The recent James Bond picture Quantum of Solace arrived to a chorus of jeers from many fans. These critics complained that the film lakced fun; that the filmmakers tried to imitate more modern action heroes instead of allowing Bond to be his usual cheeky self. But I'd like to hear what these folks have to say about the character's 1965 outing, Thunderball. Starring Sean Connery in his fourth time at bat as 007, Thunderball is a surprisingly dull excuse for an adventure. Though it goes above and beyond in providing viewers with an exotic locale, it lazily slogs through its set pieces without the slightest hint of spirit or spark.

Claudine Auger

After dispatching an old foe, Bond takes off to a health resort for some much-needed rest and relaxation. But unbeknownst to him, terrorist group SPECTRE is underway on their latest devious plot. With the help of an impostor, the group succeeds in hijacking a military aircraft and making off with the two atomic bombs it had stored onboard. SPECTRE intends on using the bombs to hold two major world cities for ransom, but luckily, Bond is quickly drafted into service. Assigned to conduct his investigation in sunny Nassau, Bond works quickly in getting close to Emilio Largo (Adolfo Celi), SPECTRE's second-in-command and mastermind of the whole scheme. Doing so also means cozying up to Largo's fetching mistress Domino (Claudine Auger), and with the ransom deadline fast approaching, he'll need all the help he can get to prevent catastrophe from taking place.

It's easy to understand why Thunderball remains one of the most successful and enjoyed of the Bond series, even over 40 years down the road. The three films before it (Dr. No, From Russia with Love, and Goldfinger) were all admired, but they felt a little cramped and stuffy at times. The franchise was just getting its sea legs and wasn't about to do anything daring until audiences got the hang of Bond. They eventually did, so along came Thunderball to use its picturesque locations to give viewers a breath of fresh air. But while I don't deny that this is one of the most visually pleasant Bond pictures, it gets far too caught up in showing off how pretty it is. The underwater cinematography is terrific, and I enjoyed the film's overall polished appearance. But plain and simple, Thunderball forgets how to be fun -- which, as far as these films go, is a veritable death sentence.

Sean Connery, Luciana Paluzzi, Adolfo Celi

The best Bond flicks were the ones that wrapped you up in a blanket of ludicrous stories and preposterous action sequences. Thunderball provides neither; not only is its premise fairly down to earth. The film never gains enough momentum for the thrills to get your blood pumping. It keeps stopping to show either Bond or the bad guys traipsing around in the ocean, which is fun until it starts interrupting the story's flow. The dreadful absence of action doesn't help matters either; the climactic battle between Largo's lackeys and some nameless do-gooders is fun, but aside from a scant skirmish or two, that's all you get. The rest of film almost feels like a promotional video for the Bahamas, as if you're watching someone else having fun at a party that you're not invited to.

While this does amount to a pretty lethargic experience, Thunderball thankfully retains a few salvagable aspects. Though he's always been the quintessential 007, Connery actually turns in one of his better performances as Bond. Centered but not completely humorless, he's particularly adept at handling his duties as a lothario and one-man army here. The Bond Girl factor is also in fine form, thanks to the undeniably stunning Auger as Domino. But as far as characters go, I got a much bigger kick out of Luciana Paluzzi, whose femme fatale served as quite a formidable foe for Bond. On the downside, I could've cared less for Adolfo Celi as Largo. He's as rubber-stamped as villains come, with only an eye patch to distinguish him from the most forgettable of Bond baddies. Rik Van Nutter had even less to do as Bond comrade Felix Leiter, and Martine Beswick's beauty was wasted in a thankless supporting role.

Thunderball was made at an awkward phase during which the Bond franchise was just settling into its surroundings. The stories would soon begin to stray from their pseudo-serious roots and adopt decidedly sillier dispositions. It's a shame that Thunderball is so adamant on keeping a straight face. While it easily could've been a blast and a half, don't be surprised to see even the slightest hint of a playful spirit quickly quashed.

Director: Terence Young

Writers: Richard Maibaum and John Hopkins (story by Kevin McClory, Jack Wittingham, and Ian Fleming)

Cast: Sean Connery, Claudine Auger, Adolfo Celi, Luciana Paluzzi, Rik Van Nutter, Martine Beswick, Paul Stassino

Rating: PG (violence, sensuality)

Classic Movie Guide Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Run Time: 130 minutes

Studio: United Artists

Format: Color, widescreen

Photo credits: United Artists