THUNDERBALL | Number 9 is electrocuted

On this day in 1965, the scene from THUNDERBALL where Number 9 is electrocuted for embezzlement, was filmed. The agent’s chair sinking into the floor was production designer Ken Adam’s idea. He said: “I felt by this time that a Bond film needed a moving set, so it didn’t just become a tableau. And it was also quite funny.”

[@humphrey4976]

Rare footage of a FIFA board meeting

[@roberthaworth8991]

These guys aren't criminal enough to be FIFA.

[@tanall5959]

@@roberthaworth8991 Indeed. This is clearly an IMSA meeting.

[@tanall5959]

@Trey Stephens "International MotorSport Association". Also known as the "International Marijuana Smuggler's Association" due to the number of drug smugglers that used their profits to fund racing teams.

[@Kelly14UK]

@@roberthaworth8991 LOL

[@peterembranch5797]

😂

[@georgestaunton6994]

One of those rare business meeting where something actually got accomplished!

[@bstafford112]

It’s not Like congress.

[@johnhowitt2653]

George Staunton Perhaps the British Cabinet could use this with Cummings as No 1

[@SSN515]

@Arthur Kinda like, "I see this stuff everyday, I'll just keep working on my grocery list"

[@MrJack1992]

@Arthur because number 2 was smart. I feel for number 11 he was getting screwed over by number 9.

[@megaleadjp]

not true, we electrocuted 2 last week!

[@markusmyrvold1362]

This goes to show that, even in SPECTRE, there's always that one guy on the group project that lets the team down.

[@mdaddy775]

Very good

[@josephcontreras8930]

There's a position open on the executive board 😅😅😅😅

[@tommcewan7936]

Notice that it's one of the two American members of the group; this was in that early 60s era of 007 films that tended to treat Americans with a certain amount of disdain, before Britain started blatantly trying to toady up to the USA with the Bond films of the 70s.

[@mr.vargas5648]

what do you mean even?

[@cookedit]

​@@tommcewan7936The James Bond films are made by an American production company. I'm afraid you just made it up what you typed. Nothing more.

[@Ved000000]

"I'm still alive, but I'm very badly burned." - Number 9

[@markzilla6895]

"YOU SHOT ME!"

[@lindildeev5721]

@@markzilla6895 "YOU SHOT ME IN THE ARM!"

[@ArmyJames]

“Not dead. Burned. Badly.”

[@ShadowKing1993]

​@@markzilla6895ALRIGHT MOVING ON

[@CCS565]

That was number 11

[@QuayNemSorr]

"Hallo?! Anyone...?? I'm still alive, I'm just quite badly burned"

[@The_Str4nger]

You shot me!

[@olakarlsson7496]

What happend to the body?

[@stevehoward3049]

@@olakarlsson7496 Down into the fire pits....I mean after all ,Blofeld needs to heat the place.

[@ArmyJames]

“No. Not dead. Burned. Badly.”

[@adam_p99]

The wound is beginning to smell like almonds

[@JediPhoenix1976]

Love how every other SPECTRE agent just about craps their pants when Number 9's electrocuted, but Largo's like, "Meh..." Guy's Number Two for a reason, right? 😎

[@gdhuertas07]

“Gotta push my presentation back because this guy didn’t check himself. I swear to God, working with a bunch of amateurs here…”

[@Wenchework]

Takes mega lot to impress or scare Largo so he was right chose as second in command,thoe like Bond women is his weekness

[@SMAXZO]

@@gdhuertas07 "I told that guy that screwing with SPECTRE is a bad call...can't say I'm shocked.."

[@rwg6357]

@@SMAXZO "Its always the dumb youngblood who thinks he can pull a fast one on Number 1"

[@flintironstag2381]

Yeah, but #2 was crapping his pants by the end of the movie when things went south.

[@alextettenborn269]

The complete lack of emotion on Largo's face as his colleague is executed is actually chilling. Very good acting

[@loganwright3660]

Largo is used to this because he doesn't treat his subordinates any better.

[@smctrout4423]

It's easy when it's only acting.

[@yrooxrksvi7142]

Adolfo Celi was equally great in dramatic and comedic roles, wish his Italian movies were more known outside (like Brancaleone Alle Crociate or Amici Miei).

[@ouissam2502]

@@smctrout4423 Perhaps

[@georgebuller1914]

Don't forget - he'd read the film's script!...

[@andrewdrabble8939]

Look how cool Adolfo Celi was in this scene. He acted like it was a common occurrence. His look of nonchalance said it all

[@Agent1W]

Not the first time he saw SPECTRE operatives, even at the executive level, get very badly, badly shocked.

[@S7N17]

Agreed! Smooth charisma mixed with fine acting.

[@johnbertrand7185]

Yes he was good in this, with the added fact that almost all of his dialogue was dubbed by another actor.

[@tooleyheadbang4239]

@@johnbertrand7185 Just as well. You couldn't understand a word when he played Rodrigo Borgia.

[@muffs55mercury61]

Celi was in only two films that were big in the USA--this one and "Grand Prix".. He actually spoke English quite fluently but his accent was so thick they had to dub him.

[@franciscondon1902]

I've heard that in the book Blofeld killed number 9 not because of embezzlement but because he raped a female victim that Spectre had kidnapped for ransom. After killing Number 9, Blofeld sent the victim home to her family after the ransom was paid and also gave half of the money back to the family as a compensation for an extra ordeal that Spectre did not condone. So even Blofeld had a line he refused to let any of his operatives cross.

[@renekauts8323]

I've heard that too. I haven't read the book. I think I've heard/saw it on DVD(Ultimate James Bond DVD Collection 2006 *** Thunderball 1965 *** Bonus Disc: "The Making of Thunderball"). Yes, Blofeld was a man of honor in a way! That rape incident was disgusting even for him! But I think in the movie, this embezzlement stuff works better! Great scene, great movie, great director Terence Young, great James Bond: Sean Connery!

