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These ‘Bond Boats’ Have Made 007 Look Good on the Water for 60 Years

Ranging from cruise ships to go-fast boats to sailing yachts, these vessels have been major supporting actors in bond films for six decades., chrissie mcclatchie, chrissie mcclatchie's most recent stories.

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Pick a James Bond title and chances are you’ll find a yacht of the same name: There’s a Goldfinger , Diamonds are Forever , The World is Not Enough , Octopussy , Quantum of Solace , Skyfall and more. In fact, ever since Denison built the 118.1-foot For Your Eyes Only in 1985 for John Staluppi, the American businessman has named his 22 yachts after 007 films.

If the movie titles are famous, the yachts are in a league of their own. The MI6 secret agent has chased bad guys on zippy go-fast boats, romanced Bond Girls on breezy sailing yachts and infiltrated villain’s lairs that masquerade as sleek pleasure yachts.

For some vessels, the big-screen appearance has boosted their charter credibility, while others have backstories straight out of a Hollywood script. A few have even become available on the brokerage market, offering buyers a chance to invest in a piece of 007 history.

Here are nine of the most recognizable.

‘Delos’ (ex ‘Aurora’) in ‘From Russia With Love’

As well as starring as Spectre headquarters in 1963’s From Russia with Love , which was Sean Connery’s second role as 007, the 293-foot Delos inspired, of all things, “The Love Boat,” according to current owner Christopher Wilson. After falling into a state of disrepair, the German-built cruise ship was snapped up by Wilson, a former tech-entrepreneur in 2008 when he found it listed for sale on Craigslist. Wilson is now 15 years into an extensive restoration project and hopes to convert the historic vessel into a museum and boutique hotel.

‘Kingdom 5KR’ (ex ‘Nabila’) in ‘Never Say Never Again’

Originally built for Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi by Benetti in 1980, Never Say Never Again ’s fictional MY Flying Saucer has a Hollywood backstory of its own. After its turn alongside Sean Connery in the 1983 movie, the Sultan of Brunei seized the boat and sold it to Donald Trump and it became Trump Princess . In 1991, another Saudi billionaire businessman, Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, took ownership. He renamed it Kingdom 5KR and keeps the boat almost permanently based in Antibes on the Côte d’Azur.

‘Trafalgar’ (ex ‘Moonmaiden II’) in ‘The Living Daylights’

In the pre-title sequence of 1987’s The Living Daylights , Timothy Dalton smolders on-screen in his first outing as the gentlemen spy, quite literally, as he parachutes onto the aft deck of Moonmaiden II while on fire. Sure, there are easier ways to board a yacht, but when does 007 ever play it safe? Now known as Trafalgar , this classic canoe stern yacht from the 70s is currently looking for a new owner via Ocean Independence with an asking price of $2,500,000.

Glastron GT-150 in ‘Live and Let Die’

The 1972 Glastron GT-150 used in Roger Moore’s chase scene in Live and Let Die was probably 007’s most action-packed water run. It involved ten minutes of running at speed through the backwaters of the Louisiana Bayou, jumping bridges and eventually seeing Bond blowing up his nemesis’ boat, all in the name of Her Majesty. As it turns out, 26 Glastrons were used in the filming, and nine were GT-150s—presumably to replace ones that were trashed during the action scenes.

Riva Aquarama in ‘Goldeneye’

In 1995’s Goldeneye , Pierce Brosnan announced his arrival as 007 in typical Bond style as he sped out of Monaco’s Port Hercules on a stylish Riva Aquarama towards a tri-deck motoryacht at anchor. Cast for that part was the 142-foot Northern Cross , launched in 1991 from Sweden’s Marinteknik Verkstads. Fun fact: while Brosnan went on to appear in three more films, the glitzy Mediterranean principality hasn’t appeared in a Bond movie since.

‘Soufrière’ in ‘Casino Royale’

Casino Royale heralded the start of a new era for the film franchise. Not only was the 2006 release the first time Daniel Craig’s gritty portrayal of the character graced the screen, but the film also marked a transition away from white boats: who can forget that classic scene where Bond glided into Venice with Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) on the 54-foot Soufrière from British boatbuilder Spirit Yachts. The vessel is currently on the market with Berthon International for $534,000.

‘Casino Royale’ in ‘Casino Royale’

While Bond navigated the Grand Canal on Soufrière , nemesis Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen) had set up a floating lair on a slick 108-foot Sunseeker Predator named Casino Royale . With top speeds of 45 knots, this sporty vessel is built for quick escapes — or, more realistically, nipping between Saint Tropez and Monaco for day trips during summer. A foredeck Jacuzzi and garage brimming with toys have made the boat a favorite. It is currently for charter by AeroVanti in Florida.

‘Aria 1’ (ex ‘Regina’) in ‘Skyfall’

Continuing his penchant for timeless sailing yachts, Craig sails towards near-certain death — yet again — with Severine (Bérénice Marlohe) in 2012’s Skyfall . The fictional Chimera was played by Regina , a 183.1-foot schooner built by Turkey’s Pruva in 2011. The gulet-style boat was a popular charter vessel until its sale in 2018. Under new ownership and now called Aria 1 , it is currently based in Greece.

Spirit 46 in ‘No Time to Die’

Like any experienced yacht owner, Craig’s 007 understands that, when you find a yacht builder you like, you stick with it. Trading up in 2021’s No Time to Die , Bond’s companion to his idyllic Caribbean retirement is a Spirit 46, again from Spirit Yachts. Yet, similar to its owner, this model’s competitive edge is always simmering just beneath the surface and the sleek-46-foot sailing yacht has proven performance credentials in regatta racing.

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James Bond boats: 11 times yachts have stolen the show in a 007 movie

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MI6’s most famous fictional agent can’t seem to keep away from the water - here’s our pick of the best James Bond boats and the fascinating stories behind them…

Who can forget Roger Moore’s comedic rendition of James Bond flying the Glastron speedboat in Live and Let Die ? Or the gorgeous Sunseeker Sovereign 17 in Quantum of Solace , starring the British actor with the bluest eyes, Daniel Craig?

James Bond boats are a key feature of every film they appear in. Sleek, classy, powerful and smart, just like everybody’s favourite British secret agent, these vessels have at times stolen the show, even from 007 himself.

Read on to see some of the beautiful and at times wacky craft that have appeared in James Bond films over the past 60 years.

11 of the most iconic James Bond boats

Fairey Huntress and Fairey Huntsman in From Russia With Love (1963)

It all began with a young Sean Connery heading to Venice, accompanied by Tatiana Romanova, four spare fuel barrels and a flare gun. When the baddies track him down, 007’s explosive escape is as spectacular as it is predictable.

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The producers clearly loved Fairey so much that they couldn’t pick just one model for Bond to drive – the exterior shots show a Huntress, but the interiors are from the Huntsman model. Meanwhile, the Venice boat chase was actually shot in Scotland.

Read more about the Fairey Huntsman

Disco Volante in Thunderball (1965)

The fictional Disco Volante that appeared in 1965’s Thunderball had quite the starring role. Owned by villain Emilio Largo, the hydrofoil boat was purchased with SPECTRE funds to carry two nuclear weapons. It cost the global terrorist organisation £250,000, which equates to roughly £4.3million in today’s money.

The vessel is destroyed following a battle between Largo and Bond. With nobody at the helm, it runs aground and bursts into flames.

Bond production designer Sir Ken Adam stipulated that Disco Volante had to be 160ft long and capable of 50 knots. No such boat existed, so they created one that shed its aft accommodation section before rising onto hydrofoils to outrun pursuing navy ships.

Glaston GT-150 in Live and Let Die (1974)

Possibly the most famous Bond boat ever, this 135hp Glastron performed a spectacular leap over two cars and a baffled Louisiana sheriff in Bayou Des Allemands.

The helm position, normally offset to one side to allow a passenger, was centrally mounted, and underneath the boat were small black skids designed to keep the boat level on terra firma.

A grand total of 26 Glastron boats were used in the filming of Live and Let Die , 17 of which were wrecked. But it was worth it, with an iconic movie moment in the can and a new world record for the biggest boat jump – a staggering 120ft!

As an interesting post-script, Roger Moore, who learned to helm a boat specifically so that he could be filmed in the chase, clearly got a taste for boating and in retirement kept one close to his private villa in Cap d’Antibes.

Read more about the Glastron GT-150

Watch a yacht tour of Sir Roger Moore’s Sunseeker Tomahawk 41

Lotus Esprit S1 submarine in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

There is a more conventional motorboat in The Spy Who Loved Me (an Intermarine 40 was used to shuttle Bond out to meet the villain at his offshore lair) but the one everyone remembers is the amphibious Lotus personal submarine.

Fitted with fins, front-mounted rocket launchers, mines, a periscope, a smoke screen and a surface-to-air missile, it cost a reported $100,000 for Eon Productions to adapt the Esprit S1 roadcar into one of Bond’s most spectacular vehicles, lovingly known as Wet Nellie .

Glastron CV23HT in Moonraker (1979)

With all the ridiculousness of its extra-terrestrial finale, it’s easy to forget that Moonraker also features a fantastic Amazon boat chase.

Roger Moore’s silver Glastron Carlson CV23HT fends off Jaws’ henchmen by deploying homing missiles, and the big man himself is foiled when Bond makes a spectacular escape over the Iguazu falls. Wings pop out of the roof, allowing Bond to fly off as the baddies speed off the edge.

This hard top model was available to buy in a super-rare limited edition of just 300, but sadly they all came with that sparkly metal flake paint job.

The 86m superyacht Nabila was later renamed Trump Princess . Photo: Jacques Soffer / AFP / Getty

Nabila in Never Say Never Again (1983)

Never Say Never Again put villain Maximillian Largo aboard The Flying Saucer once again. This time it was the turn of the Benetti superyacht Nabila , built for Saudi billionaire Adnan Khashoggi and later sold to Donald Trump, to take centre stage.

At 86m long, this can lay claim to being the largest James Bond boat so far by quite some distance, and at the time of filming it held the honour of being the world’s largest private yacht.

Sunseeker Superhawk 34 in The World is Not Enough (1999)

In what is perhaps the most famous James Bond boat chase scene, a hair-raising race along the Thames provides a blockbuster opening to Pierce Brosnan’s second outing as 007.

Stealing Q’s retirement boat and bursting out of MI6, Bond jets through London (quite literally) and catches up with the mysterious assassin in the shadow of the Millenium Dome, after a highly implausible shortcut through the Docklands.

This time we prefer the villain’s choice of boat – a super-sleek Sunseeker Superhawk 34 that appears to be able to drive itself at times. Powerboat racer Sarah Donohue was the stunt double for Giulietta da Vinci in the scene and got the chance to show off her impressive helming skills.

Watch our yacht tour video of a restored Sunseeker Superhawk 34

Spirit 54 Soufrière in Casino Royale (2006)

The Bond reboot in 2006 coincided with the appearance of James Bond’s first proper sailing yacht.

British yard Spirit Yachts got the gig, providing the Spirit 54 Soufrière that 007 and Vesper Lynd sailed up the Grand Canal of Venice.

“Probably the most challenging voyage for Soufrière came during filming in Venice when we had to take the rig in and out ten times,” Spirit Yachts CEO and head designer Sean McMillan revealed in 2016. “She was the first sailing yacht to go up the Grand Canal for 300 years.”

Venice was just one stop on her exhaustive filming schedule though. Soufrière was shipped to the Bahamas, sailed to Puerto Rico and through the British Virgin Islands to Tortola Harbour, before being shipped to Croatia.

An honourable mention should also go to the Sunseeker Predator 108 that serves as Le Chiffre’s floating lair.

Sunseeker Sovereign 17 in Quantum of Solace (2008)

2008’s Quantum saw Bond go Sunseeker crazy, with a Sunseeker 37M Yacht, an XS2000 and a Superhawk 43 all featuring.

However, it was the vintage 1970 Sunseeker Sovereign 17 that stole the show, with Sunseeker founder Robert Braithwaite at the helm as 007 was skippered across a lake.

There’s further boating action when Bond steals a wooden fishing boat to escape the gun-toting villains giving chase in a RIB.

