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From the Archive
007 Issue #13 (1983) |
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Another memorable sequence in Thunderball is the destruction of
Count Lippe’s car by Fiona’s rocket-firing BSA Motorbike.
We shot that sequence all for real at Silverstone racetrack. Real bike,
real rockets, and the car was doing something like 60 to 70 mph, and the
bike was doing about a hundred to run clear of the debris from the
exploding car. Anyway, it went perfectly. Terence Young was delighted,
trouble was it was a dull day. Next day was a beautiful day and we were
asked if we could do it again, which we did perfectly – a carbon copy! |
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You received your first Oscar for Thunderball. Is there any other
film you’ve worked on that you would have preferred the Academy to have
recognised?
Oh, I don’t know. Oscars are things that if they happen, they happen. I
don’t think you must ever go into production saying ‘I am going to win an
Oscar’. In retrospect yes I think other pictures were worthy of the award.
I thought From Russia With Love might have won one, in fact it was
mentioned at the time. But I was very happy, delighted in fact, because it
has been the only other Bond picture to receive an Oscar. |
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BSA CUT-AWAY ILLUSTRATION/LESLIE ASHWELL-WOOD (Eagle comic - 1965)
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ABOVE: A production
drawing by assistant art director Michael White (1933- ) appeared
in the
June 1965 edition of the American magazine Esquire
showing the rocket-firing BSA Lightning modified by John Stears
and his team for Thunderball (1965).
BELOW: Silverstone racetrack 1965 (1) John Stears with
Thunderball executive producers Albert R. Broccoli & Harry
Saltzman (2) Technicians unpack batteries and gunpowder (3)
Stuntman Bob Simmons, who drives the Ford Fairlane Skyliner in
Thunderball (4) John Stears and Harry Saltzman (6) Bob Simmons
inspects the Ford Fairlane ahead of filming (6) John Stears loads
a five-gallon container with petrol in the boot of the Ford
Fairlane. (bottom & inset) James Bond's Aston Martin DB5 was
driven by stuntman George Leech, Count Lippe's Ford Fairlane
Skyliner was driven by stunt arranger Bob Simmons, and Fione
Volpe's BSA Lightning was ridden by British motorcycle racer
Chris Vincent. |
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Yes, it’s odd that the Bond films have contributed so much to cinema
over the years but have only been awarded two Oscars [correct at the
time of writing in 1982]. Although ‘Cubby’ received his special Irving
Thalberg award from the Academy last year.
Yes, it seems slightly unfair in some ways. |
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ABOVE: A DOUBLE
OSCAR WINNER! (left) John Stears received his first Academy Award
for Best Special Visual Effects on Thunderball (1965), but
the Oscar was collected by Ivan Tors (1966-1983), whose studio
oversaw production of the underwater sequences in the film. Tors
accepted the award from American actress Dorothy Malone
(1924-2018) [pictured
above left with Ivan Tors] on April 18, 1966 at the Santa Monica
Civic Auditorium. John Stears was only aware he'd won the award
when a
friend called him after the ceremony. Stears eventually received the
statuette after it was shipped to England where he picked it up
from London Airport! (right) John Stears’ second Academy Award was
for Best Visual Effects on Star Wars (1977), which he did
pick up in person on April 3, 1978 at the Dorothy Chandler
Pavilion in Los Angeles. John Stears gave the acceptance speech on
behalf of the British team who worked on the groundbreaking film.
Alongside John Stears, the Oscars for Star Wars were
jointly presented to the American effects pioneers John Dykstra,
Richard Edlund, Grant McCune and Robert Blalack. |
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CONTINUED |
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