[@JThom529]

He’s a villain, but he’s a villain with standards. Gotta appreciate that even though it probably would not translate well in film if the director wants to make him as unsympathetic as possible

[@jamesbell1613]

Yes that's what happened in the book, except it is possible it was not rape. But regardless, Blofeld felt that half the money should be returned, which was fascinating to me.

[@Blokewood3]

@@jamesbell1613 Blofeld's point was that the ransom was paid for her to be returned unharmed, but she was harmed anyway. It's bad for business, because if people don't trust that SPECTRE will keep their word they won't be willing to pay ransoms anymore.

[@12227UserName]

It's more so because Blofeld didn't want to taint his organization's reputation by going back on his word. It has nothing to do with having morals. If SPECTRE isn't good on its word, then their business in extortion and ransoms wouldn't be taken seriously. As a result, Blofeld compensated by giving half the money back. The girl was still alive and returned, so presumably Blofeld felt he had a right to the other half of the money.

[@bridgenorton537]

When Mr Bigglesworth gets upset, people DIE!!

[@atrociousconsequences4432]

Wrong spy franchise, you fool !!

[@ghostproxy11]

@@atrociousconsequences4432 shut up.

[@geoffwilliams4478]

Why must I be surrounded by freaking idiots?!

[@geraldstephens6612]

No pool underneath the floor with sharks with laser beams on top of their heads?

[@geoffwilliams4478]

@@geraldstephens6612 nope. The cycloptic colleague informed No. 1 that that couldn't be done. He really needed a bone.

[@carmineagrigento8245]

That mid century minimalist furniture and interior design is very cool

[@condorboss3339]

"I suppose this would be the wrong time to ask about Spectre's pension plan?"

[@alexthompson5275]

Yeah. Via a electric chair or a BBQ pit

[@nihilistcentraluk442]

Or the widow's benefits?

[@marcokite]

or their private health insurance for employees?

[@allybally0021]

I had a question about having to pay for the car park.....but let it go.

[@Baldmaxx]

My father would tell me when I was a child that this scene was exactly how his monthly management meetings at the bank where he worked would go in the 1980's.

[@mongoslade5248]

That's DAD'S 4 U.

[@generalpublic3744]

Yikes!

[@profdc9501]

I guess that's one way to get promoted...

[@michaelbeemer8019]

“I hate you, Dad.”

[@racheljennings8548]

I hope that didn't happen your dad's bank mate!?

[@rogerkincaid931]

Ken Adam's set design is everything.

[@troyandrew6154]

His sets were AWESOME! Still are

[@icaliver]

Classic and timeless. I love it all. Shoot, the seat is still good looking after the burn marks.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

The coldness of set defines SPECTRE's lack of regard for human life.

[@PercivalBlakeney]

Nah, he borrowed it from Dr. Evil. ... oh wait a minute.

[@michaeljames4904]

What’s your avi from? The Mackintosh Man, perhaps? One of my favourite Newman flicks.

[@cyanginpedro]

Number 5 is the father who “corrected” his daughters in Kubrick’s classic ‘The Shining’.

[@patrickslingo1811]

I thought he looked familiar!

[@franciscoj.sepulvedal.7975]

Delbert Grady

[@johnnyzeee5215]

Yes, actor Philip Stone, also " Dad " in ' Clockwork Orange ', and " Graham " in " Barry Lyndon."

[@buffalopatriot]

Philip Stone. Also in Kubricks 'A Clockwork Orange' and the tram operator in 'Where Eagles Dare'.

[@Dragon1813]

Also the British officer in India, in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

[@jjrj8568]

One of the most influential "gathering of villians" scenes of movie history

[@nobrainsnoheadache2434]

. . . pencils something in about doing it in a Batman movie

[@TPDManiacXC626]

@@nobrainsnoheadache2434 But in-between The Dark Knight and Thunderball, there was the meeting of the Five Families in the 1972 classic The Godfather. And before all this, there was the meeting of Germany’s crime lords in the 1931 Fritz Lang movie titled M.

[@nobrainsnoheadache2434]

@@TPDManiacXC626 . . . colours in something about animals in a gangster movie

[@raul0ca]

Now we call this "Davos"

[@crosslink1493]

Don't forget the Goldfinger "retreat" where all the bad boys assembled for the big reveal of the plans (with Connery's 007 in the dungeon).

[@gabrielvazquez7147]

"Why ask for 280 million... when we can ask for... one million dollars!"

[@Menaceblue3]

Because 280 million is more than 1 million you numb nuts...

[@retrograderenegade3503]

@@Menaceblue3 you don't get the reference don't you?

[@kimmer6]

And sharks with laser beams on their heads.

[@balasmj]

Whoosh...

[@deathwingelitegantz5264]

@@Menaceblue3 HAHA R/WHOOOSH Youngster...

[@abloogywoogywoo]

"The culprit is known to me, and I've decided upon the appropriate action." [finger slips and accidentally fries No.2 instead] ".....I regret to inform you all of the death of No.2, killed in his criminal prime by my butter fingers. His services with be greatly missed." [electrocutes No.9]

[@zacharyhawley1693]

😂

[@flintironstag2381]

"We shall now proceed with new business. We shall here from #2 who......(ahem!)........this meeting is adjourned until next month."

[@theyellowlightsaber3193]

Number 2 wasnt sitting down though so that joke makes no sense....

[@vordman]

That would have made a fantastic scene in Austin Powers or Johnny English.

[@user-mistereye]

@@theyellowlightsaber3193 Yes, he WAS sitting down

[@frankpinmtl]

"Hey, are all the chairs built the same way?" - everyone else sitting in the boardroom

[@bobgillis1137]

I'll stand.

[@andrewmihovich4252]

In the book, it's said that their trust in their boss' judgment is absolute, and the one guy who's sweating knows the hand is passing over him. But... how much trust do you have in the guts of the apparatus? "made to kill whoever's sitting in this chair *if* the dial gets turned".

[@mrmeerkat1096]

I wish Bond movies were still like this, instead of having Blofeld as Bonds adoptive brother.