The spectacular chase scene that follows is courtesy of a secret stunt driver, who was hidden in the bow end of the indigenous vessel.

Pruva Regina in Skyfall (2012)

Pruva Yachting supplied the 56m sailing superyacht for Bond and Severine’s voyage to Silva’s Hashima island hideaway. Referred to as Chimera in the film, the schooner-rigged yacht was launched in Turkey the year before for 28-year-old Pruva vice-chairman Dogukan Boyaci.

For this reason all the scenes were actually shot off the coast of Bodrum, apart from Bond and Severine’s steamy shower encounter, which was done in a studio as the yacht’s shower wasn’t large enough. Pruva Regina , as the yacht was known in real life, has since been sold and renamed Aria I .

Spirit 46 in No Time To Die (2021)

Craig’s final outing as Bond saw him sail a Spirit yacht once more, this time while enjoying his retirement in Jamaica.

It was the Spirit 46 that was chosen for the big screen treatment, however, this wasn’t the only boat involved in the film, with a Royal Navy Destroyer playing a crucial role in the shocking finale.

Read an interview with Spirit Yachts CEO Sean McMillan about how the Spirit 46 was chosen for No Time To Die .

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James Bond Boats: 9 Of The Best Yachts That Featured In 007 Movies

James bond boats are the ultimate luxury toys at sea, both in real and reel life. check out 9 of the best yachts featured in these 007 films..

By: Tracy Ann Published: Sep 28, 2023 01:00 PM UTC

Who can forget Roger Moore’s portrayal of James Bond navigating the Glastron speedboat in Live and Let Die , or the striking Sunseeker Sovereign 17 featured in Quantum of Solace , starring the charismatic Daniel Craig? These remarkable vessels have become integral to the James Bond film experience, exuding the same sleek, classy, powerful, and intelligent qualities that define the iconic British secret agent himself. They’re now even fondly referred to as “James Bond boats”.

In the world of the James Bond film franchise, action transcends thrilling car chases and adrenaline-pumping land-based stunts. The renowned 007 has an unparalleled ability to conquer not only the espionage world but also the high seas. Throughout the franchise’s history, Bond has been at the helm of some of the most opulent, stylish, and undeniably sophisticated boats ever to grace the silver screen. Let’s set out on a stylish voyage to explore the quintessential James Bond boats – each boasting Bond-worthy features, unforgettable moments, and intriguing estimated costs.

James Bond boats and yachts: Why are they so crucial to the plots?

So, why are boats such stars in James Bond movies? Well, they add a splash of glamour and adventure that’s crucial for a stylish franchise like Bond. Plus, these vessels often take the movie characters to exotic spots, creating excitement. Tight quarters on a boat? Perfect for intense action scenes!

Considering how Bond is the poster boy for living the high life, it’s only natural that his enemies flaunt their riches with these lavish, expensive toys. But here’s the twist – these boats aren’t just eye candy. When things get dicey, these vessels play a key role in Bond’s daring getaways, symbolising not just money, power, and influence, but also the sweet taste of freedom from danger. In essence, they’re not just props; they’re essential players in the thrilling Bond experience.

9 James Bond boats that are both beauties and beasts on the water

1. the glastron gt-150.

Film: Live and Let Die (1973)

A true Bond classic, the Glastron GT-150 featured in Live and Let Die takes us back to the ’70s in all its glory. Bond’s sleek escape from Mr. Big’s henchmen was nothing short of breathtaking. With a white and orange colour scheme, this boat was the epitome of style at the time. Its aerodynamic design, complete with a sliding windshield, and the ability to pop up on its hydrofoils for a high-speed chase made it an unforgettable addition to the Bond universe.

Estimated Cost: Around USD 5,000 (in 1973)

2. The Wetbike

Film: The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

For a change of pace, Bond took to the water on a Wetbike in The Spy Who Loved Me . This one-man jet ski not only allowed Bond to move swiftly across the water but also had the added bonus of turning into a mini-submarine when needed. The Wetbike was the perfect gadget for an underwater adventure and showed Bond’s adaptability in any situation. It was an actual (and pretty powerful!) watercraft introduced in 1978, which only goes to show how Bond was always ahead of his time with the latest technology.

Estimated Cost: Approximately USD 3,000 (in 1977)

3. The Q Boat

Film: The World Is Not Enough (1999)

The Q Boat in The World Is Not Enough is a masterpiece of espionage engineering. Packed with hidden torpedoes, machine guns, and an ejector seat (courtesy of Q, of course), this unassuming boat became Bond’s weapon of choice in a high-speed pursuit along the Thames. This vessel, a creation by Doug Riddle, boasts a 300 bhp V8 engine that drives a jet propulsion system. And for that extra touch of Hollywood flair, it’s equipped with two rear-mounted faux jets that ignite into blazing flames. Its sleek design and arsenal of gadgets made it a standout addition to the Bond arsenal. The 14-minute (Q) boat chase in the pre-credit opening sequence of the film is the longest in 007 history.

Estimated Cost: USD 37,500 (As of 2022)

4. The Spirit 54 Yacht

Film: Casino Royale (2006)

When Bond needs a break from saving the world, he heads to the Bahamas aboard the Spirit 54 Yacht in Casino Royale . This stunning wooden yacht, with its classic lines and luxurious interior, perfectly complements Bond’s quiet moments with Vesper Lynd. It’s a symbol of elegance and sophistication, reminding us that even spies need a little downtime.

Estimated Cost: USD 1.5 million (in 2006)

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5. the sunseeker sovereign 17.

Film: Quantum of Solace (2008)

In Quantum of Solace , Bond commandeers the Sunseeker Sovereign 17, a luxury motor yacht that perfectly embodies the blend of speed, style, and substance that the Bond franchise is known for. This yacht’s sleek design and powerful engines allowed Bond to chase down villains in a breathtaking finale in Italy ‘s waters. The Sunseeker Sovereign became a symbol of Bond’s ability to tackle danger with flair.

From high-speed pursuits to tranquil moments on the open seas, these boats have added an extra layer of intrigue and glamour to the world of James Bond. As we eagerly anticipate the next instalment in the iconic franchise, one thing is for sure: Bond’s aquatic adventures will continue to be the stuff of legend, with boats that are as suave and unforgettable as the spy himself. Originally built in 1970, the Sunseeker Sovereign 17 was fully restored in 2005 to celebrate the company’s early years and long history of designing and building luxury motor yachts.

Estimated Cost: Approximately USD 4.5 million (in 2008)

6. ‘Delos’ (ex ‘Aurora’)

Film: From Russia With Love (1963)

Not only did the 293-foot Delos serve as the iconic Spectre headquarters in the 1963 classic From Russia with Love , marking Sean Connery’s second portrayal of the suave 007, but it also played an unexpected role as the inspiration behind the beloved TV series The Love Boat , as revealed by its current owner, Christopher Wilson.

Originally named ‘Wappen von Hamburg,’ this remarkable German-built cruise ship was constructed in 1955 by the renowned Blohm & Voss Shipyard. Initially designed as a luxurious 75m, diesel-powered motor yacht, it was built for one of the owners of an Italian motor car manufacturer. The ‘Wappen von Hamburg’ featured state-of-the-art engineering and had a top speed of 20 knots. In its original configuration, it accommodated up to 22 guests in 11 opulent cabins, along with staff quarters, a bar, an entertainment lounge, a games room, and a gym.

After serving in the Mediterranean Sea, the Aurora underwent an extensive 18-month refit to bring her into the 21st century. During this transformation, her length was increased by 8.7 metres, her beam stretched to 13.93 metres, and her gross weight increased by 40%.

As of 2020, M/Y Aurora was reported to be located in Sochi, Russia, where it serves as a luxurious hotel, private club, and business centre, showcasing its storied history to a new generation of enthusiasts.

Estimated cost: Priceless, considering its unique history and transformation.

7. ‘Kingdom 5KR’ (ex ‘Nabila’)

Film: Never Say Never Again (1983)

Back in 1980, the illustrious MY Flying Saucer had its origins as a vessel commissioned by the Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi and crafted by Benetti. However, its journey didn’t stop there; it soon found itself in the glamorous world of Hollywood alongside the legendary Sean Connery in the 1983 film Never Say Never Again . Following its cinematic debut, the MY Flying Saucer underwent a series of remarkable transformations. First, it came under the ownership of the Sultan of Brunei, who later sold it to none other than Donald Trump, leading to its rechristening as the “Trump Princess.”

As time flowed on, in 1991, the boat found itself under the patronage of another Saudi billionaire tycoon, Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal. With its new name, “Kingdom 5KR,” this magnificent vessel became a fixture, almost permanently moored in the enchanting locale of Antibes on the sun-kissed Côte d’Azur. Thus, MY Flying Saucer’s remarkable journey through both Hollywood and high-profile ownerships adds yet another layer to its storied history.

The yacht was built in 1980 by the yacht builder Benetti at a cost of USD 100 million (equivalent to USD 355 million in 2022). Its original interior was designed by Luigi Sturchio. According to reports, the yacht can reach a top speed of 20 knots and has a cruising speed of 17 knots, with a range of 8,500 nautical miles. With a gross tonnage of 1768.0 GT and a beam of 13.23 m, the vessel comfortably accommodates 22 guests in 11 staterooms and 31 crew members.

Estimated cost: A whopping USD 500 million. (2022)

8. ‘Trafalgar’ (ex ‘Moonmaiden II’)

Film: The Living Daylights (1987)

In the pre-title sequence of the action-packed 1987 film The Living Daylights , Timothy Dalton made his unforgettable debut as the suave and daring secret agent, James Bond. And while his mission to board the Moonmaiden II yacht was anything but conventional, it undoubtedly added to the film’s thrilling charm. In a fiery entrance, Bond descends from the sky via parachute, landing squarely on the aft deck of the Moonmaiden II. It’s safe to say that Agent 007 rarely opts for the ordinary when there’s an opportunity for cinematic flair.

Fast forward to the present day, and the Moonmaiden II, now rechristened as “Trafalgar,” is on the lookout for a new owner. This classic canoe-stern yacht, hailing from the stylish era of the 1970s, boasts timeless appeal and is currently available for acquisition through Ocean Independence. With an asking price of USD 2,500,000, this vessel offers not only a piece of cinematic history but also the promise of exciting adventures on the high seas.

Estimated cost: USD 2,500,000 million

9. Pruva Regina

Film: SkyFall (2012)

In SkyFall , Daniel Craig’s James Bond and Severine (Bérénice Marlohe) sail aboard the stunning Pruva Regina yacht, gliding through Turkey’s sapphire waters. This actual superyacht is a 183-ft schooner built in Turkey by Pruva Yachting in 2011. Regina boasts a maximum speed of 12 knots and can accommodate 12 guests in two master suites, two double staterooms, and two twin cabins, along with a crew of nine. This James Bond yacht was listed for sale in 2012 for a princely sum of USD 14 million. And here’s a fun fact: the shower scene, supposedly taking place aboard the yacht, was actually filmed in room 712 of the Four Seasons Hotel at Canary Wharf in London.

From high-speed pursuits to serene moments on open waters, these boats have added an extra layer of intrigue and glamour to the world of James Bond. As we eagerly anticipate the next chapter in this iconic franchise, one thing remains certain: Bond’s nautical adventures will continue to be legendary, with boats as suave and unforgettable as the spy himself.

Estimated cost: USD 14 million (2012)

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This story first appeared here .

(Main and featured images: MGM Studios)

Related: The Most Lavish Yachts Owned By Asian Celebrities And Entrepreneurs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What kind of boat is in Skyfall ?

In the film, the ship is referred to as the “Chimera”. The actual yacht is the 56-meter sail yacht Regina, launched by Pruva Yachting in 2011. The schooner-type yacht was built in Bodrum, Turkey. It is a modern, high-performance schooner superyacht incorporating a classic design.

What boat did James Bond jump with?

Glastron GT-150. In the movie Live and Let Die (1974), James Bond uses a Glastron GT150 speedboat in a thrilling chase through the Louisiana marches. The boat made a record-breaking 120ft jump.

