The various Thunderball variations

edited September 2021 in Bond Movies Posts: 57
This has been a bug bear of mine for almost a decade, and I am no closer to finding the info I still seek.
I am curious if any Thunderball fans might know the answer to these questions.

According to 'Inside Thunderball' featurette, Claudine Auger, and Adolfo Celi's original voice tracks were recorded for the film.Only to replaced sadly by Peter Hunt in the final edit.
Do their original voice tracks still exist?
Apart from the odd clip that was used on the featurette.
And if so do they appear on any version of the film?

In one of the older versions of the film, Celi's original voice can heard saying the lines near the end of the film...
"we still got one bomb aboard", but again this appears and disappears, depending on which version you watch.

Also Sean's line, after he exits Largo's shark pool about "Now you can tell about the one that got away" was also used in a mono version of the film?
Which appears on a mono audio track for the film, which is on the Ultimate Edition DVD series.
So does "Mantaray line". Which was a voice over by Earl Cameron not Rik van Nutter. Said in the helicopter scene where Leiter and Bond find the submerged Disco Volante.

And the opening and closing titles with 'Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang'... did they ever appear separately, or together on any version of video or DVD or??
And if so are these versions still available?

Also according to the many stills that are now available of the film, there have definitely been scenes missed out in the final edit.For some reason.Even more perplexing is that there are clips of those scenes in the trailers. Most common clip being "The things I do for England" which Sean says whilst Luciana's character Fiona Volpe helps him undress.

I would really love to understand why the editing is so haywire, and why there are so many anomalies with the film, although it does still add to it's magic, and mystique.

This was my first introduction to the world of Bond. December 1965... and I have been hooked ever since.
The film is brilliant, despite it's flaws, and for me, is Bond at his best.

Hopefully one day I will find someone who can clarify and answer the queries above.
I still live in hope.

Comments

  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,215
    As far as I know, there are two official versions of this film released, and both made it on home video.

    The first version was released in the UK, and that’s currently what’s offered on blu-ray/digital. Then there’s the US version, which has alternate/additional lines and different mixing of the John Barry score during the underwater climax. The biggest difference is the ending. In the UK version, when Bond and Domino are pulled up by the sky hook the James Bond theme plays. However, the US version has an entirely different piece of music that’s a brand new recoding of Bond theme that segues into the Thunderball theme. This version has only been available on VHS and LaserDisc, and I wish the blu-rays have kept that version because IMO it’s the better end music.




    As for the other bits you mentioned like the original line readings of Domino and Largo before dubbing, Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, “the things I do for England”, they’ve never been in any cut I’m aware of. They were show on special DVD featurettes and TV specials like “The Incredible World of James Bond”. In the case of the latter, that aired on TV a full month before the release of the film, so the dubbing probably wasn’t finished yet which is why the actors’ original voice is heard.
  • Thanks for your quick response MsPython.
    I did read that there were supposed to be two
    versions available, but never got clarity what they were.I think the naivety on my part to just presume that just because there is a mono audio version available on UE set, that this would have all the alternate lines, and differences, to say the least, like I said was my just my naive thinking.

    So it is the US version of the film, that that sueges into the Thunderball theme?
    I am here in the states right now, and every copy I have seen over here just has the Bond theme on it's own. But like the clip you posted above it's out there.Somewhere.Maybe on Laserdisc?
    I even remember watching one time in the Uk on Saturday evening.In 70's or 80's.

    Maybe the snippets of Auger, and Celi's original voice tracks were lifted from TIWOJB? Again I must re visit this documentary.As that would make perfect sense.As you say the Tv special aired before the the film was released in it's final version.

    Getting closer to ending my quest. Certainly appreciate your swift response MSPython.
  • edited September 2021 Posts: 3,333
    This might save you some time tracking down the documentary @macdrummer. As the video demonstrates, Celi's original voice lacks the crystal clear clarity of the dubbed voice. As for the different versions, it appears this was mostly down to the various VHS reissues of the movie and where they took their source copy from. Why there are different versions still appears to be a mystery.


    macdrummer wrote: »
    And the opening and closing titles with 'Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang'... did they ever appear separately, or together on any version of video or DVD or?? And if so are these versions still available?
    This was only available on the Deluxe Collector's Edition of the Thunderball Laserdisc with it's dual audio soundtrack options. By a simple press of a button, you could hear Dionne Warwick's Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang in place of Tom Jone's titled song and vice versa. The Laserdisc is still the best-looking version of the movie I've seen.

