thunderballBBC Radio 4, December 10 2016

James Bond vs Emilio Largo…

The genesis of Thunderball has been rehearsed many times – the story was thought up by Ian Fleming in conjunction with others as a potential movie script. When the film didn’t get off the ground, Fleming used it as the basis for the next 007 novel without giving due credit; a court case meant that credit was henceforward (normally) given. The book was the basis of both the fourth Sean Connery Bond movie and the seventh – Thunderball and Never Say Never Again – but this is the first real adaptation of the original story; even the comic strip was abbreviated when it appeared!

Archie Scottney’s script retains the slightly juvenile Bond from the previous radio plays rather than Fleming’s harder, more adult character – it’s noticeable when the story reverts closer to Fleming how much better Toby Stephens sounds in the part. It also again introduces Q into the equation – a character (at least under that sobriquet) that Fleming didn’t use in his books – but it does hew much closer to the original story than any other version. No Tears of Allah here, nor sacrificial lamb Paula, and the underwater battle becomes much more personal. The story is efficiently stripped back, and Ian Ogilvy’s governor takes an important role in moving things forward. There’s still time for some of Fleming’s sidesteps though – the story of the Players’ Hero is retained – and Janet Montgomery makes a very different (and far closer to Fleming) version of Domino from previous incarnations.

It’s not one of the stronger Bond stories – in part because you’re not sure if Blofeld is the villain of the piece or Emilio Largo – but it moves at a lick, probably because of its basis as a movie script. Martin Jarvis and his repertory company of Bond actors keep it firmly within period, with both Alfred Molina (reprising his performance from OHMSS two years ago) and Tom Conti providing enjoyable, if both slightly heightened, performances as the villains. The soundscape works well with Mark Holden and Michael Lopez’s original music far more in keeping with the location.

Verdict: Jarvis/Ayres continue their thoroughly enjoyable audio version of Mr Bond. Moonraker next please? 8/10

Paul Simpson