16 replies to this topic

[Dan Gale]

This is a different version to the current DVDs.
It contains the line "Now you can tell about the one that got away" instead of "Sorry old chap, better luck next time."
It also has the instrumental of Thunderball over the end credits instead of the James Bond theme. It also features the weird line spoken in the helicoptor...

Comes in a box with good condition cover featuring poster artwork. If only the DVDs looked this impressive on the front instead of the awful photoshopped, mirrored heads (SPY) added onto other people's bodies (YOLT), from shots of the wrong films (AVTAK) and with all skin detail airbrushed out (OCTOPUSSY)!

Bid away here
http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=STRK:MESELX:IT

or search ebay for the item number 300352394054. you have 10 days!
Good luck.

Dan

[Mr. Somerset]

I think I prefer that version over the current one. I like the " Now you can tell..." line. Also I much prefer the TB orchestration of the Bond theme here. Much more smooth than tacking on the original DR NO version.

[jaguar007]

I still have my old laser disc collector version which has both audio versions. However with the Blu Ray now, I will probably never watch it again.

[sthgilyadgnivileht]

I have that VHS copy at home. I too much prefer the closing instrumental on this version, which I always understood was the "American" ending of the film. I think this version is lacking John Barry's score when the Bombs are obtained by Largo and Bond is isolated in the cave.

I still have my old laser disc collector version which has both audio versions. However with the Blu Ray now, I will probably never watch it again.

Is that the THX version? It was amazing to get that when it was released.

[jaguar007]

I still have my old laser disc collector version which has both audio versions. However with the Blu Ray now, I will probably never watch it again.

Is that the THX version? It was amazing to get that when it was released.

Yep, it is on six discs (I think).

[sthgilyadgnivileht]

Thats right all in the CAV format, it was the best thing until DVD arrived.

[Double-Oh Agent]

You know, I almost did a thread talking about the differences between the two versions.

Goldeneye Magazine once listed them, and on nearly all of them I like the alternate version much more than the regular one.

Here are the differences (A for alternate, R for regular):

1. When Bond, Paula, and Pinder walk on a Nassau street upon meeting:
A. Bond makes an awkward movement to avoid a passer-by.
R. Cuts before awkward movement.

2. When Bond exits Largo's shark pool, he says:
A. "Now you can tell them about the one who got away."
R. "Sorry old chap, better luck next time."

3. On one of their helicopter searches Leiter spots a manta ray:
A. He then says, "Manta ray. Unusual to see them as far out as this."
R. There is no dialogue.

4. When Bond battles a SPECTRE frogman in the cave:
A. There's no music.
R. A version of the Chateau Flight music plays during the fight.

5. When Largo prepares to torture Domino:
A. He says, "You've given me much pleasure, Domino. IN return, unless you tell me how much Bond KNEW, I'll be forced to cause you GREAT pain."
R. He says (in a voice that does not sound like Largo's), "You've given me much pleasure, Domino. BUT in return, unless you tell me how much Bond KNOWS, I'll be forced to cause you MUCH pain."

6. During the climactic underwater battle scene, Bond knocks a knife out of a SPECTRE frogman's hand:
A. There is a jump in the music.
R. The Thunderball Suite music is smooth.

7. After Largo boards the Disco Volante after the underwater battle there is a shot of the hatch closing:
A. There is no sound effect accompanying it.
R. The hatch closes with a dramatic sound effect.

8. When Largo takes the wheel of the Disco Volante, he says:
A. "Come on, I'll take over. We've got to get away from them. We've still got one bomb aboard."
R. "Get away from there. We've still got one bomb aboard."

9. When Kutze frees Domino:
A. He says, "Look, the bomb cannot be exploded now. I threw the arming device into the sea. You understand?" And Domino replies, "Yes."
R. He says, "Look, the bomb cannot be exploded now."

10. When Bond and Domino are whisked away by the plane:
A. A Thunderball orchestration of The James Bond Theme plays.
R. The Dr. No orchestration of The James Bond Theme plays.

Of those, the only regular versions I prefer are numbers 4, 6, and 7--particularly number 4. The alternate versions I particularly prefer are numbers 2, 5, 8, 9, and 10. As a result, I much prefer the alternate version and wish that EON would release it or at least make both versions available on the same disc.

