- Elstree Studios rejected Thunderball script in 1960 because of the gadgets
- The film was eventually made by Pinewood Studios starring Sean Connery
- It is thought to have been the most successful of the franchise taking in £1bn
From guns disguised as pens to rocket-firing cigarettes – the bizarre gadgets provided by Q for James Bond have played a crucial part in the huge success of the 007 films.
But it has now been revealed that a British studio rejected the chance to make one of the most lucrative Bond movies of all because of the script’s ‘excessive use of modern gadgetry’.
It has been revealed that a British studio rejected the chance to make one of the most lucrative Bond movies of all because of the script’s ‘excessive use of modern gadgetry’
Thunderball, starring Sean Connery flying around with a jet pack, was finally made in 1965 by Pinewood Studios. The movie is argued to have been the most financially successful Bond film, taking one billion dollars (£740 million) at the box office allowing for inflation
In a blunder to rival Decca Records rejecting a new group called The Beatles, a script reader at Elstree Studios said Thunderball would be a ‘disaster’, despite one of the writers being Bond’s creator, Ian Fleming.
The script rejection was in 1960, two years before Dr No’s release marked the beginning of the massively popular film series.
Thunderball, starring Sean Connery flying around with a jet pack, was finally made in 1965 by Pinewood Studios.
The movie is argued to have been the most financially successful Bond film, taking one billion dollars (£740 million) at the box office allowing for inflation.
But the Elstree verdict on the script – featured tonight on Antiques Roadshow’s 40th anniversary edition on BBC1 – pours scorn on the obsession with technology.
It says: ‘This excessive use of modern gadgetry proves no substitute for character. It registers as padding. These defects would be certain to show up more disastrously on the screen. I feel the story would not promote a successful film.’
The report ends with the words: ‘No Recommendation.’
Antiques Roadshow is on BBC1 tonight at 8pm.