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The Story of the Nabila

Written by Lars Zeppernick

Luxury yachts and boats have quite often been featured in James Bond movies, and one of the most famous examples of them was Adnan Kashoggi’s “Nabila”, named after his daughter, which doubled for the “Flying Saucer” in the Kevin McClory produced Bond movie Never Say Never Again .

The “Nabila” was built in 1980 by Fratelli Benetti shipyard in Viareggio (Italy), being the world’s largest private yacht at that time with a length of 281 ft. (85,65 metres). And even after a quarter century, it is still among the world’s largest yachts’ Top 25. The exterior design was done by Jon Bannenberg of London, while the interiors were done by Italian Luigi Sturchio.

The Bond crew was the first movie crew allowed on board of Kashoggi’s swimming palace, for which producer Jack Schwartzman made “a contribution to The Princess Grace Foundation for charity through the Kashoggi Foundation” and Kashoggi also got a Thanks “A.K.” in the movie’s end credits. This deal scored Schwartzman a few points with his leading actor Sean Connery, which otherwise he mostly failed during the lengthy shooting of Never Say Never Again .

In the movie, the vessel was called “Flying Saucer” (English for “Disco Volante”, as the its equivalent was named in Thunderball ) and served as Maximilian Largo’s mobile headquarters, at home on the seven seas. However, the ship’s command central that was shown in the movie was fictional, the work of production designer Stephen Grinds and art director Les Dilley.

The original yacht, at the height of a three storey building, featured five decks. It had three elevators, a 12-seat movie theatre, two saunas, a swimming pool, a discotheque, a jacuzzi, a billard room, eleven guest rooms with hand-carved onyx bathroom fixtures and gold-plated door-knobs and a master suite of 4 rooms, the bathroom of which had a solid gold sink. There also was a sun deck equipped with bullet-proof glass, sleeping quarters for 52 staff members, a three room “hospital”, secret passageways, push-button doors and windows and no less than 296 telephones. The steel hull ship made 18 – 20 knots and was powered by two 3000 hp Nohab Polar V 16 turbocharged diesel engines.

Several figures are known about the original price of the “Nabila”: while some sources speak of $70 million, others say that the boat itself was about $30 million plus $55 million for the luxury extras, which makes a total of $85 million. However, the building of the ship eventually led to bankrupcy of the manufacturer. The Benetti managers were very traditional and used to unwritten business rules among gentlemen—which Kashoggi wasn’t and didn’t care for. He was a tough bargainer and apart from keeping the price as low as possible, he had also insisted on several penalty clauses. After he had demanded a lot of changes during the build, Benetti had to ask for a necessary extension of the production timeframe, but he wouldn’t allow it and instead insist on the contract’s clauses—which were void after his many changing demands, but Benetti were unaware of this. The company never recovered from the losses and was sold to boat dealer Azimut in 1984, who then started to build their own boats on the shipyard, still using the traditional name Benetti.

When arms dealer Kashoggi was bankrupt himself in 1987 the “Nabila” was used to pay off a loan to the Sultan of Brunei, who sold the ship to billionaire Donald Trump at a bargain price of $29 million. Trump renamed her “Trump Princess” and had her refitted for $8 million at Amels in Holland. The boat—now with a white hull instead of the original grey painting—was brought to New York and was later partly used as a casino ship in Atlantic City.

“The Donald” himself never really had a thing for boats and he is said to never have spent a night on board. He more considered it a prize, a masterpiece “beyond a boat” and when he toured visitors, he boasted about the luxury features, such as the heliport on which he had painted a big “T” instead of the usual “H”.

In the early 1990s when Trump went bankrupt himself, he was forced to sell his beloved yacht—among other things—and thought that his name alone attached to the boat would justify to ask a price of $115 million for it. But he was dead wrong, as he didn’t even match the price for which he bought it himself. The new and current owner, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz al Saud, a wealthy Saudi businessman with ties to the Royal family, claims that he only paid $19 million for it.

The boat got another refitting at Amels, where the hull was painted beige in order to reflect the colour of sand, more gold decoration was used on the interiors and arms systems were installed. Renamed “Kingdom 5KR” (after the Prince’s company’s name, his lucky number and his childrens’ initials), the ship is permanently anchored at the IYCA in the port of Antibes (South France) with frequent visits to Cannes.

To discuss this article regarding the history of the Nabila, visit this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond 007 forum on the internet. Additional research by Heiko Baumann.

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colintraveller Senior Member

Just curious to know if they are still around what names do they go by ? or they been scrapped

AffrayedKnot Senior Member

I'll get the ball rolling here with an easy one: Never Say Never Again , 1983 (adaptation of Thunderball) the Disco Volante was renamed The Flying Saucer, (its English translation), and owned by Maximillian Largo. In real life, the 282-foot yacht that was used in long shots for the film was known as the Nabila and was built for Saudi wheeler/dealer Adnan Khashoggi. The yacht was later sold to American wheeler/dealer Donald Trump, who renamed it Trump Princess. Later Trump sold it to Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz al Saud, who christened it the Kingdom 5KR. 1980 Benetti FB116

Tomorrow Never Dies 1997 - Media Villain, Elliot Carver was quite ability armed with the "Sea Shadow" In real life, she was revealed to the public in 1993, Sea Shadow (IX-529) is an experimental stealth ship built by Lockheed for the United States Navy to determine how a low radar profile might be achieved. She was housed at the San Diego Naval Station until September 2006, when the vessel was relocated with the HMB-1 to the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet in Benicia, CA. The vessels are available for donation to a maritime museum. Length: 164 ft (50 m) Beam: 68 ft (21 m) Draft: 15 ft (4.6 m) Displacement: 563 long tons (572 t) Propulsion: Diesel-electric Speed: 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph) Sea Shadow has only 12 bunks aboard, one small microwave oven, a refrigerator and table. She was never intended to be mission capable and was never commissioned, although she is listed in the Naval Vessel Register.

Attached Files:

Sea shadow (ix-529).jpg, sea shadow (ix-529) a.jpg.

One for the star himself, that may not otherwise be recognized as a "Bond boat". Casino Royal 2006, Bond and Vesper Lynd sail from Montenegro to Venice aboard a Spirit 54 sailing yacht, made by Spirit Yachts. LOA 54'9" 16.7m LWL 39'8" 12.1m Beam 10'10" 3.3m Draft 7'6" 2.3m Displ. 7.8 tonnes Current status of this vessel is a mystery to me -

Bond Spirit 54.jpg

Bond spirit 54 a.jpg, bond spirit 54 b.jpg.

Die Another Day 2002, Halle Berry adorns this Sunseeker Superhawk 48

Bond Berry Sunseeker.jpg

Casino Royale 2006, Bond Villain Le Chiffre’s Sunseeker Predator 108 – M3 Working closely with Sunseeker's designers and drawing office, film producers EON Productions took 6 weeks to create full-scale sets of the Predator 108's Deck Saloon, Aft Cockpit and Master Stateroom. Once created, the film sets were dismantled in the UK, transported and re-constructed in Prague, where mounted on a hydraulic platform to simulate the movement of the sea during filming. 2004 Sunseeker Predator 108 - 108/01

BOND M3.jpg

ArcanisX Senior Member

That Sea Shadow thing was just beautiful. While googling it, I also came across another X-ship that was looking like a giant tarantula and has two flexible rubber hulls "to contour waves". Wonder if anything "mission-capable" ever came out of those projects.

YachtForums Administrator

ArcanisX said: While googling it, I also came across another X-ship that was looking like a giant tarantula and has two flexible rubber hulls "to contour waves". Click to expand...

Yes, that... wonderful piece of... design! They should totally use it in the next Bond movie.

Blue Ghost Member

Yacht from "Thunderball" Does anyone remember the yacht from "Thunderball"? What kind of yacht was that? Does anyone know?

AMG YF Moderator

Blue Ghost said: ↑ Does anyone remember the yacht from "Thunderball"? What kind of yacht was that? Does anyone know? Click to expand...

MBLANC New Member

AffrayedKnot said: ↑ I'll get the ball rolling here with an easy one: Never Say Never Again , 1983 (adaptation of Thunderball) the Disco Volante was renamed The Flying Saucer, (its English translation), and owned by Maximillian Largo. In real life, the 282-foot yacht that was used in long shots for the film was known as the Nabila and was built for Saudi wheeler/dealer Adnan Khashoggi. The yacht was later sold to American wheeler/dealer Donald Trump, who renamed it Trump Princess. Later Trump sold it to Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz al Saud, who christened it the Kingdom 5KR. 1980 Benetti FB116 Click to expand...

Wl3175 Member

AffrayedKnot said: ↑ One for the star himself, that may not otherwise be recognized as a "Bond boat". Casino Royal 2006, Bond and Vesper Lynd sail from Montenegro to Venice aboard a Spirit 54 sailing yacht, made by Spirit Yachts. LOA 54'9" 16.7m LWL 39'8" 12.1m Beam 10'10" 3.3m Draft 7'6" 2.3m Displ. 7.8 tonnes Current status of this vessel is a mystery to me - Click to expand...

MBLANC said: ↑ ------------------------------------------------------------- ADDENDUM First owner was Adnan Kashoggi of SA and name of yacht was NABILA (not Nabilia), after his daughter's surname. It was then the largest yacht ever built with 87m (not 86). Later, A.K. had to sell it and the subsequent owner was the richest royalty in the world, 29th sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah. He anchored the boat near the state's capital Bandar Seri Begawan with a permanent captain on duty, who resigned from boring at dock since HH H. Bolkiah never sailed the yacht. D. Trump acquired then the boat, mistakingly thinking it was [still] the largest yacht available ; seems Mr Trump was not well informed nor knowledgeable in the matter. Learning the truth, he ordered for a complete cutout of the yacht to install an extension (+ 13 or 14m if I remember well). He never sailed the yacht himself anyway,...etc.etc.) Click to expand...

Capt Ralph Senior Member

I can not give an exact date; Trump Princess spent one night on a barge ball in Jacksonville fl approx '89/90. There was a stir on the radio with the StJohns Pilots. Because of her draft a pilot was required. The T P argued it a while on the open radio and lost. While on the Ball, across from the ole Gator Bowl stadium, I circled her a few times on my boat late that night. Every circle around her, more security people came on deck and followed us around. At that time, she would have been the largest private boat that far up our river.

Fishtigua Senior Member

rcrapps said: ↑ At that time, she would have been the largest private boat that far up our river. Click to expand...

Draft dictates the rule. Not sure of the number; any draft more than 8 feet must have a pilot for Jax/Port - StJohns river. It's a close band of pilots here in Jax. An outsider may never work here. But once in a while you do hear of a boo boo.

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The James Bond Vehicle Library

• From Russia With Love
• Thunderball
• Casino Royale, 1967
• You Only Live Twice
• On Her Majesty's Secret Service
• Diamonds Are Forever
• Live and Let Die
• The Man with the Golden Gun
• The Spy Who Loved Me
• For Your Eyes Only
• Never Say Never Again
• A View to a Kill
• The Living Daylights
• License to Kill
• Tomorrow Never Dies
• The World is Not Enough
• Die Another Day
• Casino Royale
• Quantum of Solace
• No Time To Die
• Aston Martin DB5, The Saint
• Disco Volante Stories and Pictures
• CD: Bonded, Jaimee Paul

The Flying Saucer

10/04 2011, updated 01/04 2011   by PS

007 Relations

Technical data, sources and links.

'The Flying Saucer' or in Italian 'Disco Volante' is the seagoing headquarter of Maximillian Largo (Karl Maria Brandauer). Largo is SPECTREs number one man in the field, leading the operation,

James Bond is 'invited' aboard, sucked in through the underwater hatch when he and Felix are inspecting the yacht underwater.

The real world yacht was named Nabilia. In 1993 it was refit. It's current owner has renamed it Kingdom 5KR. It is still today (2011) one of the 100 largest yachts in the world. It was custom build in Italy in 1980 by Benetti for a Saudi billionaire, but have changed owners a couple of times since. Original price tag 100 million USD.

The owner can invite 22 guests to stay as the yacht has 11 suites. The five decks originally contained, besides the suites, a cinema for 12, a pool and helipad. Two tenders was also aboard.