[@kxmode]

Cuckoo

[@maxfieldnuckels9075]

@@kxmode oh fuck no, that sounds like something Waltz said in another one of his movies even though he didn’t

[@lloydkline1518]

New James bond tries to copies their old james bonds movies too much like train fight: too many moneypenny ;; etc etc

[@paulkellerman2603]

@@lloydkline1518 Every bad showrunner's opinion: if people like something then we will give them more of it and everything will be fine.

[@calebsanchez1988]

They tried really hard to make the Spectre meeting creepy in the Craig movie. Here, they're just conducting business. This is much more chilling and realistic.

[@generalpublic3744]

In 1965 this scene brought a few gasps in the Cinema. I loved this film, still one of my favorite Bond films. Bear in mind Bond films were state of the art in the 60's, there was nothing to compare and it caught the imagination, especially an impressionable nine year old! Bath time was never quite the same, mind those sharks! ;)

[@lewisner]

My dad took me to see these films when I was very small and they blew my mind. As you say they were state of the art and we only had a black and white TV so even seeing them in colour was amazing.

[@builder396]

All in all you have to give Bond movies credit that they in essence still hold up well today. A few practical effects, like Balloon henchman, definitely looked goofy as hell though, but in total they aged like fine wine, from story to effects to directing to anything else.

[@AbeTheSigma007]

My favorite Bond Soundtrack...

[@ramencurry6672]

Now it’s cheesy comedy. Austin Powers doing the chair execution in his first movie.

[@lindildeev5721]

@@ramencurry6672 "And when Mr Bigglesworth gets upset, people DIIIIIE !"

[@fjccommish]

1: "Number 16." 16: "We netted 3.18." 1: "Million?" 16: "No, Number 1." 1: "Impressive - 3.18 billion. Some of the others can learn from you." 16: "No, Number 1. We held a bake sale and lemonade stand. We netted three dollars and 18 cents." 1: "Please leave. It isn't even worth the cost of electricity to kill you."

[@RouGeZH]

ROFL

[@davidw.2791]

RouGeZH I know who bought the lemonade though: Wednesday Addams.

[@fjccommish]

@@davidw.2791 It was poison. Oh Pugsley!

[@johnnymasalu6728]

1: ...but hold on, I'll do it anyway to make an example of you! 16: aaaarrrrrggggghhhhhhh!

[@penitent2401]

1: Number 17 17: we invested in some housing, with just $1million deposit we were able to borrow $1billion in sub-prime mortgage... 1: ... and? 17: well, we lost everything and we still owes the banks $300 million. so you may want to make the ransom higher than $280 million.

[@mst3KGf]

Among its many virtues, I like how this shows S.P.E.C.T.R.E. as an equal opportunity criminal organization that does everything they can think of to make a profit, from assassinating a defector on behalf of the French to "consulting" on the Great British Train Robbery. A nice callback to Dr. No (who, if you recall, was a S.P.E.C.T.R.E. member) referring to East and West as "mere points on the compass."

[@richie9308]

Almost like a highly educated organized crime syndicate where everyone has a degree.

[@alertgasper]

It was also when mercenaries were available, but considered disreputable. Now we call them "private contractors"

[@droopmountain6510]

Everything I needed to know about management I learned from Bond films.

[@cocodojo]

(Or how I stopped fearing electrocution and loved the Bond) Major Kong still whooping all the way down on that bomb 😂

[@Evil0tto]

"Number Twelve. You were asked to bring pizza for the meeting." "Yes, Number One. I have brought enough for the entire group." "Is that... pineapple, Number Twelve?" "Yes sir, I..." [ZZZZAAAAAAPPP]

[@juliusuzutunda]

😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

[@silenthunteruk]

Nah. Blofeld would make it appear he was going to zap Number Twelve, then zap Number Ten who was actually responsible.

[@aggressiveattitudeera887]

LOL!!!😆😆😆😆😆

[@deacondavis5098]

Evil Otto 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@TednGilbertAZ]

🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 ⚡️

[@CETRTW]

SPECTRE was social distancing long before it was needed... interesting.....

[@victorrain]

MI6 was social distancing too! The briefing room was big as well.

[@jayroland7267]

Social distancing hasn't been needed as yet.

[@325133]

I don't think the members are type one would invite to family barbecues

[@Taylor_Wolfe115]

Or we are social distancing cause of SPECTRE now :p

[@jamesbomd3503]

YOU ARE ALL WRONG THE FIRST SOCIAL DISTANCING WAS IN ANOTHER BOND MOVIE.....IT WILL BLOW YOU AWAY WHEN YOU WATCH IT POST COVID !

[@stevenspenneberg7407]

I love how he opens the secret door, with what is basically a garage door opener. Then he walks in, and Number 1 is sitting behind a half open garage door in what looks like a storage unit.

[@DandinXY]

doesn't that make you want to build one of these rooms yourself? you just need a few garage components

[@StephenKershaw1]

not a garage door opener... a 1970's tv remote...

[@CyberBeep_kenshi]

​@@DandinXY shhhh ;-)

[@kimballbenson8116]

Kinda amusing that Spectre goes through the trouble of using a soundproof room but uses a PA system to talk

[@robjones2408]

There was a great parody of this iconic scene in the first Austin Powers film. At the time(1965), it was truly frightening. The audience was totally silent with horror.

[@jrcasselman]

Horror? Try reading the novel. In the novel, Blofeld electrocuted a SPECTRE member because the man had a fling with a teenage girl they had kidnapped for ransom. After electrocuting him, the body was left at the table while they discussed new business; only after the meeting ended did Blofeld call for the disposal of the body. The SPECTRE executives were all hardened criminals. Seeing someone killed was second nature for them.

[@vinnie9458]

Still pretty creepy now lol

[@marchapril5783]

"Hello, hello, I am burned very badly but i'm still alive, hello?"

[@GBusso]

@@marchapril5783 "I think my legs are broken but I will try to stand up - AAAAAGGHHH - yes, they are broken..."