[sthgilyadgnivileht]

1. When Bond, Paula, and Pinder walk in Nassau street upon meeting:
A. Bond makes an awkward movement to avoid a passer-by.
R. Cuts before awkward movement.

9. When Kutze frees Domino:
A. He says, "Look, the bomb cannot be exploded now. I threw the arming device into the sea. You understand?" And Domino replies, "Yes."
R. He says, "Look, the bomb cannot be exploded now."

Both of A are present on the UK widescreen VHS and UK Blu-ray editions, which makes me think there have been more than just two versions of TB. The other differences, like the dialogue when Bond exits the pool, remain.


I have never read any satisfying explanation that explains the various versions in the TB prints. It's a bit odd as some are clearly improvements, like the omitting of Pinder's dialogue about the manta ray, and some don't help, ie the missing Barry music cue.

[Royal Dalton]

Was the 'Dr. No' end title music on any British-released version of Thunderball before the DVD came out? I don't remember hearing it on the film before then.

[sthgilyadgnivileht]

Was the 'Dr. No' end title music on any British-released version of Thunderball before the DVD came out? I don't remember hearing it on the film before then.

Yes, I am almost certain the 'Dr. No' music was on my old Warner Home Video release of 1989, but I have lost my tape of it to check for sure. As far as I remember when I got the remastered widescreen version (shown in this thread) the ending sounded new and was something I had not heard before.

[hilly]

Was the 'Dr. No' end title music on any British-released version of Thunderball before the DVD came out? I don't remember hearing it on the film before then.

Yes, I am almost certain the 'Dr. No' music was on my old Warner Home Video release of 1989, but I have lost my tape of it to check for sure. As far as I remember when I got the remastered widescreen version (shown in this thread) the ending sounded new and was something I had not heard before.

Yes. It was on the version that I taped from British tv in the mid 1980's

[Syndicate]

I remember seeing that in stores back in 1992 or 1993. That was the year they started coming out with poster cover arts, for all the Bond movies on VHS from MGM/UA themselves. Bofore that since the early years of VHS being sold in stores it was from CBS/Fox, and only some had the posters. Thunderball had Bond kneeing down with the harphoon gun and the ladies around him. The only ones that didn't have the movie posters on the CBS/Fox ones were, From Russia With Love, Goldifnger, You Only Live Twice and I think The Man With The Golden Gun. The Thunderball I got during the VHS days was not that one, which was MGM/UA's first time relesing James Bond themselves. I got the one that came after that one, when Goldeneye coming out. It did not have the movie posters as the cover art anymore. It had Bond coming out of the water looking stright forward holdng the harphoon gun. So I don't know which version I have on VHS.

[Nicolas Suszczyk]

When I was on Bariloche, I saw a TV emision (dubbed in Spanish) of Thunderball who had the Thunderball orchestral theme on the end.

[Mr. Somerset]

I remember seeing that in stores back in 1992 or 1993. That was the year they started coming out with poster cover arts, for all the Bond movies on VHS from MGM/UA themselves. Bofore that since the early years of VHS being sold in stores it was from CBS/Fox, and only some had the posters. Thunderball had Bond kneeing down with the harphoon gun and the ladies around him. The only ones that didn't have the movie posters on the CBS/Fox ones were, From Russia With Love, Goldifnger, You Only Live Twice and I think The Man With The Golden Gun. The Thunderball I got during the VHS days was not that one, which was MGM/UA's first time relesing James Bond themselves. I got the one that came after that one, when Goldeneye coming out. It did not have the movie posters as the cover art anymore. It had Bond coming out of the water looking stright forward holdng the harphoon gun. So I don't know which version I have on VHS.

I used to have those. TMWTGG did have the poster art, but was missing music in a few scenes-Strange. Dr NO had the poster image of Connery on a black box. Pretty cool I thought.

[marktmurphy]

I don't think there's any definitive version of Thunderball: there are seemingly loads of different versions knocking around.

[Dan Gale]

I read it was rushed to get it ready for the US premiere and tinkered with for the UK premeire and from then on people cobble together different reels based on damage or quality and these get chosen for release or broadcast based on how they look rather than content. So there were 2 versions once, but now they've inbred onto many different versions. I guess looking at a shootng script would pin down answers to some questions like which line was Bond supposed to say to the shark. Although these off camera comment things are often thought of during editing.

[Shaun Forever]

One version even includes Roger Moore in the role of James Bond.