• Manufactor: Benetti, Italy
• Type: Motor Yacht
• Year: Build 1980, refitted 1993
• Engine: 2 x NNOHAB-POLAR F216V-C750
• Power: 3000hp / 2237kW each
• Propulsion: Twin Screw
• Length: 86m (282' 15")
• Beam max.: 13,2m (43' 31")
• Draught: 4,7m (15' 5")
• Gross Tonnage: 1.768 tonnes
• Cruising speed: 17 knots
• Max speed: 20 knots
• Range: 8500 nm @ 17 knots
• Passengers: 22
• Underwater hatch
• Benetti Yachts
• Kingdom 5KR

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Never Say Never Again

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NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN yacht NOT for charter*

36.9m  /  121'1 | benetti | 2022.

Owner & Guests

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Special Features:

• Impressive 5,000nm range
• Built in 2022
• Inviting pool
• RINA (Registro Italiano Navale) C ✠ HULL ● MACH classification
• Award winning

The award winning 36.9m/121'1" expedition yacht 'Never Say Never Again' (ex. Goga) was built by Benetti in Italy at their Livorno shipyard. Her interior is styled by design house Benetti M&B and she was delivered to her owner in August 2022. This luxury vessel's exterior design is the work of Stefano Righini.

Guest Accommodation

Never Say Never Again has been designed to comfortably accommodate up to 10 guests in 6 suites. She is also capable of carrying up to 7 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience.

Onboard Comfort & Entertainment

Her features include beauty salon, underwater lights, beach club, WiFi and air conditioning.

Range & Performance

Never Say Never Again is built with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, with teak decks. Powered by twin electric Siemens (ELFA) engines, she comfortably cruises at 12 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 14 knots with a range of up to 5,000 nautical miles from her 66,000 litre fuel tanks at 10 knots. Her water tanks store around 6,000 Litres of fresh water. She was built to RINA (Registro Italiano Navale) C ✠ HULL ● MACH classification society rules.

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'Yacht Charter Fleet' is a free information service, if your yacht is available for charter please contact us with details and photos and we will update our records.

Never Say Never Again Photos

Never Say Never Again Awards & Nominations

• World Yachts Trophies 2022 Green Yachts Winner
• Boat International Design & Innovation Awards 2023 Best Interior Design, Motor Yachts 499GT and Below Finalist
• Boat International Design & Innovation Awards 2023 Eco Award Finalist
• Boat International Design & Innovation Awards 2023 Innovation of the Year Finalist
• The World Superyacht Awards 2023 Displacement Motor Yachts 499GT and below, 30m to 39.99m Nomination

NOTE to U.S. Customs & Border Protection

Specification

M/Y Never Say Never Again

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Never Say Never Again

Film details, brief synopsis, cast & crew, irvin kershner, sean connery, klaus maria brandauer, barbara carrera, kim basinger, max von sydow, technical specs.

Under the command of Ernst Stavro Blofeld, SPECTRE Agents infiltrate a U.S. Air Force base situated in the U.K., and steal two Tomahawk cruise missiles. Maximillian Largo, the owner of an enormous yacht, holds the two nuclear devices and threatens their detonation on the world--NATO--if a ransom is not met. Answering to the threat, the British reactivate their '00' agents, and thus, they send James Bond (Agent 007) to recapture the warheads, find Largo and kill Blofeld. "Reactivated" as a double-agent, Bond must be retrained; he is shipped off to a health farm to purge him of his ancient habits of eating red meat and drinking martinis. Bond, the eternal charmer, engages in a couple of his old habits--having sex with his masseuse, and battling in an explosive fight with an assassin sent to kill him. He also stumbles upon Fatima Blush, the beautiful evil nurse working for Largo. His adventures pull him into playing a high stakes video game, engaging in a dangerous motorcycle pursuit, and eluding a deathly scuba diving chase.

Michael D. Moore

Ricou browning.

Tony Alleff

Anthony sharp, milow mkirek, prunella gee.

Alec Mccowen

Paul tucker, valerie leon, herb alpert, sylvia marriott, jill meager, pamela salem, gavan o'herlihy, bernie casey, john stephen hill, saskia cohen tanugi, rowan atkinson, derek deadman.

Michael Medwin

Brenda kempner, wendy leech, lucy hornak, joanna dickens, david allen, peter allwork, vic armstrong, jean-pierre avice, david beavis, dickey beer, paul beeson, jill bender, alan bergman, marilyn bergman, wally byatt, scott carpenter, maggie cartier, malcolm j christopher, ira coleman, ian crafford, gregory dark, alexander degrunwald, sophie della, leslie dilley, jean drejac, david dryer, michael dryhurst, jane feinberg, mike fenton, mike ferris, ian fleming, pamela mann francis, edward garcia garcia, beatrice geffriaud, anne glanfield, keith grant, robin grantham, stephen grimes, peter hancock, steven harding, david harris, philip harrison, frank henson, ilona herman, richard j holland, billy horrigan, peter howitt, stephanie kaye, jordan klein, charles knode, evzen kolar, robert lawrence, michel legrand, branwell mcclory, kevin mcclory, gavin mckinney, peter musgrave, trevor neighbor, wally nelson, roger nicholls, gladys pearce, john poyner, linda rabin, apolinar rabinal, glenn randall, arnold ross, michael runyard, jack schwartzman, lorenzo semple jr., talia shire, douglas slocombe, jack c smith, roy stannard, bob steadman, david tomblin, norman wanstall, chic waterson, david watkins, michael white, jack whittingham, ian wingrove, miscellaneous notes.

Released in United States Fall October 7, 1983

Following his multiple year absence from playing the title role of James Bond (Agent 007), actor Sean Connery--the original Bond--reprised his role in this production distributed by Warner Bros., rather than by United Artists (the presumed distributor). At the time of the film's production, the title role of 007 was currently being portrayed by box office heavyweight Roger Moore, the second in line to play Agent 007.

Loose retelling of an earlier James Bond/007 film, "Thunderball" (UK/1965), directed by Terence Young, produced by Kevin McClory, Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Brocoli, and starring Sean Connery.

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Film Plot Summary

The film's prologue opened in a jungle in Central America, where a middle-aged Bond (Sean Connery) infiltrated into an armed camp of fanatical revolutionaries, where he knocked out one guard, garrotted another ( # 1 death, # 1 Bond kill - FAKE ), and shot a poison dart into the neck of a third. He threw a bomb that exploded on a chess board, injuring the two players and two other guards. He burst threw the window and machine-gunned the group ( # 2-5 deaths, # 2-5 Bond kills - FAKE ), and then attempted to rescue a kidnapped female (a millionaire's daughter) tied to a bed. After knocking out another guard, he cut the wrist straps of the abductee, only to be stabbed in the chest by her and mortally wounded.

However, the entire opening prologue was a taped video recording of a war games training exercise (using "blanks") which Bond had failed. The video tape was timed as it was viewed at MI6 headquarters in London by M (Edward Fox), who strictly criticized Bond for not knowing that the 8-week abductee had obviously been "brainwashed...could have turned" - susceptible to the Stockholm Syndrome. In two weeks of training, Bond had been seriously injured one other time - a land mine on a Black Sea beach blew his legs off. M was skeptical of Bond's skills and abilities: "Is your edge sharp enough? That's the difference between a double-0 and a corpse." M had little use for the double-0's, and Bond had also been off-duty teaching (rather than "doing"). M scolded Bond because he had "too many free radicals...toxins that destroy the body and the brain" by eating too much red meat and white bread and drinking "too many dry martinis." Bond volunteered to give up the white bread, but to no avail. He was ordered to shape up with a "strict regimen of diet and exercise" to purge the toxins -- at a health clinic outside London called Shrublands. As Bond left the office, he told M's secretary Miss Moneypenny (Pamela Salem) his new assignment: "to eliminate all free radicals." She looked concerned and urged: "Do be careful."

The aging Bond drove himself in his 1937 black Bentley coupe to Shrublands Health Farm/Clinic, where he was physically examined and told he had lots of scar tissue. He was to be reeducated to the "virtues of nutrition, proper exercise, meditation, and hopefully spiritual enlightenment." A young staff nurse asked for a urine sample from across the room: "If you could fill this beaker for me?" Bond quipped: "From here?"

The next scene introduced the film's femme fatale - well-dressed Fatima Blush (Barbara Carrera), first seen from the legs down - with black leather pants, a pair of black high-heels and a fur coat. She entered a French bank's vault, where a secret passageway led downstairs to a highly-secure area, where a meeting was being conducted by SPECTRE's Supreme Commander Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Max von Sydow), holding and petting a white Persian cat. The criminal organization SPECTRE (SPecial Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion) was supplying rebel and government forces with armaments and missiles. He announced SPECTRE's next "audacious enterprise" -- led by Spectre No. 1 Maximillian Largo (Klaus Maria Brandauer), called "The Tears of Allah." An American Air Force officer, Captain Jack Petachi (Gavan O'Herlihy), was subjected to a surgical operation. A corneal implant made his right eye an exact replica and match to the retina of the US President. The officer, used as SPECTRE's puppet, was moved to a convalescent clinic where Spectre No. 12 -- Fatima Blush -- had the responsibility of providing for his care.

Bond met blonde physiotherapist/nurse Patricia Fearing (Prunella Gee) when he accidentally bumped into her in the hallway. He introduced himself: "My name is Bond." She knew of his reputation: "Oh, you're Mr. Bond." During a painful back-cracking session with her, Bond suggested: "You know, there is a more beneficial therapy for a man's lower back." She replied: "Oh really? What might that be?" Later that day, she came to his private room's door and personally offered him his healthful dinner on a tray: "I thought I'd surprise you, James." He opened his suitcase, filled with contraband food he had smuggled in: "caviar, quail's eggs, vodka, foie gras" and offered her a bite. Soon after, he bedded her down (off-screen) with another forbidden treat. ( # 1 tryst )

Meanwhile, blackmailed and abducted Captain Jack Petachi was being attended at Shrublands by the evil and rough henchwoman Fatima, dressed as a private health clinic nurse (with syringes strapped to her thigh). She abused and beat her patient, accusing him of disobeying her by smoking, and then threatened: "Jack must do as he's told if he wants his fast cars and his pretty clothes and if he wants to keep his sister alive." Across the way, Bond (in bed with the nurse) was startled by the sounds and sight of the beating. He watched through an open window as Fatima removed a syringe from her thigh to inject her addicted patient with "candy" (hooking him on heroin): "Now darling, do this little trickie in eight seconds. Then nursie will give baby his candy. Hmm?" Bond saw the patient practicing the use of an optical machine to scan his right eye. Bond was spotted peeping through the window and escaped, although Fatima spotted him with an infra-red pair of night-vision binoculars, and recognized him as 007. The next morning as Bond proceeded to work out in the clinic's gym, he informed his doctor that he was a bit piqued, explaining (in Patricia's presence): "I was up all night." The clinic's janitor was rendered unconscious by a brutish assassin, who then attacked Bond and attempted to strangle him with the weight machine. Their intense hand-to-hand struggle went from the gym, down the hallway and stairway, through the clinic's kitchen, into a patient's room, and into the laboratory where the assassin was blinded by a faceful of Bond's urine sample and fell backwards into glass - impaling him in the back ( # 1 death, # 1 Bond kill ).