[@Lotmeister]

"Let that be a warning to you all that this organization will not tolerate failure..." "Help! I'm alive, but very badly burned!"

[@michaeljames4904]

_“Number 10”_ is a sobering reminder that it wasn’t just Chief Inspector Dreyfus who was driven to a life of crime by Clouseau’s maddening incompetence.

[@QuarrellaDeVil]

I thought François was undercover here!

[@michaeljames4904]

QuarrellaDeVil Relieved you think so, but he’s clearly not in any disguise worthy of the great Balls!

[@ChrisCaramia]

@@michaeljames4904 When duty calls, you've got Balls!

[@spleniuscervicis1734]

Sober indeed: François shows always to be more pragmatic than Dreyfus, that's why he (and his career) survived both Clouseau and Bond.

[@That_Random_Bloke]

Splenius Cervicis As well as being a chef for Basil Fawlty!

[@paulmatulavich7321]

I was 12 years old when I saw Thunderball at the Colonial theater in Akron, Ohio in 1965. I am now 68 and can say that this film will always hold a special place in my heart because it amazed on so many levels. From Connery's perfect physique, Domino's breathtaking beauty, Barry's score, and Tom Jones voice. It remains my favorite Bond film.

[@1funkyflyguy]

I can dig it!

[@TheAeroAvatar]

Classic scene. Perfectly sets up the kind of organization SPECTRE is. I know people love the Daniel Craig films but you can't beat the classic Bond saga from beforehand. The one established by Connery and inherited by Lazenby, Moore, Dalton and Brosnan.

[@thatperformer3879]

I like how no one ever talks about David Niven’s Casino Royale LMAO.

[@piotrmalewski8178]

In the novels there's actually a backstory why Blofeld became bad (and insane), and he kills 9 not just because he was a traitor, but because he did one of a few bad things that disgusted even Blofeld, and he wanted to punish him mainly for that.

[@TheAeroAvatar]

@@piotrmalewski8178 so I understand. Number nine was a rapist in the novel no?

[@piotrmalewski8178]

@@TheAeroAvatar In the books Blofeld is half-Polish, half Greek, born in Gdynia in Poland, studied economy and politics at Warsaw University, and engineering at Warsaw Polytechnic. In the novel Thunderball, one of his henchmen is ordered to kidnap a daughter of a millionaire for ransom. Blofeld learns that the henchmen raped the girl, that was his reason for killing him. He also returned the girl to her father, with half the ransom he previously received.

[@SuperWolsey]

​@@piotrmalewski8178 so Blofeld was Negan before Negan in a way

[@PackerBronco]

I want to see the scene in which Blofeld's goes over the design of the boardroom with his contractor... Contactor: "Okay, so we got office chairs with gucci leather and you want each chair to be mic'd with lighting like this ..." Blofeld: "I also want to be able to electrocute anyone from my console. Contactor: Oh ... adding in the wiring to carry that kind of voltage is going to exceed your budget Blofeld: "Just do it, that's what I'm paying you for." Contractor: "You're the boss, boss."

[@fh9226]

When No 1 said you're fired, it means literally fire.

[@mkzone13]

You're fried.

[@nemex490]

You're fried

[@crucisnh]

What a shocking pun.

[@SailorGhost]

The good thing about this, is that as an employer, you don't have to worry about legal formalities like severance payments, to your employees.

[@Perich29]

Dr. Evil: Silent!! number 9!!! zap him.

[@johnnyfavorite1194]

I always got the feeling that Number 1 was having his strings pulled by Number Kitty.

[@DeltaEchoGolf]

@TopoRoger1 Cats and world domination. Hmm?

[@JavertRA]

In the video game "Fur Fighters" the supervillain is the cat and his pet is a creepy dwarf in a Nehru jacket.

[@MaureenLycaon]

Which was the plot of one of Charles Stross's Laundryverse novels.

[@jsl151850b]

Also... The Powerpuff Girls S01E10A Cat Man Do

[@carmelopappalardo8477]

Cats is in charge. You notice it never leave #1's side. Number #1 even has to feed it what the cat wants. He probably even cleans the cat's litterbox.

[@morganfagg8032]

Spectre social distancing since 1965

[@DesGardius-me7gf]

"That makes me angry, and when Dr. Evil get's angry, Mr. Bigglesworth get's upset. And when Mr. Bigglesworth get's upset, people DIE!!!!!"

[@geoffwilliams4478]

"Why must I be surrounded by frickin idiots?!?"

[@actioncom2748]

SPECTRE doesn't do outgoing interviews.

[@jean-marcandjoshua-petsjournal]

Shocking

[@jeffgalus8454]

Or the golden parachute

[@MrAtullberg]

Actually, they do. It's just what they call 'outgoing interview' is what we call 'organ harvesting via vivisection'.

[@actioncom2748]

@@MrAtullberg It's what's inside that counts.

[@meldroc]

That was the exit interview.

[@nicolabuono8442]

Adolfo Celi one of the best villains in James Bond' s movies.

[@StephenLuke]

Hear! Hear! 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹

[@ShawndaPrawn]

Blofeld: I have decided on the appropriate action... (Electrocuted no.9) Blofeld: shit, wrong chair! I need to label these switches.

[@TheDarkwingj]

I have to label those frickin chairs!

[@Perich29]

Doctor Evil label these chairs in his underground lair outside of Las Vegas, he labeled by names including his son.

[@smaariseth]

Man i loved SPECTER in these old Bond movies, it was all so secret and mysterious, well done by the makers of the films.

[@MrStephenRGilman]

Number 6 isn’t dead. He’s simply trapped in The Village.

[@frankpinmtl]

He isn't a number - he's a free man!!

[@StephenLuke]

He’s dead to me.

[@mariafox9226]

He IS dead. Bond strangled him.

[@scottkronenberg]

…that would be telling. Remember, a still tongue makes a happy life. Be seeing you…🧐

[@geoffwilliams4478]

Don't you mean "Very...badly burned!"

