New James Bond Filming in Bahamas

Apr. 10, 1965 - With a pledge of a substantial donation to the Bahamian Red Cross, producers Albert Broccoli and Kevin McClory attracted nearly 200 of the social elite to Nassau to an all-night party a few days ago which will be a major sequence in “Thunderball,” the fourth of the Ian Fleming screen thrillers.

More than 35 scenes of “Thunderball” will be shot in Nassau and in the surrounding Out Islands during a seven-week schedule. Sean Connery, starring once again as 007, will also work in underseas sequences as James Bond goes under water to battle SPECTRE, the international crime syndicate which threatens the destruction of the entire Western world. 

Connery and the other members of the company — the girls are Claudine Ager, the former Miss France, and Luciana Paluzzi of Italy, who plays a killer for SPECTRE — are scattered around at a half dozen of the hotels of Nassau. 

To date, they have managed to enter into the tourist-ridden environment of the Bahamas with much less hysteria than the last British visitors, the Beatles. During their recent stay to shoot scenes for “Eight Arms to Hold You,” the mop-headed pop group and their antics turned Nassau into opposing camps, pro and con. 

As one representative of the Establishment put it: “The Beatles are nice enough boys, but they attracted the rabble. James Bond fits the atmosphere of this place much better.”

In fact, Connery has drawn crowds of his own whenever the unit works in a public place. This is not unexpected with his “Goldfinger” drawing stampedes to the box office wherever it plays. 

After making “Dr. No” and “From Russia With Love” at a straight salary, Connery reportedly asked for — and obtained — a deal for 5% of the profits of “Goldfinger.” A wise move — the film is expected to take in more than $30 million.

When not before the cameras for “Thunderball,” Connery devotes his leisure time to playing golf on the course near his hotel. He is finding that playing in the consistent 70’s is a tougher challenge than earning his first million.

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