M was annoyed that Bond had virtually demolished the clinic, depleting his funding to renovate it. Bond joked: "In fact, I did lose four pounds and God knows how many free radicals," further angering his superior who threatened to suspend him. At the Swadley US Air Force Base in England where Captain Petachi served as one of the officers, practice in missile-targeting was occurring as dummy warheads were loaded into US submarines. Petachi entered a coded-card restricted area, where he circumvented the security with an "eye-print check" (a retinal scan) that confirmed his "Presidential authority." He authorized the replacement of USAF dummy warheads with "live" W-80 thermonuclear devices, that were then loaded onto a Rockwell B-1 Lancer strategic bomber. As the two nuclear cruise missiles were launched, Petachi drove away from the airbase in a Ford sedan. Fatima pulled up in her gold-metallic Mercedes-Benz SL convertible next to him and deposited her pet snake in his lap -- distracted, his car crashed into a brick wall and overturned. To ensure his death, she placed a remote-controlled bomb in the wreck and detonated it ( # 2 death ) - after rescuing her snake. The cruise missiles were directed to the Atlantic Ocean to land in the water, where they were retrieved by scuba divers in two rubber dinghys, and later removed to two secret areas. Spectre No. 1 Maximillian Largo directed the operation from his helicopter, as Spectre's Supreme Commander Blofeld recorded an extortion message to hold NATO ransom regarding their "Tears of Allah" plot, sending a video transmission that only showed his hands petting his cat. Blofeld demanded tribute of a sum equivalent to 25% of the NATO countries' oil purchases, to be delivered in 7 days. If the demands were not met, SPECTRE would use the stolen nuclear weapons to destroy Washington and the Middle East oil fields. It was NATO's "ultimate nightmare - the abduction of nuclear warheads."

Tanner was reluctantly coerced to reactivate the double-0's to combat the terrorism, with the ransom estimated to be $2 billion, 492 million dollars. Bond was called to action and briefed on the background of Maximillian Largo: he was born in Bucharest in 1945, and was a billionaire industrialist and philantropist. He resided in Nassau in the Bahamas, with no known criminal activity. When Bond was interrupted by Moneypenny, he stated that it was late and she should be "in bed." She replied: "James, we both should be." She escorted him to M, mentioning that Bond was back in business: "Welcome home."

Largo landed his helicopter on the helipad of his Flying Saucer yacht. The two missiles were thought to be located in two areas: on the Eastern seaboard, and close to the Middle East oil fields, threatening massive destruction. Bond suspected that the breach of security (requiring a retinal scan of the US President's right eye) was somehow linked to what he witnessed at Shrublands. And it was a mysterious coincidence that the USAF communications officer Petachi left the airbase immediately after the warheads' launch. In Largo's technically-advanced control room aboard his yacht, a sliding panel door revealed a workout studio where he spied through a one-way mirror, watching his blonde kept-lover Domino Petachi (Kim Basinger) in a gray leotard exercising and stretching to music. He lavished her with another valuable gift, a pendant/necklace with a blue gem inscribed in Arabic with "The Tears of Allah," based upon an old legend. When she asked if she would keep the gift if she left him, he sternly said: "Then, I cut your throat."

In the gadgets laboratory of working-class Q (Alec McCowen), nicknamed Algernon (Algy), Bond was shown a Union Jack-decorated fountain pen with exploding rocket projectile ("not quite perfected yet"), and a digital wrist-watch with laser beam cutting tool. Q was happy to see Bond: "Good to see you, Mr. Bond. Things have been awfully dull around here...I hope we're gonna have some gratuitous sex and violence," to which Bond replied: "I certainly hope so, too."

Bond left for Nassau in the Bahamas to combat SPECTRE, where on the dock at the harbor, he encountered orange-bikinied female (Valerie Leon), dubbed the Lady in the Bahamas, who was preparing to go fishing. He asked jovially: "What are you hoping to catch?" She flirtatiously answered: "Something about six foot two, 190 pounds, with brown eyes." He joked: "Well, why bother going to sea?" When Bond was interrupted by bumbling MI6 operative Nigel Small-Fawcett (Rowan Atkinson) employed by the British Embassy, she added: "Catch you later, perhaps?" Bond was told that the "charming" Largo spent most of his time at Bluebeard Reef for marine archaeology, and he was known for giving lots of money to worthy causes (e.g., a maritime museum and a new wing for an orphanage). Nigel was worried that Bond, with a notorious reputation, would cause trouble and jeopardize the tourist trade by killing people.

At the harbor's bar, Bond learned that Largo's boat, the Flying Saucer , had sailed from port that morning. As he stood at the waterside bar, he was sprayed by Fatima, who was performing stunts on water-skis and landed in his arms after skiing up a ramp: "How reckless of me. I made you all wet." Bond was unperturbed: "Yes, but my martini's still dry. My name is James." After introducing herself, Bond complimented her on skiing, and she added: "I do many things very well." When he said he was there to fish, she offered to personally show him the "best waters," adding as she smiled: "I'd like you to find what you're looking for." He agreed: "I'm all yours." On their hired scuba boat, the vixenish Fatima summoned him to the interior cabin, where they engaged in dialogue foreplay after she threw him some scuba-gear and he undressed in front of her. Bond: "You're marvelously well-equipped." Fatima (looking down): "Thank you, James. So are you." He asked: "What, uh, exactly are we going down for?" Fatima: "Sport and a little fun." She watched as Bond became naked, and he advised her to be less tense and more relaxed when "going down." She removed her flimsy dress strap as she put her arms around his neck and provocatively said: "We've got time to kill." ( # 2 tryst ) After an extended period of love-making in the scuba equipment room, they went diving together.

But the domineering Fatima attempted to kill the agent - she placed a shark-attracting transmitter on his scuba tank, and then swam away from him when he was investigating a sunken boat wreck. Bond fled from a number of massive man-eating sharks, and was able to fend them off. After trapping one of the sharks under some rigging, he noticed an electronic shark device (a robotic control device) attached to the shark's back, and the transmitter on his tank. He removed it, but accidentally dropped his mouthpiece when bumped by one of the sharks. Needing to swim to the surface, he emerged near the fishing boat of the woman at the dock, who exclaimed: "It's you." He responded: "Well, you did say you'd catch me later." Back at the dock, Fatima noticed from afar that Bond had survived and was on the deck of the fishing boat with another female, showing off their fish-catch.

At the British Colonial Hotel, Fatima made a second attempt to kill Bond - she had stuck an explosive under his hotel-room bed. Then, hidden from view, she watched as Bond and the unnamed lady returned to the hotel together, where they both had separate rooms, and were first seen in bed together in one of the rooms. ( # 3 tryst ) While they made love, Bond took a phone call from Nigel at an inopportune time, learning that Largo's boat was headed for the south of France. Fatima's detonation of the bomb was also foiled, when Bond had decided to make love not in his own room, but in the room of the Lady from the Bahamas. Bond quipped when he saw his room blown up across the courtyard: "Proof that we made the right decision." She asked: "About what, darling?" He responded: "Your place or mine."

Bond flew back to the South of France (Nice) where he was met at the airport by young MI6 operative '326' Nicole (Saskia Cohen Tanugi). She told him that she had rented a "perfect" villa for him, above where Largo's Flying Saucer was anchored in the bay below. After giving Bond the explosive fountain pen delivered from Q, the two met up with CIA operative/assistant Felix Leiter (Bernie Casey). Nicole's car was towing a crated motorbike, also sent from England. From the terrace of the villa, Bond and Felix used a high-powered telescope to view Largo's "lady" - Domino Petachi - dancing on the Flying Saucer 's deck. That afternoon, Bond followed Domino to a beauty salon/spa, gained entrance to the facility (filled with young bikinied females lounging poolside!) and posed as a masseuse. After she requested a "hard" massage, her turned her over onto her front-side before oiling her up and rubbing-down her back, when mentioning casually that he knew of Largo: "I know he owns many beautiful things." Bond learned that Largo, known as a "very generous man," was hosting a charity ball at the Casino Royale in Monte Carlo (Monaco) that evening to benefit orphaned children. When she asked for him to massage lower, he obliged until the real masseuse (Brenda Kempner) arrived and apologized for being late. When Domino learned the man didn't work at the salon, she shrugged and smiled to herself.

In her Peugeot sedan, as Nicole dropped tuxedoed Bond off at the casino in Monte Carlo, he told her to return to the villa. The Peugeot passed Fatima's Citroen CX, who had overheard their brief conversation. She left her vehicle and instructed her driver to "find that villa." Gate-crashing Bond punched the casino's bouncer (Dan Meaden) in the groin, and then in a closet as he held a gun to the man's head, he threatened the detonation of his cigar case-bomb - (fakely) claiming it had a motion-sensing gyroscope inside. He left the terrified man holding the case as still as possible. Inside the casino, he formally introduced himself to Domino: "My name is Bond, James Bond," and apologized for his earlier deception at the salon by offering her a drink. In the bar area lined with a video-game arcade, she ordered a double Bloody Mary, while he ordered a plain vodka on the rocks. Fatima schemed with Largo, urging him to execute the British agent - who might persuade his paramour Domino to change sides. He asked if she had bungled her own attempts because "you want him for yourself." Largo approached Bond and challenged him to a futuristic, 3-D holographic/table-top video-game of Domination : "Are you a man who enjoys games?" (Bond responded: "Depends with whom I'm playing.") To gain the objective of world power, each player (with antiquated joysticks that delivered electric shocks) shot lasers and nuclear missiles to control and win countries (as well as points and dollars). Although Bond lost early on, he managed in a winner-take-all round (to win $325,000 and the entire world), ending up with total winnings of $267,000, but exchanged his winnings in return for one tango dance with Domino. As they danced, she asked: "What is it you're after?" She was told her brother was working for Largo, but was murdered: "Largo's the prime suspect. Your brother was used and then eliminated." Largo ordered Fatima to kill Bond - "this time, you'd better not fail."

Bond found the body of Nicole when he returned to the unusually-quiet villa - she had been stuffed and drowned in a water-bed ( # 3 death ). The maniacal murderess Fatima Blush sped off in her red 1983 Renault 5 Turbo, with Bond following on the recently styrofoam-unwrapped turbo-boosted motorbike. Down winding roads and through the town (Bond took short-cuts up and down stairs), the pursuit led to a tunnel where Bond was surrounded and cornered, and forced to drive into the back of an open truck. As the ramp door was raised, he executed a racing-jump and escaped. Now in pursuit of Fatima's red vehicle, he caused the crash of two other cars involved in the chase ( number of deaths unknown ) and followed her into an unused concrete alcove. Fatima knocked him from his bike and held a gun on him, ordering: "Spread your legs" and she threatened to shoot his crotch: "You're quite a man, Mr. James Bond. But I am a superior woman! Guess where you'll get the first one." He talked back: "Well, in view of your hatred of men..." - but she yelled: "Liar! You know that making love to Fatima was the greatest pleasure of your life." Bond differed: "Well, to be perfectly honest, there was this girl in Philadelphia." She shot back: "SHUT UP! I am the best." Bond agreed: "In fact, I was going to put you in my memoirs as No. 1." She commanded him to write a note on a scrap piece of newspaper about her love-making abilities, dictating: "The greatest rapture in my life was afforded me on a boat in Nassau by Fatima Blush. Signed, James Bond 007." Bond quipped: "I just remembered, it's against Service policy for agents to give out endorsements." She blurted back: "WRITE!" Fatima met her demise when Bond fired a miniature rocket grenade into her chest from his Union Jack-decorated projectile fountain pen. She cackled, believing she was still alive, but then the grenade exploded, leaving only her charred high-heeled stilettos behind ( # 4 death, # 2 Bond kill ). Bond muttered to himself his amazement regarding the powerful nib that Q said was not yet ready: "Not perfected yet?"

Bond and Felix Leiter donned scuba gear and stealthily approached the Flying Saucer yacht, in search of the missing nuclear warheads. Bond entered the vessel through a below-surface compartment, where he soon found himself Largo's guest (he had been invited for lunch but unexpectedly arrived early). In his situation/control room, Largo claimed his latest venture was oil, as the yacht set sail to North Africa to his house and base of operations at Palmyra. In the workout studio onboard, Bond (who was given free-run on the ship!) met up with Domino, and to "provoke a reaction" (and "because I've always wanted to"), sensing that the jealous Largo was spying on them through a mirror, he kissed her. When she set off a fire alarm as a distraction, Bond entered Largo's control room to transmit a message regarding his destination, using an emergency code: Tango Zebra. At Palmyra, Largo announced to Bond: "The game is over" and had him imprisoned in a rock-tower littered with skeletons and vultures. He then gave Domino his "greatest treasure" as a wedding present - a large jade statuette, although he knew that she had betrayed him. She angrily confronted him about her missing brother: "I hate you." He coerced a kiss from her, as she accused him of madness: "You're crazy." He replied: "Yeah, maybe. I'm crazy." To punish her, he bound her in black cloth and auctioned her off to gun-wielding Arabs on horseback in an open square. Stupidly, Largo told Bond the location of one of the nuclear bombs: "Bomb number one is right under the President's feet... in Washington DC." Later, using his wrist-watch with a laser beam, Bond cut through his metal shackles and chains and escaped, and then heaved a guard to his death through the prison window ( # 5 death, # 3 Bond kill ). He stole a horse and rescued Domino from the unsavory Arabs by riding off with her. The two dove off the tall gated wall - still on horseback - into the water far below. They swam to a rowboat nearby and were retrieved by Felix Leiter in a dinghy, as a US naval submarine fired deadly mortars at the Arabs ( number of deaths unknown ) from offshore.