[@billbright1755]

Board meeting chairs have thankfully become much more benign.

[@philhatfield8905]

Mr. Celi was a superb actor, and he was so good in this picture and 1966's, Grand Prix, that I could not tell that his voice was dubbed by a voice actor!

[@nicholasalexander4743]

If you had heard his real voice you would have known. Makes Brando sound coherent...

[@chrisparkes2179]

1:55 You have to admire someone who likes to keep his Christmas card list up to date at all times.

[@patwaters-actormoviereviewer]

For fans of Kubrick, SPECTRE-5 is the actor who played Grady's ghost in The Shining.

[@jimlunn]

And also Kubrick fans He's Alex's P in A Clockwork Orange

[@None-zc5vg]

Philip Stone.

[@davidw.2791]

Jim Lunn And he’s one of Lord Bullion’s advisors in Barry Lyndon.

[@TheDylandProductions]

AND sets were designed by Ken Adam, same chap who did sets for Dr. Strangelove.

[@andrewfield5656]

You’re right! “YOU are the caretaker, you’ve always been the caretaker”

[@lofthouse23]

Note to Everyone: Never trust people with eyepatches and people who stroke cats behind a screen.

[@tomlake2732]

I never trust a guy who strokes ANYTHING behind a screen.

[@nihilistcentraluk442]

And people who wear those dodgy rings with that octopus motif.

[@michaelsims1160]

I do both. I resent that.

[@shahrulamar5358]

@@tomlake2732 Chief villain in INSPECTOR GADGET also do the same. 😃😃😃

[@shyyou93]

So much inspiration taken for the Austin Powers movies

[@texasrockshillcountry6574]

Largo just casually glances, and then resumes attention to his paperwork!

[@carter3369]

Checks his pen just before resuming

[@texasrockshillcountry6574]

@@carter3369 Does this make you wonder if this scene inspired that Al Capone scene on "The Untouchables" where DeNiro bashes the head of the guy who dropped the ball, while Frank Nitty - his right hand man - is casually watching and not giving it a second thought.

[@JThom529]

@@texasrockshillcountry6574maybe. When you work in an organization with a cold blooded killer, you can’t afford to look weak/soft in front of your boss, lest you get thrown out or offed yourself *nervous chuckle*

[@paakdisayaniyom]

Later, Number 9 has a friend named Mustafa.

[@anumeon]

Who is still alive, but in severe pain. :D

[@mercutio781]

i don't get it, can you please explain it?

[@TheLewistownTrainspotter8102]

@@mercutio781 He's very badly burnt.

[@dr.2335]

mercutio781 the wound is starting to smell a little bit like almonds

[@itwontcomeout5678]

@@TheLewistownTrainspotter8102 like Mustafar?

[@tenhirankei]

I know I'm being picky, but the novel has the guy who knows he's guilty sweating. Blofeld accuses his partner who is certain of his innocence. Blofeld notes how the sweat will facilitate the process and pushes the button electrocuting the truly guilty one. And the meeting continues, but with one less person. Blofeld does that often setting up one thinking they will be "punished", but it happens to another more guilty. It's his way of giving one more chance to ensure loyalty, but it's just one more chance.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

You can get away with such things in novels but when it comes to film, you can't clearly telegraph the outcome of such a moment. You have to do the old bait and switch.

[@Thicc_Cheese_Dip]

The guilty man in the novel also caused SPECTRE to lose half of the ransom money due to one of the kidnappers sleeping (raping?) the underage kidnapped victim. Some thing cannot be translated well into film.

[@RobynHarris]

tenhirankei Remember, you’re only President for life. - Frank Sanchez, “License To Kill”

[@jeffbredt1687]

The innocent man in the novel stood before the assembled members of SPECTRE and Blofeld, confident of his innocence. He knew who was quilty and trusted Blofeld's decision to single him out before the group. No. 11 in the movie looks pretty nervous about the accusation, despite being told that No. 1 knows who the culprit is. No. 6 looks like a douchebag anyway...

[@trinibi]

Jeff Bredt Nr 6 was Killed by Bond

[@bmvhusky]

"We will not accept any criminal behavior in our world wide criminal organization...."

[@videojomo]

I wish my work meetings were this brief and efficient. And the possibility of seeing someone remotely electrocuted over Zoom would really spice things up!

[@DandinXY]

I just suggested that someone do this with their Zoom class, and then sent them the link to this video. So your comment was really funny and you had this same idea a long time ago :)

[@hhhhhkPETER]

Blofeld’s voice is so chilling! One of the greatest villains in history

[@loanaoftheshellpeople5627]

Sounded like Joseph Wiseman, who played Doctor No in the first film. Does anyone know if it was him?

[@wyliefox100]

@@loanaoftheshellpeople5627 Eric Pohlmann. I've had a look at Joseph's IMDB page and Thunderball isn't mentioned. Eric Pohlmann also dubbed Anthony Dawson in FRWL

[@robertcooper1808]

Eric Pohlman did the voice of Blofeld in FRWL and Thunderball - phenomenal! And I swear Tom Hardy modeled his Bane voice in The Dark Night Rises on Pohlman's.

[@MrCaerbannog]

Listening to this clip and his From Russia with Love scenes back-to-back, it definitely sounds like Pohlmann did both, they just applied a different effect to his voice here.

[@TPDManiacXC626]

Professor James Moriarty from Sherlock Holmes was the Blofeld of his genre and time. Both where diabolical criminal masterminds who crafted meticulous plots and had no regard for human life. In short, historically speaking, without Moriarty, there would be no Blofeld.

[@stevehoward3049]

Imagine if the cat jumped away and stepped on all the kill buttons.

[@movid]

😂😂😂

[@movid]

❤

[@cavalheiro2062]

Never get tired watching Bond movies.

[@JustSomeCanadianGuy]

Fun fact, the guy who dubbed Largo’s voice in this movie also did the voice for Blofeld for that intro in For Your Eyes Only.

