately plays a key role in helping Bond discover the bombs.

Agent 007 learns that Largo and an underwater army are transporting the atomic bombs to Miami Beach, the intended target of their attack. He and a group of US Navy Aquaparas defeat the SPECTRE armada in a spectacular underwater battle. Largo escapes on his hydrofoil yacht, the 'Disco Volante', and in a pitched fight with Bond gains the upper hand before ultimately being assassinated by Domino. The disarmed bombs are finally destroyed when the 'Disco Volante' crashes, leaving Bond and Domino to be rescued at sea.

Review
Not quite as good as the previous films, but its underwater special effects allow the Bond films to successfully divert from the others. The allies and villains are both played with skill, and Rik Van Nutter gives the best performance to date of Felix Leiter. Well worth a watch.
9/10

4. Thunderball
Official video blurb

The first of the aquatic Bond films, 'Thunderball' had a budget of $5.6m spent mostly on the incredible underwater sets and photography. Some of the unique gadgetry supplied by Q includes the jet pack which propels Bond into a unique flying escape.

When casting the role of beautiful Bond girl, Domino, English actress Julie Christie was considered for the role but it was eventually offered to former Miss France, Claudine Auger, who was thought to have more of the assets required for the voluptuous role.

SPECTRE needs money and hatches a plan to hold Britain to ransom. They hijack a Vulcan bomber carrying two atomic bombs on board and threaten to detonate the bombs unless £100m in uncut diamonds is delivered. All '00' agents are put on the case but only James Bond has a lead which takes him to Nassau and a confrontation with Emilio Largo, his shark-infested swimming pool and his mistress Domino, in the search for the submerged stolen weapons.

Official website plot synopsis

The thrills never let up as James Bond dives into this riveting adventure filled with explosive confrontations and amazing underwater action sequences. As Agent 007, Sean Connery brings his characteristic style, humor and magnetism to one of the most exciting films of the phenomenally popular series.

In a bold and deadly scheme, the evil SPECTRE organization hijacks a NATO plane and seizes two atomic warheads, each capable of killing millions of innocent people. As the world is held hostage by the threat of a nuclear nightmare, Bond jumps into action, racing against the clock as the trail leads him to tropical Nassau. There he meets Emilio Largo (Adolfo Celi), a high-ranking agent of SPECTRE, and the stunning Domino (Claudine Auger), with whom Bond shares an irresistible attraction. The confrontation builds to an epic battle on the ocean floor, as Bond and his allies fight to avert a catastrophe of disastrous proportions.
From 007's thrilling jet-pack flight to his heart-stopping clash with Largo's killer sharks, Thunderball is a stupendous mixture of action, romance and edge-of-your-seat suspense.

Cast
Claudine Auger as 'Domino Derval'
Martine Beswick as 'Paula Caplan'
Molly Peters as 'Patricia Fearing'
Adolfi Celi as 'Emilio Largo'
Luciana Paluzzi as 'Fiona Volpe'
Guy Doleman as 'Count Lippe'
George Pravda as 'Ladislav Kutze'
Paul Stassino as 'Angelo Palazzi'
Philip Locke as 'Vargas'
Bill Cummings as 'Quist'
Bob Simmons and Rose Alba as 'Jacques Boitier'
Anthony Dawson as 'Ernst Stavro Blofeld'
Rik Van Nutter as 'Felix Leiter'
Earl Cameron as 'Pinder'
Desmond Llewelyn as 'Q'
Bernard Lee as 'M'
Lois Maxwell as 'Miss Moneypenny'

Title song: 'Thunderball' performed by Tom Jones