On the naval submarine, Bond and Domino showered together (Bond: "It was never like this when I was in the Navy") ( # 4 tryst ). Both were eager to go after Largo, although she confessed: "Maybe I don't hate him enough to risk losing you" - and they kissed. The Washington DC bomb was located and defused, but Bond had only five hours to find and defuse the second bomb. Bond and Leiter tracked Largo's yacht to near the "Tears of Allah" oasis-well location - adjacent to the Middle East oil fields, where Largo and other scuba-divers transported the second warhead (to be ransomed for huge sums of money) to an underwater cave. The US naval vessel fired top-secret missile-like XT-7Bs, with Bond and Leiter strapped inside the launched missiles. The two guided the jets of their individual transporters to land by the water's edge near the caves. Donning scuba gear, the two infiltrated the cave to follow Largo, and a large-scale gun battle erupted there after Leiter called for backup support ( number of deaths unknown, but at least twelve ). When Largo made an escape with the armed warhead to try and reach open water and detonate it, Bond was forced to intercept Largo. He contacted Leiter and called for a chopper to carry him directly above the Tears of Allah well where he dove in. He then engaged Largo in underwater combat, and as Bond was disarming the bomb - the madman was killed by a vengeful Domino ( # 6 death ) with a harpoon spear-gun.

In the film's epilogue, Bond returned to the Bahamas - with Domino - where he planned to retire ("those days are over"). The couple were swimming in the pool and lounging in the hottub, having drinks although Bond complained about the tropical drinks ("I always have a martini at five"). They were interrupted by Nigel, who pleaded with Bond to return to service "for the security of the civilized world." Bond responded: "Never again." As Domino approached and asked: "Never?", Bond kissed her, looked into the camera, and winked.

Film Notables (Awards, Facts, etc.)

This action film was essentially a remake of the earlier Sean Connery/Bond film Thunderball (1965) , in which Claudine Auger played the "Domino" (Dominique Derval) character, and Adolfo Celi played the role of "Emilio Largo." The Fiona Volpe character became Fatima Blush. And much of the film's action was moved from the Bahamas to the south of France. Both films were based on Ian Fleming's 8th Bond novel.

This was Sean Connery's seventh (and final) film appearance as James Bond, after he left the series 12 years earlier in the early 70s - after Diamonds Are Forever (1971) .

A more disdainful M was portrayed by Edward Fox, while Miss Moneypenny was briefly portrayed by Pamela Salem - she was the very first actress to play the straight character role (other than Lois Maxwell). And African-American actor Bernie Casey portrayed CIA agent Felix Leiter. Q (also called Algernon) was played by Alec McCowen.

It was released just four months after the opening of Roger Moore's Octopussy (1983) . Although at the time, the two films were trumped up as a Bond vs. Bond showdown, the Roger Moore film excelled in all areas.

Barbara Carrera was nominated for a Golden Globe award for her supporting role portrayal of Fatima Blush.

With a production budget of $36 million, and gross revenue of $55.4 million (domestic) and $160 million (worldwide).

Set-pieces: the war-games training session in the film's prologue, the hand-to-hand struggle between Bond and a brutish assassin in the Shrubland's Clinic (from the gym to the lab), the Fatima-Bond seduction scene on-board the diving boat, the underwater attack of robotically-controlled sharks, the holographic Domination video-game challenge, the turbo-boosted motorbike-Renault 5 Turbo chase scene, the horseback rescue of Domino from Arabs, and the climactic undersea battle

Bond Villains: SPECTRE's Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Max von Sydow), Spectre No. 1 Maximillian Largo (Klaus Maria Brandauer), Captain Jack Petachi (Gavan O'Herlihy)

Bond Girls: Fatima Blush (Barbara Carrera), Patricia Fearing (Prunella Gee), Domino Petachi (Kim Basinger), the Lady in the Bahamas (Valerie Leon)

Number of Love-Making Encounters: 4

Film Locales: Central America (training exercise), MI6's headquarters and Shrublands Health Farm/Clinic near London, England, SPECTRE's Headquarters -- somewhere in France, Swadley US Air Force Base also near London, England, Nassau in the Bahamas, S. France (Nice) and Monte Carlo (Monaco), Palymra (North Africa), Middle East oil fields

Gadgets: infra-red night-vision binoculars, retinal scanner, remote-controlled bomb, Union Jack-decorated fountain pen with exploding rocket projectile, digital wrist-watch with laser beam cutting tool, shark-attracting transmitter and robotic control device, high-powered telescopic viewing mechanism, Bond's cigar case (fakely claimed to be a bomb with a motion-sensing gyroscope), Domination video-game, Bond's black Walther P5, two top-secret XT-7Bs (missile-like transporters launched from the US naval submarine)

Vehicles: Bond's vintage black 1937 Bentley coupe, Rockwell B-1 Lancer strategic bomber, Jack Retachi's Ford Taurus sedan, Fatima's gold-metallic Mercedes-Benz SL convertible, rubber dinghys, helicopter, Flying Saucer yacht, black Yamaha turbobike - a jet equipped motorcycle with rocket motor, Nicole's Peugeot sedan, Fatima's Citroen CX, Fatima's red 1983 Renault 5 Turbo, US Navy submarine

Number of Deaths (Bond Kills): 6+ (3)

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Home > Films > N > Never Say Never Again

Tuesday April 2nd 2024

Never Say Never Again | 1983

• Locations |
• Bedfordshire ;
• Buckinghamshire
• Irvin Kershner
• Sean Connery,
• Klaus Maria Brandauer,
• Kim Basinger,
• Max Von Sydow,
• Alec McCowen,
• Bernie Casey,
• Barbara Carrera,
• Edward Fox,
• Rowan Atkinson,
• Ronald Pickup

Amid a mess of copyright wrangles, the rights to Ian Fleming ’s Thunderball suddenly became available and this ‘remake’ with Sean Connery went head to head with ‘official’ Bond movie Octopussy and Roger Moore ’s 007. Amazingly, despite NSNA ’s top-drawer cast, the below-par Octopussy won out.

‘Shrublands’, the health club to which Bond is sent by M ( Edward Fox ) to eliminate ‘free radicals’, is Luton Hoo, Hotel, Golf and Spa , near Luton in Bedfordshire . In its days as a stately home, it hosted loads of films, including Eyes Wide Shut , Pink Panther sequel A Shot in the Dark , Four Weddings and a Funeral and Wilde .

Luton Hoo also went on to provide the interior of the ‘Baku’ palace for the 1999 mainstream Bond film The World Is Not Enough , with Pierce Brosnan .

The ‘Flying Saucer’ yacht of Maximilian Largo ( Klaus Maria Brandauer ) is the 300-foot Nabila , which belonged to Adnan Khashoggi but went on to become the property of Donald Trump – renamed the Trump Princess .

The motorbike chase was shot in the narrow streets of Villefranche-sur-Mer , a picturesque old fishing port east of Nice on the Côte d’Azur in the South of France . This apparently quiet village seems a dangerous place to cross the road – it was also the site of car chases in Ronin and Jean Claude Van Damme 1996 actioner Maximum Risk .

The 3-D Domination game between Bond and Largo was filmed in the French Rococo room of Waddesdon Manor , English home of the Rothschild family, seen also in Carry On – Don’t Lose Your Head and Isadora , and more recently in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... , Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows and as 'Buckingham Palace' in The Queen , with Helen Mirren . It’s at the west end of Waddesdon village, six miles northwest of Aylesbury on the A41, in Buckinghamshire , and it’s open to the public.

A 110-foot freighter was scuppered for the movie on New Providence Island in the Bahamas , at Clifton Wall on the south side.

The hotel where Fatima Blush ( Barbara Carrera ) attempts to blow up Bond is the expensive, and revamped, British Colonial Hilton Nassau , 1 Bay Street at Marlborough Street west of Nassau Harbour , a 1923 Spanish-American style affair built on the site of the 17th century Fort Nassau. Bond walks through the Straw Market in Nassau , and the outdoor bar is on Nassau Dock .

Largo’s ‘Palmyra’ fortress (in Thunderball , it was on New Providence Island in the Bahamas) is the disused, star-shaped 16th-century Fort Carré d’Antibes , Route du Bord du Mer , north of the harbour at Antibes on the Côte d’Azur . The Fort, built on a rock 26m above the sea level on the peninsula of Saint-Roch, was built for King Henry II of France in the second half of the 16th Century, and later improved by Vauban , Marshal of France and the foremost military engineer of his age. It was used as a sentry post for the nearby border with the County of Nice – which used to be hostile.

Visit The Film Locations

France | paris.

Visit: France

Visit: Nice

Flights: Nice Côte d'Azur International Airport , Rue Costes et Bellonte, 06206 Nice ( tel: 33.820.42.33.33 )

Visit: Villefranche-sur-Mer

Visit: Fort Carré d’Antibes , Avenue du 11 Novembre, 06600 Antibes ( tel: 33.492.90.52.13 )

Visit: the Bahamas

Visit: Nassau

Flights: Lynden Pindling International Airport , Windsor Field Road, Nassau, Bahamas ( tel: 242.702.1010 )

Stay at: the British Colonial Hilton Nassau , 1 Bay Street, Nassau ( tel: 242.322.3301 )

UK | Bedfordshire

Visit: Bedfordshire

Stay at: Luton Hoo, Hotel, Golf and Spa , The Warren Drive, Luton LU1 3TW ( tel: 01582.734437 )

UK | Buckinghamshire

Visit: Buckinghamshire

Visit: Waddesdon Manor , Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP18 0JH ( tel: 01296.653226 )

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SEAN CONNERY IS SEASONED JAMES BOND

By Janet Maslin

• Oct. 7, 1983

ONE of the key questions of the current film season can now be answered: This is the better Bond, and by a wide margin. It's not a matter of casting - though Sean Connery makes a welcome return in ''Never Say Never Again,'' Roger Moore has certainly done nicely with the role - but rather one of creaks. Last summer's ''Octopussy'' reworked the same old Bond formula in all its anachronistic glory, with 007 winking his way through the usual intrigue, a figure of devilish charm and inexhaustible vigor. In ''Never Say Never Again,'' however, the material has been successfully updated. Here, time has caught up with Bond - and he's very much the better for wear.

''Never Say Never Again,'' which opens today at the Criterion Center, finds Bond taking the health cure after all those years of high living. Packed off to a spa, and berated for a past checkered with too many martinis and too much white bread, he's subjected to herbal enemas and various other indignities. When a sultry woman tells him she'd like to see him in half an hour, it's for a massage. However, Bond still travels with a suitcase packed with vodka and caviar, and he hasn't lost his flair for adventure. After fighting a murderous giant and nearly wrecking the health facility, he's off to the Bahamas and Monte Carlo for what's at least in part a remake of ''Thunderball.''

As directed by Irvin Kershner, ''Never Say Never Again'' has noticeably more humor and character than the Bond films usually provide. It has a marvelous villain in Largo, the globe-trotting playboy who implements a SPECTRE scheme to hijack two American cruise missiles and hold them for ransom. Largo, superbly played by Klaus Maria Brandauer (who starred in ''Mephisto''), is wickedly competitive with Bond and fiercely possessive of the beautiful Domino (Kim Basinger), who's virtually a prisoner on a yacht that's bigger than most battleships. You don't need any of Bond's special sleuthing equipment, provided for him by Q (Alec McCowen) in a brief but delightful scene, to guess which one will wind up with the leading lady.