[@scottkronenberg]

‘Think twice 007, it’s a long way down!’ 🚁🧑‍🦼

[@vetarlittorf1807]

I think he also dubbed Tiger Tanaka.

[@StephenLuke]

@@vetarlittorf1807 Yes exactly! His name was Robert Rietti.

[@joechang8696]

The English pound was still real money back then

[@Eblis840]

@Eisen Chao good times.

[@davidw.2791]

Jerrol Hale Yup. I read that the lowest of the low for £/$ exchange happened in 1976, when it had dropped to $1.50 for £1.00.

[@flybeep1661]

@Jerrol Hale Barely and dropping.

[@Javeec]

In Switzerland, we now use any foreign currency when we don't have enough monopoly bills... or toilet paper.

[@bille5960]

Eisen Chao turns out they were actually chocolate wrapped in gold foil

[@bbb462cid]

Hey honey! I'm home! -And how's my bigshot Number 10 today? Good day at work? Well, there's good news and bad news... -gimme the good news first! Well, I got promoted -and the bad news? I got promoted

[@pmberry]

It's lovely to retroactively spot some great actors cameoing here, especially André Maranne and Philip Stone.

[@Outspoken.Humanist]

The old Bond movies were so delightfully over the top but in ways we believed. And despite the excellent Daniel Craig, there was only ever one James Bond. He will be sadly missed.

[@McLarenMercedes]

Bear in mind that the most common form of "adventure" from Hollywood at this time was countless of Westerns and historical epics - i.e. films that perpetuated the myth of a "noble frontier" and "Biblical antiquity". Even popular tv shows were "Wagon Train" were about the Old West. Considering the 1960's was the birth of the space era, jet travel, modern pop culture and youth movements the people were dead tired of the same old stories about the past. It seemed distant and awfully formulaic. Enter James Bond. A modern day spy who travelled the world, faced dangerous organizations with colorful villains and henchmen, openly slept with women and casually discarded them. At this time sex was a very taboo subject in Hollywood films and at best they could just imply two characters had shared the bed together. Bond meanwhile in a way "aggressively" seduced them. The question of violence was also heavily regulated in Hollywood and there were certain things you couldn't film in order for a film to get a wide release. The villain always had to fire first or "go for the draw" and the hero could most definitely not coldly execute a villain. So the scene in Dr.No in which Bond coldly shoots professor Dent and then fires another round into his body to "finish the job" could *definitely* not have been shown in a Hollywood film. But this drove the point home of what kind of person James Bond is:"A ruthless, government employed killer." Something people hadn't seen before. James Bond is/was a British agent and a British production. So no "Hollywood morals" or "Hollywood censorship" wing-clipped the franchise. Here's the thing too: The shift was largely *generational* too. By the 1960's the first batch of baby boomers reached their adult age, while others were in their teens. At the time the older generations actually considered James Bond a "decadent man" who indulged in "unhealthy amounts of sex, drinking, gambling and smoking". In From Russia With Love, Bond actually strangles Red Grant to death and for the older generations this was "loathsome and cowardly". Bear in mind that these people defined a "hero" as a cowboy who always beat the villain to the draw and who courted ladies with manners. Indians being gunned down by their hundreds didn't concerns these people... James Bond was the perfect escapism in the 1960's. The young generation could relate to him even if he was more of a superhero comic book character than a realistic spy.

[@davidshannon5877]

I bet the cleaner was livid when they turned up for their shift and saw the state of that chair.

[@wjzav1971]

"Christ! Can't those fucking criminal masterminds stay honest for once!"

[@stevenjohnson7442]

It's the music following the execution. So cool. And that incredible set. With the exception of the mission impossible movies, nothing comes close to Bond movies.

[@alabamaal225]

Apparently, SPECTRE's fee for consulting with criminals is 10% of the take. The Great British Train Robbery, which took place about two years before the release of "Thunderball," netted the robbers an estimated 2.6 million pounds, in which SPECTRE's cut was 250,000 pounds. (I have a feeling the British authorities may have goosed the reported amount somewhat. I doubt the train robbers would have been dumb enough to short-change SPECTRE.)

[@donjezza10]

I know lots of people have theorized that 11 was the true culprit and killing 9 was meant to act as a deterrent, but I feel like a few details were missed. While 11 did seem suspicious looking up at Blofeld and sweating nervously, 9 was nonchalantly writing in his documents. This behavior may've seemed abnormal since he's avoiding eye-contact and is underreacting to the situation. More appropriate would've been him looking back and forth between Blofeld and 11 to imply his disbelief at 11's "treachery". 9 was focusing entirely on hiding his own nervousness, but got so wrapped up in his performance that it eventually came off as unnatural. I reckon Blofeld actually might not've been sure who the culprit was, but the way 9 was behaving may've confirmed his suspicions. This just further goes to show that Blofeld's not just a strategic mastermind, but it also demonstrates what an expert he is in judging character.

[@jasongrelli9134]

Excellent @donjezza. A marvellous explanation & break down of an iconic scene. Congrats mate! Well done 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻. P.s: N°11 really had a rough day. Hope he went to have some fun after the meeting

[@MirlitronOne]

Interesting theory about no.9. On the other hand, I think it was just a film.

[@piotrmalewski8178]

In the novel there's actually more detail into this, if I remember 9 raped someone's underage daughter and that was one of the few last things in the world that disgusted Blofeld, so he decided to kill him. Novels explain that Blofeld was not plain bad, but lost belief in the world because of what he saw and experienced, and went insane. Killing 9 was one of the last moments where Blofeld showed he wasn't entirely bad. I've never saw any confirmation on that, but Blofeld seems to be kinda inspired by Captain Nemo, taking revenge on the world. Captain Nemo was originally meant to be Polish and retained Slavic look in the published version, and Blofeld is half Polish. The motif was kinda popular in XIXth century literature, that was time where Polish emigration wanted to trigger a 'total war' to weaken the empires. World War II was a tragedy for Poland, but World War I was seen as a God's blessing that would finally allow Poles to rise and defeat their enemies. There is even a Polish prayer from that time that starts with word; 'For total war we're asking you Lord...'