    It's also worth noting the difference between TMWTGG trailer that shows a different duel between Scaramanga and James Bond than the one featured in the final cut of the movie.
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,215
    You can actually switch on the blu-rays, I believe. One of the commentary tracks pauses in favor of playing the alternate title song.
  • Posts: 16,223
    There's a great article on the various THUNDERBALL edits in this issue of GOLDENEYE from The Ian Fleming Foundation.

    s-l400.jpg
  • Posts: 3,333
    You can actually switch on the blu-rays, I believe. One of the commentary tracks pauses in favor of playing the alternate title song.
    Thank you @MakeshiftPython. I was wondering if the blu-rays had finally caught up with some of the features found on the old laserdiscs. Good to know.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,598
    As far as I know, there are two official versions of this film released, and both made it on home video.

    The first version was released in the UK, and that’s currently what’s offered on blu-ray/digital. Then there’s the US version, which has alternate/additional lines and different mixing of the John Barry score during the underwater climax. The biggest difference is the ending. In the UK version, when Bond and Domino are pulled up by the sky hook the James Bond theme plays. However, the US version has an entirely different piece of music that’s a brand new recoding of Bond theme that segues into the Thunderball theme. This version has only been available on VHS and LaserDisc, and I wish the blu-rays have kept that version because IMO it’s the better end music.




    As for the other bits you mentioned like the original line readings of Domino and Largo before dubbing, Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, “the things I do for England”, they’ve never been in any cut I’m aware of. They were show on special DVD featurettes and TV specials like “The Incredible World of James Bond”. In the case of the latter, that aired on TV a full month before the release of the film, so the dubbing probably wasn’t finished yet which is why the actors’ original voice is heard.

    Ah wow, I’ve always wanted that epilogue scene to use Barry’s music as on the soundtrack; that’s much better. And that’s definitely not a fan edit on YouTube?
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,215
    The video on YouTube sounds like a fan’s attempt at replicating it, taking the DVD clip and placing the final cue from the soundtrack (that’s why the foley isn’t present), but it’s pretty accurate.
  • edited September 2021 Posts: 57
    Thank you Bondsum for your input and suggestions.
    Will definitely check out the blu-ray copy of TB.

    Thanks THR is this Goldeneye article available on line through the Fleming website?

    As much as it equally intrigues me, and confuses me, I actually enjoy the mystique brought about.Due to these different edits. It just adds to the magic of this particular Bond flick!

    I just watched the casino scene again, and like many copies I have watched recently of the film, it too shares an edit that many copies have. And I paraphrase " It's your spector against mine? "Whatever do you mean?" "The spectre of defeat.That your luck was about to change"
    Those lines are missing on certain copies of the film.
    The mystery of the mass edits...continues.

    Also I watched 'Triple Cross' recently with Claudine Auger.Great film.Also directed by Terence Young, and I don't think she was dubbed in that film.
    She had a sweet husky voice.
  • Posts: 16,223
    macdrummer wrote: »
    Thank you Bondsum for your input and suggestions.
    Will definitely check out the blu-ray copy of TB.

    Thanks THR is this Goldeneye article available on line through the Fleming website?

    As much as it equally intrigues me, and confuses me, I actually enjoy the mystique brought about.Due to these different edits. It just adds to the magic of this particular Bond flick!

    I just watched the casino scene again, and like many copies I have watched recently of the film, it too shares an edit that many copies have. And I paraphrase " It's your spector against mine? "Whatever do you mean?" "The spectre of defeat.That your luck was about to change"
    Those lines are missing on certain copies of the film.
    The mystery of the mass edits...continues.

    Also I watched 'Triple Cross' recently with Claudine Auger.Great film.Also directed by Terence Young, and I don't think she was dubbed in that film.
    She had a sweet husky voice.

    I think the GOLDENEYE magazine was only available in print. I could be mistaken, though. Didn't see it on the website.
  • No worries.Thanks TTR.
  • Posts: 16,223
    macdrummer wrote: »
    No worries.Thanks TTR.

    Anytime.
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