With Bernie Casey and Edward Fox as Bond's colleague and boss, respectively, and with Barbara Carrera gorgeous but awfully overwrought as a deadly rival, Mr. Connery is in lively company. He combines the wry reserve of yesteryear with a hint of weariness that, in the context of the screenplay's insistence on adventure, is genuinely amusing. In his post- Bond career, Mr. Connery easily proved himself to be an actor of far more resourcefulness than his 007 films had indicated. In ''Never Say Never Again,'' the formula is broadened to accommodate an older, seasoned man of much greater stature, and Mr. Connery expertly fills the bill.

''Never Say Never Again'' is rated PG (''Parental Guidance Suggested''). It contains what one character calls ''some gratuitous sex and violence,'' and it wouldn't be a Bond movie without them. Janet Maslin

Return Engagement

NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN, directed by Irvin Kershner; screenplay by Lorenzo Semple Jr., based on a story by Ian Fleming, Kevin McClory and Jack Whittingham; director of photography, Douglas Slocombe; music by Michel Legrand; produced by Jack Schwartzman; released by Warner Bros. At the Criterion Center, Broadway and 45th Street; Manhattan 1 and 2, 59th Street between Second and Third Avenues, and other theaters. Running time: 130 minutes. This film is rated PG.

James Bond 007 . . . . . Sean Connery

Largo . . . . . Klaus Maria

Brandauer . . . . . Ernst Stavro

Blofeld . . . . . Max von Sydow

Fatima Blush . . . . . Barbara Carrera

Domino . . . . . Kim Basinger

Felix Leiter . . . . . Bernie Casey

Q . . . . . Alec McCowen

M . . . . . Edward Fox

• Sean Connery Films
• Thunderball Movies
• 1980s James Bond Films
• 20th Century James Bond Films
• James Bond Controversies
• Non-Canon Media

Never Say Never Again (film)

• Irving Kershner Films
• View history

Never Say Never Again is the second James Bond theatrical film not produced by EON Productions and the second film adaptation of the story Thunderball . Released in 1983, it stars Sean Connery in his seventh and final film performance as British Secret Service agent James Bond. It was released theatrically by Warner Bros.

The film is not considered part of the canon of the Bond film franchise from EON Productions and United Artists and is not produced by Albert R. Broccoli , despite it currently being handled by the official film series distributor, MGM. MGM acquired the distribution rights in 1997 after their acquisition of Orion Pictures. The film also marks the culmination of a long legal battle between United Artists and Kevin McClory . Its release opposite the franchise Bond film Octopussy (starring Roger Moore ) quickly led the media to dub the situation the " Battle of the Bonds ".

In November 2013, the McClory Estate and EON Productions reached an agreement transferring all rights to Fleming's Thunderball , the organisation of SPECTRE , and the character of Ernst Stavro Blofeld to EON.

• 1 Plot summary
• 2 Changes to the Bond universe
• 3.1 Cast and crew
• 3.2 Filming
• 4 Cast and Characters
• 6 Comic Adaptation
• 9 References
• 10 External links

Plot summary [ ]

Being the second adaptation of the novel Thunderball , Never Say Never Again follows a similar plotline to the earlier film, but with some differences.

The film opens with a middle-aged, yet still athletic James Bond making his way through an armed camp in order to rescue a girl who has been kidnapped. After killing the kidnappers, Bond lets his guard down, forgetting that the girl might have been subject to Stockholm syndrome (in which a kidnapped person comes to identify with his/her kidnappers) and is stabbed in the side... or so it seems.

In fact, the attack on the camp is nothing more than a field training exercise using blank ammunition and fake knives, and one Bond fails because he ends up "dead". A new M is now in office, one who sees little use for the 00-section. In fact, Bond has spent most of his recent time teaching, rather than doing, a fact he points out with some resentment. Bond does point out that he'd survived another training exercise on a beach on the Black Sea, however M points out that both his legs were blow off by a mine.

Feeling that Bond is slipping, M orders him to enroll in a health clinic in order to "eliminate all those free radicals" and get back into shape. While there, Bond discovers a mysterious nurse, Fatima Blush , and her patient, who is wrapped in bandages. His suspicions are aroused even further when a killer (Lippe) tries to kill him.

Blush and her charge, an American Air Force pilot named Jack Petachi , are in fact operatives of SPECTRE , a criminal organization run by Ernst Stavro Blofeld . Petachi has undergone an operation to alter one of his retinas to match the retinal pattern of the American President. Using his position as a pilot, and the president's eye pattern to circumvent security, Petachi infiltrates an American military base in England and orders the dummy warheads in two cruise missiles replaced with two live nuclear warheads, which SPECTRE captures and uses to extort billions of dollars from the governments of the world.

M reluctantly reactivates the 00 section, and Bond is assigned the task of tracking down the missing weapons, beginning with a rendezvous with Domino Petachi , the pilot's sister, who is kept a virtual prisoner by her lover, Maximillian Largo . Bond pursues Largo and his yacht to the Bahamas , where he engages Domino, Fatima Blush, and Largo in a game of wits and resources as he attempts to derail SPECTRE 's scheme.

Changes to the Bond universe [ ]

The film makes a few changes to the James Bond universe. MI6 is shown to be underfunded and understaffed, particularly with regards to Q-Branch, and the character Q is referred to by the name "Algernon", and is presumably a different individual than the Q in the official Bond films (whose name is Major Boothroyd). The film also appears to take place in an "alternate universe" in which none of the events of You Only Live Twice , On Her Majesty's Secret Service , Diamonds Are Forever and the opening sequence of For Your Eyes Only have occurred, since Blofeld is alive and apparently previously unknown to Bond and MI6. Despite sharing many basic similarities with Thunderball , the course of events throughout the film are different enough for it to be more than a direct remake, and the action clearly takes place at a much later date (contemporary with the film's production).

The film is notable for depicting Felix Leiter , Bond's CIA colleague, as an African-American, something which would not occur in the EON series until Casino Royale in 2006. The film also makes a major departure from official continuity by ending with Bond indicating his intention to retire from MI6 - while Bond had considered retirement in On Her Majesty's Secret Service , he is shown to be unsure of the decision and later chooses to stay with the service. In the scene where Bond states his intention to quit, Connery breaks the fourth wall by winking at the camera; while this is incorrectly considered by many as being unique to this film, George Lazenby was in fact the first Bond to break the fourth wall almost 15 years earlier when he told the audience, "This never happened to the other fellow" (referring to Connery, the man he had replaced as Bond).

Production [ ]

Never Say Never Again had its origins in the early 1960s, following the controversy over the 1961 Thunderball novel . [1] Fleming had worked with independent producer Kevin McClory and scriptwriter Jack Whittingham on a script for a potential Bond film, to be called Longitude 78 West , [2] which was subsequently abandoned because of the costs involved. [3] Fleming, "always reluctant to let a good idea lie idle", [3] turned this into the novel Thunderball , for which he did not credit either McClory or Whittingham; [4] McClory then took Fleming to the High Court in London for breach of copyright [4] and the matter was settled in 1963. [2] After Eon Productions started producing the Bond films, it subsequently made a deal with McClory, who would produce Thunderball , and then not make any further version of the novel for a period of ten years following the release of the Eon-produced version in 1965. [5]

Warhead (1978) concept artwork - interior of the Statue of Liberty depicting docking chamber with a submarine, and a robot 'Hammerhead' shark hanging.

In the mid-1970s McClory again started working on a project to bring a Thunderball adaptation to production and, with the working title Warhead , he brought writer Len Deighton together with Sean Connery to work on a script. [6] The script ran into difficulties after accusations from Eon Productions that the project had gone beyond copyright restrictions, which confined McClory to a film based on the Thunderball novel only, and once again the project was deferred. [5]

Towards the end of the 1970s developments were reported on the project under the name James Bond of the Secret Service , [5] but when producer Jack Schwartzman became involved and cleared a number of the legal issues that still surrounded the project [1] he brought on board scriptwriter Lorenzo Semple, Jr. [7] to work on the screenplay. Connery was unhappy with some aspects of the work and asked Tom Mankiewicz , who had rewritten Diamonds Are Forever , to work on the script; however Mankiewicz declined as he felt he was under a moral obligation to Cubby Broccoli. [8] Connery then hired British television writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais [9] to undertake re-writes, although they went uncredited for their efforts because of a restriction by the Writers Guild of America . [6]

The film underwent one final change in title: after Connery had finished filming Diamonds Are Forever he had pledged that he would "never" play Bond again. [6] Connery's wife, Micheline, suggested the title Never Say Never Again , referring to her husband's vow [10] and the producers acknowledged her contribution by listing on the end credits "Title "Never Say Never Again" by: Micheline Connery". A final attempt by Fleming's trustees to block the film was made in the High Court in London in the spring of 1983, but this was thrown out by the court and Never Say Never Again was permitted to proceed. [5]

Cast and crew [ ]

When producer Kevin McClory had first planned the film in 1964 he held initial talks with Richard Burton for the part of Bond, [11] although the project came to nothing because of the legal issues involved. When the Warhead project was launched in the late 1970s, a number of actors were mentioned in the trade press, including Orson Welles for the part of Blofeld, Trevor Howard to play M and Richard Attenborough as director. [6]

In 1978 the working title James Bond of the Secret Service was being used and Connery was in the frame once again, potentially going head-to-head with the next Eon Bond film, Moonraker . [12] By 1980, with legal issues again causing the project to founder, [6] Connery thought himself unlikely to play the role, as he stated in an interview in the Sunday Express : "when I first worked on the script with Len I had no thought of actually being in the film". [13] When producer Jack Schwartzman became involved, he asked Connery to play Bond; Connery agreed, asking (and getting) a fee of $3 million, ($7 million in 2016 dollars) a percentage of the profits, as well as casting and script approval. [6] Subsequent to Connery reprising the role, the script has several references to Bond's advancing years – playing on Connery being 52 at the time of filming [6] – and academic Jeremy Black has pointed out that there are other aspects of age and disillusionment in the film, such as the Shrubland's porter referring to Bond's car ("They don't make them like that anymore."), the new M having no use for the 00 section and Q with his reduced budgets. [14]

For the main villain in the film, Maximillian Largo, Connery suggested Klaus Maria Brandauer, the lead of the 1981 Academy Award-winning Hungarian film Mephisto . [7] Through the same route came Max von Sydow as Ernst Stavro Blofeld, [15] although he still retained his Eon-originated white cat in the film. [16] For the femme fatale, director Irvin Kershner selected former model and Playboy cover girl Barbara Carrera to play Fatima Blush – the name coming from one of the early scripts of Thunderball . [6] Carrera's performance as Fatima Blush earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, [17] which she lost to Cher for her role in Silkwood . [18] Micheline Connery, Sean's wife, had met up-and-coming actress Kim Basinger at a hotel in London and suggested her to Connery, which he agreed upon. [6] For the role of Felix Leiter, Connery spoke with Bernie Casey, saying that as the Leiter role was never remembered by audiences, using a black Leiter might make him more memorable. [7] Others cast included comedian Rowan Atkinson , who would later parody Bond in his role of Johnny English . [19]

Former Eon Productions' editor and director of On Her Majesty's Secret Service , Peter R. Hunt , was approached to direct the film but declined due to his previous work with Eon. [20] Irvin Kershner, who had achieved success in 1980 with The Empire Strikes Back was then hired. A number of the crew from the 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark were also appointed, including first assistant director David Tomblin , director of photography Douglas Slocombe and production designers Philip Harrison and Stephen Grimes . [7] [15]

Filming [ ]