[@res20stupid]

It's discussed in the book, actually. Blofeld knows that No. 9 was guilty and was ready to execute him in front of the others. He interrogated No. 11 first in order to create a false sense of security to allow No. 9 to relax into his chair... and come into contact with the electrical contacts hidden in his chair to fry him. He actually commended No. 11 for his role as a patsy in the stunt -- first, for showing enough honor to handle the situation properly and for keeping his cool under interrogation when he was clearly shitting himself with fear.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

i think he knew Nine was behind it all along since he was so sure that it was treachery by the duo…the no reaction response was the evidence that he needed to show the others

[@fenrislegacy]

Number 9: I was shy 25 cents for the coffee vending machine but, lucky me, there was plenty in the treasury room. I'm sure the boss won't mind.

[@Krzyszczynski]

Not if he was Vlad the Impaler, ruler of Wallachia and said to be the inspiration for Dracula. Story goes that a merchant visiting Vlad's domain was robbed of his money, but the culprits were caught and executed. When the merchant counted the money after it was returned to him, he pointed out that there was one coin more than there ought to be. "Excellent!" smiles Vlad. "I put it there. If you hadn't spotted that, I'd have impaled you as well!"

[@JThom529]

@@Krzyszczynskioh shit

[@whoisthis751]

Dammit! Now I have to make another trip to IKEA...

[@geonerd]

Oh, Is THAT where you get electrocution-capable chairs?! I'm on my way!

[@swaldron5558]

Hahaha 😂

[@mariafox9226]

😂

[@alexcaruso8766]

Can't even imagine how the interviews for this organization go.

[@subliteral]

Number Two not only delivered his report , but did an impressive runway walk at the same time.

[@JBM425]

The better to avoid being electrocuted in the chair. 😉

[@ProjectMathesar]

"That makes me angry, and when I get angry Mr Bigglesworth gets upset. And when Mr. Bigglesworth gets upset... people die!"

[@CyberBeep_kenshi]

In the original novel there is an entire chapter on Blofeld. Never says hello, its a waste of time, and eats mints to smooth his voice. That sort of details:) He made them nervous, because sweat helps with the electrocution....

[@double-og4570]

Number 2 is so chill when 9 got electrocuted, number 2 is like "should i get a BLT for lunch or turkey club?"

[@postalkisuke]

The even numbers are on the left side and the odd numbers are on the right, so if you count number 9 should be the man in the grey suit and if the man next to him is number 9 then who is he?

[@DandinXY]

This is seriously what WEF is doing to NATO right now

[@loupgaroux9587]

I want a pad like this, with the shark tank. These men knew how to live.

[@tomfurgas2844]

"Pad".

[@stevenspenneberg7407]

I’d be like “Ya know. I’ll stand. I’m good. I’ve been sitting all day. “. Number 10 was like “Hey. A Promotion!”

[@RobynHarris]

STEVEN SPENNEBERG Before his supervisor’s death, Pthspok had been 4,387th in line line for the throne. Now, he was 4,386th. The future looked rosy. - “The Warp and the Woof-Woof”

[@Silversmok3]

When SPECTRE has more integrity than the American Congress.

[@schizoidboy]

At least when someone does something wrong it gets dealt with and not ignored.

[@muffs55mercury61]

True. Politicians embezzle our taxpayer money all the time !!!!

[@doriangray2020]

Low point with trump and his puppets. Hopefully things get better once all trash is removed.

[@BrunoLuizdeMello]

@@doriangray2020 Get better? lol such innocent kid ALL politicians are crooks it doesn't matter who's in the office.

[@doriangray2020]

@@BrunoLuizdeMello well that’s true...just varying degrees.

[@SafeDrunkDriving]

I guess this is how someone gets promoted in Spectre.

[@Bat-Twenty-Two]

Now this feels like a SPECTRE meeting, not some "Eyes Wide Shut" affair like the eponymous film.

[@qwopiretyu]

the new ones' like a parody. How you gonna have a secret meeting with 300 people watching lol

[@Bat-Twenty-Two]

@@qwopiretyu Balcony spectator whispers to the one next to him, "Wow. That's some serious whispering they're doing at the table. Wish I could whisper half as good as the boss. He's so good I wish we could clap or at least do jazz hands."

[@qwopiretyu]

@@Bat-Twenty-Two the least he could do is let us have an ACTUAL eyes wide shut orgy while he does his business

[@hereitcomes3912]

Coo coo

[@JThom529]

Nostalgia is so annoying. Just enjoy the film for what it is ffs

[@angbandsbane]

2:00 Number 9: "Um, hello? I'm still alive, just very badly burned internally. If someone could just let me out of the corpse retrieval chute, I'd-- You shot me! You shot me right in the arm!"

[@crispinjulius5032]

At this point, thank God I don’t have an “electrocute failure” on my Zoom meetings. None of us would survive.

[@williamkilander3073]

My first James Bond-movie was "Thunderball" when my late father took me to the "James Bond-Festival" in Gothenburg, Sweden. I was thirteen years old and fell in love with the magical world of 007. Great scene, chilling voice by Eric Pohlmann and good acting by Anthony Dawson as E.S.Blofeld/Nr.1. "Thunderball" stiill to this day remains my Top-James Bond film! Epic, classic, witty with Connery as his best and superbly directed by the master- Terence Young!

[@philjamieson5572]

When Bond films were fun.

[@bullwinklejmoos]

- a little bit of escapism never hurt anyone. I agree with your statement though.

[@PWN3GE]

@@willnicholson18 Imagine wanting Bond films to be realistic. Bond is a pulp character, the spytech fantasy is the whole point. Nobody's watching Bond chat with Dr. No expecting a realistic interpretation of cold war espionage. If you want realism that's what Jason Bourne is for.

[@Trazynn]

I want Bond films to be relevant and pertaining to contemporary geo-political conflicts and dilemmas regarding security and information.