The Kingdom 5KR which acted as Largo's ship, the Flying Saucer

Filming for Never Say Never Again began on 27 September 1982 on the French Riviera for two months [6] before moving to Nassau, the Bahamas in mid-November [7] where filming took place at Clifton Pier, which was also one of the locations used in Thunderball . [6] The Spanish city of Almería was also used as a location. [21] Largo's Palmyran fortress was actually historic Fort Carré in Antibes . [22] For Largo's ship, the Flying Saucer , the yacht Nabila , owned by Saudi billionaire, Adnan Khashoggi, was used. The boat, now owned by Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, has subsequently been renamed the Kingdom 5KR . [23] Principal photography finished at Elstree Studios where interior shots were filmed. [6] Elstree also housed the Tears of Allah underwater cavern, which took three months to construct. [6] Most of the filming was completed in the spring of 1983, although there was some additional shooting during the summer of 1983. [7]

Production on the film was troubled, [15] with Connery taking on many of the production duties with assistant director David Tomblin. [6] Director Irvin Kershner was critical of producer Jack Schwartzman, saying that whilst he was a good businessman, "he didn't have the experience of a film producer". [6] After the production ran out of money, Schwartzman had to fund further production out of his own pocket and later admitted he had underestimated the amount the film would cost to make. [15]

Steven Seagal , who was the fight choreographer for this film, inadvertently broke Connery's wrist while training. While talking on an episode of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno , Connery revealed he did not know his wrist was broken until over a decade later. [24]

Many of the elements of the Eon-produced Bond films were not present in Never Say Never Again for legal reasons. These included the gun barrel sequence , where a screen full of 007 symbols appeared instead, and similarly there was no " James Bond Theme " to use, although no effort was made to supply another tune. [7] A pre-credits sequence was filmed but not used; [15] instead the film opens with the credits run over the top of the opening sequence of Bond on a training mission. [6]

The music for Never Say Never Again was written by Michel Legrand , who composed a score similar to his work as a jazz pianist. [25] The score has been criticised as "anachronistic and misjudged", [6] "bizarrely intermittent" [15] and "the most disappointing feature of the film". [7] Legrand also wrote the main theme "Never Say Never Again", which featured lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman —who had also worked with Legrand in the Academy Award winning song, " The Windmills of Your Mind " [26] —and was performed by Lani Hall [7] after Bonnie Tyler , who disliked the song, had reluctantly declined. [27]

Phyllis Hyman also recorded a potential theme song, written by Stephen Forsyth and Jim Ryan, but the song—an unsolicited submission—was passed over given Legrand's contractual obligations with the music. [28]

Cast and Characters [ ]

MGM DVD cover.

• Directed by: Irvin Kershner
• Screenplay by: Lorenzo Semple Jr.
• Produced by: Jack Schwartzman , Kevin McClory (executive), Michael Dryhurst (associate)
• Cinematography by Douglas Slocombe
• Music composed by: Michel Legrand

Comic Adaptation [ ]

Argentinean publisher Editora Columba, who published several original Spanish-language James Bond film adaptations in various D'artagnan comic magazines during the ‘60s and ‘70s, adapted Never Say Never Again in 1984.

• The film's director, Irvin Kershner, had previously directed Sean Connery in A Fine Madness .
• Unlike the official Bond movies, there is no attempt to hide Sean Connery's tattoo on his arm in this movie.
• Besides Sean Connery, only one other performer was involved in this movie and Thunderball : Robert Rietty (Italian Minister) voiced the character of Largo in Thunderball .
• The movie title comes from Sean Connery's statement when asked if he would ever play Bond again after Diamonds Are Forever , to which he replied "Never Again".
• This is the last movie that Sean Connery appears clean shaven.
• The Flying Saucer , Largo's ship, is a translation of "the Disco Volante" , the name of Largo's ship in Thunderball . In this film, the Disco Volante is a formidable vessel clearly based on a military cruiser hull, with a helipad and scale which dramatically dwarf the vessel present in the official film continuity. The Disco is still the base of underwater operations by Largo. In real life, the ship used in long shots was known as the "Nabila" and was built for Saudi billionaire, Adnan Kashoggi. Kashoggi later sold the yacht to Donald Trump, who renamed it the "Trump Princess". It's currently owned by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia.
• This scene also prevented author John Gardner from having a somewhat similar scene involving Bond playing a computer game over a LAN in Gardner's novel Role of Honour . Bond was supposed to be playing a simulation of "The Battle of Waterloo", this was later changed to a different type of game involving "The Battle of Bunker Hill". Interestingly, the Battle of Waterloo would also play a part in the later official Bond film, The Living Daylights .
• Originally, both this film and Octopussy were to be released to theatres simultaneously, which led to a brief flurry of media activity regarding the "Battle of the Bonds". Ultimately, it was decided to separate the two release dates.
• McClory originally planned for the film to open with some version of the famous "gunbarrel" opening as seen in the official Bond series, but ultimately the film opens with a screenful of "007" symbols instead. When the soundtrack for the film was released on CD, it included a piece of music composed for the proposed opening.
• Klaus Maria Brandauer, who played Largo, was originally cast as Marko Ramius in The Hunt for Red October ; the role eventually went to Connery.
• Rowan Atkinson made his film debut in this movie. Atkinson, who later became famous for the Mr. Bean comedy series, played a British agent in this movie, the bungling Nigel Small-Fawcett. Later he would play a James Bond parody in Johnny English.
• You Only Live Twice was one of two Eon productions, the other being Octopussy, to be released in the same year as a rival Bond film. Casino Royale was the other offering. While both films turned a healthy profit, Casino Royale was accused of lowering the takings of You Only Live Twice. Ironically, on the second occasion this happened, in 1983, Connery was in the lead role for the rival Bond film, Never Say Never Again.

See also [ ]

• The controversy over Thunderball .

References [ ]

• ↑ 1.0 1.1 Pfeiffer, Lee; Worrall, Dave (1998). The Essential Bond . London: Boxtree Ltd , p.213. ISBN 978-0-7522-2477-0 .  
• ↑ 2.0 2.1 Poliakoff, Keith (2000). " License to Copyright – The Ongoing Dispute Over the Ownership of James Bond ". Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal 18 : 387–436. Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. Retrieved on 3 September 2011.
• ↑ 3.0 3.1 Chancellor, Henry (2005). James Bond: The Man and His World . London: John Murray , pp.226. ISBN 978-0-7195-6815-2 .  
• ↑ 4.0 4.1 Macintyre, Ben (2008). For Yours Eyes Only . London: Bloomsbury Publishing, p.198-99. ISBN 978-0-7475-9527-4 .  
• ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Chapman, James (2009). Licence to Thrill: A Cultural History of the James Bond Films . New York: I.B. Tauris, p.184. ISBN 978-1-84511-515-9 .  
• ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 Barnes, Alan; Hearn, Marcus (2001). Kiss Kiss Bang! Bang!: the Unofficial James Bond Film Companion . Batsford Books, pp.152-56. ISBN 978-0-7134-8182-2 .  
• ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 Benson, Raymond (1988). The James Bond Bedside Companion . London: Boxtree Ltd , p.240-43. ISBN 1-85283-234-7 .  
• ↑ Mankiewicz, Tom; Crane, Robert (2012). My Life as a Mankiewicz . Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky, p.150. ISBN 978-0-8131-3605-9 .  
• ↑ La Frenais, Ian (1936–) and Clement, Dick (1937–) . Screenonline . British Film Institute. Retrieved on 3 September 2011.
• ↑ Dick, Sandra. "Eighty big facts you must know about Big Tam", 25 August 2010, p. 20.  
• ↑ "A Rival 007 – It Looks Like Burton", 21 February 1964, p. 13.  
• ↑ Davis, Victor. "Bond versus Bond", 29 July 1978, p. 4.  
• ↑ Mann, Roderick. "Why Sean won't now be back as 007 ...", 23 March 1980, p. 23.  
• ↑ Black, Jeremy (2005). The Politics of James Bond: from Fleming's Novel to the Big Screen . University of Nebraska Press, p.58. ISBN 978-0-8032-6240-9 .  
• ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 Smith, Jim (2002). Bond Films . London: Virgin Books, pp.193-99. ISBN 978-0-7535-0709-4 .  
• ↑ Chapman, James (2009). Licence to Thrill: A Cultural History of the James Bond Films . New York: I.B. Tauris, p.135. ISBN 978-1-84511-515-9 .  
• ↑ Barbara Carrera . Official Golden Globe Award Website . Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Retrieved on 2 September 2011.
• ↑ Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture . Official Golden Globe Award Website . Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Retrieved on 3 September 2011.
• ↑ Johnny English . Penguin Readers Factsheets (2003). Retrieved on 5 September 2011.
• ↑ " Director Peter Hunt – "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" ", Retrovision. Retrieved on 5 September 2011.  
• ↑ Armstrong, Vic (7 May 2011). I'm the real Indiana (when I'm not busy being James Bond or Superman) . Daily Mail .
• ↑ Reeves, Tony (2001). The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations . Chicago: A Cappella, p.134. ISBN 978-1-55652-432-5 .  
• ↑ Salmans, Sandra. " Lavish Lifestyle of a Wheeler-Dealer ", 22 February 1985. Retrieved on 6 September 2011.  
• ↑ Kurchak, Sarah (12 October 2015). Did Steven Seagal Break Sean Connery's Wrist with Aikido? . Vice.com. Retrieved on 24 November 2015.
• ↑ Bettencourt, Scott (1998). " Bond Back in Action Again ". Film score monthly .
• ↑ Error on call to Template:cite web : Parameters url and title must be specified. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
• ↑ The Bat Segundo Show: Bonnie Tyler (12 September 2008). Tyler also discusses this in the documentary James Bond's Greatest Hits .
• ↑ Burlingame, Jon (2012). The Music of James Bond . Oxford: Oxford University Press, p.112. ISBN 978-0-19-986330-3 .  

External links [ ]

• Never Say Never Again (1983) at IMDb
• MGM's page on the film
• 1 James Bond (Daniel Craig)
• 2 Mr. White
• 3 Lyutsifer Safin

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Fleming told my father that James Bond was never a gentleman – his Leftie portrayal now is a betrayal

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It’s time to put James Bond out of his misery. Ian Fleming was a friend of my father, Woodrow, and he often said he despised the books that made his name, but the one thing he confessed himself attached to was the quintessence of his creation, namely that Bond was a cad, a snob and a sexist.

He was not, for want of a better word, a gentleman.

Yet the film franchise has gradually and determinedly made him one – to spare, allegedly, puling modern audiences. No one believes in a fictional character absolutely, but Bond’s outward appearance has likewise been altered in a way that Fleming would have detested .

There is only one physical description of Bond in the novels, and it comes in the first book, Casino Royale , in which 007 is likened by concrete temptress Vesper Lynd to the composer and musician Hoagy Carmichael, with dark hair and features of superior handsomeness.

As a result, I could not stomach Daniel Craig in the part, however laudable he is as an actor. Aside from his Michael Fabricant barnet, Mr Craig’s features resemble those of a squashed potato. In real life, of course, the handsome man has no appreciable advantage in amour over his more Gothic brother.

A beautiful man is viewed with the utmost suspicion by all intelligent women. A teenage girl may plausibly fall in love with an Alcibiades with shoulders like the Parthenon, but no woman with poise or self-respect, even supposing her to be transiently flustered, would yield to that madness for an instant.

But in film, physical distinction and accuracy matters, and it matters in the case of Bond. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, the current favourite to take over the role , possesses a curious tonsure of bay, but there is scant evidence of much else near his cranial cavity.

Moreover, he lacks Bond’s unerring snobisme, and his face and voice are too contemporary and Left-wing.

As for the content of the films themselves, they have strayed so far from the original conception of Fleming that 007 has become another generic spy. What was once a bugle blast is now reedy and quavering.

If there is any way forward for Bond it is backwards. Any new film worth the price of admission should be shot as a period piece, in which 007 can do what he was meant to: personify an irredeemable libertine who dines at gentlemen’s clubs, which, unlike the Garrick , would howl at the notion of admitting the distaff side, sojourns in hotels sloping down to the riviera of Gianni Agnelli, and expresses a loathing of sentimentality, particularly where women are concerned.

And for God’s sake, give him back his Chesterfields. The contemporary world and its Puritanism would be anathema to Fleming, and he told my father that he disliked intensely the way it was heading.

He would have abhorred today’s disingenuous liberalism in all its autocratic forms, and would have turned his head to the wall from it. Bond should do the same, or never again be seen on film.

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