[@alwaysOPEN4business]

@@willnicholson18 the villains plots in Skyfall and Spectre are among the most ludicrously unrealistic plots in the series and that's saying something

[@sesfilmsllc]

Still are.

[@johnnyzeee5215]

00:53 Number 5 is British actor Philip Stone, who would work with Kubrick in 'Clockwork Orange ' , ' Barry Lyndon ' and ' The Shining.'

[@steffenbach3580]

Had to scroll down a while for someone to mention him.

[@StephenLuke]

He’s also Captain Phillip Blumburtt in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984).

[@andrewfield5656]

#5 is the caretaker when he’s not extorting money.

[@MR.LMR1996]

"Why must I be surrounded by frickin idiots?!" - Number 1

[@geoffwilliams4478]

"Could somebody help me! I-I'm still alive only I'm very...badly...burned."

[@OnafetsEnovap]

@@geoffwilliams4478 *A door opens followed by a gunshot - BANG!*

[@philzvids3577]

Somebody help me - I'm very badly burned. ... you shot me!

[@Godzillakingofkaiju1]

"YOU SHOT ME RIGHT IN THE ARM!"

[@bobgillis1137]

I think gangrene has set in...smells a bit like almonds.

[@devilinthedetailers7661]

Lol this is what i was thinking of austin powers

[@ohyeah1994]

11 knew he was innocent but was shitting his pants. 9 knew he was guilty and didn't give a shit. Until he got fried, that is.

[@buffalopatriot]

Blofeld was played by Anthony Dawson. 'Professor Dent' from Dr. No.

[@jamesklatt]

And you had your six.

[@hereitcomes3912]

@@jamesklatt what's your point ?

[@robr9313]

Honestly, if only these dudes weren't evil. Thats a well functioning governing body right there

[@ShinkuRosetta]

who said they were evil?

[@momokochama1844]

@@ShinkuRosetta who says governements are not :D

[@andrewmihovich4252]

"We are a large and very powerful organization. I am not concerned with morals or ethics, but members will be aware that I desire, and most strongly recommend, that SPECTRE shall conduct itself in a superior fashion. There is no discipline in SPECTRE except self-discipline."

[@michaellawrence7570]

No messing from Blofeld, for spectre classic scene from a masterpiece

[@mezalong]

I'm an idiot.

[@jackjones298]

"So uncivilized," notes Darth Vader after force choking an Imperial admiral.

[@aggressiveattitudeera887]

Underrated comment.

[@michaelsims1160]

I find your lack of financial integrity…. Disturbing.

[@EchoBoomer1987]

I love how Largo just acts like this is just business as usual.

[@SMAXZO]

"Another guy trying to screw over SPECTRE of money? What's this? The 4th time this week?"

[@AbeTheSigma007]

Just like the UN scene, with the weaponized head set in “L&LD”. - No biggie...

[@ReMeDy_TV]

I remember renting this James Bond movie in VHS from my local public library when I was a boy in the 90's. Why they had it I don't know, but as a kid I thought it was the coolest thing, and it was free to rent, unlike at Blockbuster.

[@runawayplane6166]

Funny if Blofeld accidentally pressed the wrong button and electrocuted himself. ‘Blofried!’ 😂

[@alexthompson5275]

Then no 2 becomes the no 1

[@alexandersilady4751]

That would require his own chair to be booby trapped. Of course I like to think he's so paranoid that it is.

[@JThom529]

Lol goddamnit

[@ElmoUnk1953]

“Chewing gum in line eh?” “I hope you’ve brought enough for everyone?” Hedley Lamar

[@geoffwilliams4478]

"I-I-I didn't know there was gonna be so many!" **bang!**

[@jimnasium452]

I remember seeing this in the theater as a kid. Weird how your memories can fool you. I would have sworn it had audio.

[@superdaveozy7863]

I miss these megarich super villains from old Bond movies.

[@Tubeite]

We have mega rich super villains in real life now.

[@DandinXY]

@@Tubeite Yes, you can just watch the World Economic Forum KZbin channel now

[@leftcoaster67]

Ken Adam should have been an architect.

[@phoenixman8569]

Note to all low level management: Dew to a recent "retirement" of a board member, there is now an opening for a number 9 Member, with standard board salary and benefits, as usual resumes will be accepted to the department heads....

[@erepsekahs]

Gives a whole new meaning to being in the hot seat.

[@Lotmeister]

I've always wondered what was going through Number 11's mind during this scene. Was he so nervous because he was in on the theft as well, or just afraid that he was going to be punished for something he didn't do? My guess is he was unaware of what 9 was doing but thought for sure for a few seconds that he was screwed.

[@res20stupid]

The novel has it make more sense, given that it had to be censored when brought onto screen because No. 9 raped a hostage. No. 11 was not aware that his colleague had sexually abused the woman they were meant to be taking care of, since it negatively affected the ransom deal (back in the time period, a woman being a virgin was still a massive deal which would affect such things as her status and how much her father would have to pay her husband's family to be allowed to marry her off -- it was a minor subplot in *On Her Majesty's Secret Service* since Trucy's father offered Bond a dowry to marry her). And if a woman wasn't a virgin, either through consensual or forced sex? Then she was damaged goods that couldn't be married off to an eligible bachelor, greatly weakening her family's position in society. It's a major reason for the main characters' suffering in the film "The Magdelene Sisters", about women who were locked away in a "Shelter" in Ireland for either being raped or for being seen as too promiscuous, as well as in the ITV adaptations of certain Hercule Poirot stories, like "Elephants Can Remember" or "Appointment With Death", but those were added in through changing the motives. When Blofeld found out what No. 9 had done, he was utterly furious because it was a breach of the agreement he made to return the hostage unharmed which would make it harder to negotiate hostage deals in the future. He refunded the ransom fee to the family as a courtesy and murdered No. 9 for what he had done.

[@jamesbell1613]

In the book he showed confidence in his innocence.