Frank McCarthy - Thunderball (Look Up!) James Bond Original Movie Poster Art (1965)
Artist: Frank McCarthy (All)
41 Comments - 657 Views - 36 Likes
Additional Images:
Framed painting
UK Advance Quad Poster
US Subway Poster
James Bond Ricochet Gun package (Lone Star, 1965)
Trading Card Wax Pack Wrapper
Thunderball pinball machine
Artwork Details
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DescriptionI had originally planned to make this post one year from today, on the 10th anniversary of my ownership of this painting. But, having very recently met up with the painting's former owner in person for the first time, and having had a nice time reminiscing about the deal (among other things), I thought I'd post it today, on the 9th anniversary!My all-time favorite James Bond film is 1965's Thunderball. In 2010, I acquired the original Robert McGinnis artwork to one of the four images used for the U.K. Advance Quad poster for the film, though my favorite of the four was always Frank McCarthy's "Look Up!" painting of a tuxedo-clad Bond escaping via jetpack based on the movie's unforgettable opening sequence. Having studied and admired all of the various Bond movie posters over the years, to me, that one stood out as my single favorite 007 image that has ever been created. To my eyes, it is the ultimate, quintessential James Bond and I knew that, if the original artwork ever surfaced, I would be prepared to go all-out to acquire it. Well, surface it did in late 2015. But, it flew under the radar at a now-defunct auction house not known for selling this kind of material, and I was mortified to find out about its sale only after the fact! Undaunted, I contacted the auction house and asked if they would relay an offer to the painting's new owner, in the hopes they could arrange a private treaty sale. He was, unsurprisingly, not keen to part with it, but, in the end, I was successful. I had to sacrifice a number of big pieces in my collection to do so, but, it was worth it - it's my single favorite image of my all-time favorite pop culture character. Here is some additional background information on the piece: On December 29, 1965, Thunderball, "The Biggest Bond of All", was unleashed on the world and with it an explosive marketing campaign led by a series of now-classic film posters by American artists Frank McCarthy and Robert McGinnis. Worldwide marketing executive for United Artists, Donald Smolen, set out to “sell — in a stylish, classy way —the girls, the action, and, to whatever extent we could, the gadgetry particular to the film. For the illustrators, we used only the best and, in the United Artists of those days, everyone was willing to spend the money to get the best.” All the stops were pulled out to make it unmistakably clear that the new film was to be a blockbuster. Not one, but two artists were brought on board to create the fantastical designs that alerted fans to "Look Up! Look Down! Look Out!" McGinnis was enlisted for his skill in depicting beautiful women, and McCarthy for his ability to produce energetic, larger than life action scenes. The three artworks were used across the British and American campaigns, in varying sizes, with the two McCarthy illustrations super-sized for the American subway and billboard editions. Unusually, the international campaigns frequently re-used the McCarthy/McGinnis artwork rather than reimagining the design, attesting to the worldwide appeal of the imagery, now regarded as some of the most iconic in the history of cinema. The film immediately became a huge box office success worldwide and remained the most financially successful Bond film until Skyfall in 2012. After Thunderball, the original Frank McCarthy artworks hung in the boardroom at Pinewood Studios until they were sold on a Pinewood Studios Open Day on August 1, 1977 to benefit the Cinema Trade Benevolent Fund. Social/Sharing |
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Comments on this Artwork
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Duke Fleed aka #1 Groo Fan 
Member Since 2013
1 - Posted on 1/8/2025
Epic! I had always seen the poster with the 4 images you posted in the extra images and didn't realize it was done by multiple artists. Just amazing. I would say congrats, but..9 years already.
Rob Pistella
Member Since 2005
Forum Moderator
1 - Posted on 1/8/2025
Beautiful beyond words!!! Iconic and striking!!!
CommanderInBeef
Member Since 2024
1 - Posted on 1/8/2025
arms folded as he's jet-packing out of a tough situation, Bond is always calm and cool. Great piece!!
Lance Suarez
Member Since 2004
Posted on 1/8/2025
Great great piece! Also my favorite Bond image. I was just looking at the album cover to Thunderball the other day. This art and the one under water are just so great! Congrats Gene on one of the best pieces on the CAF site!
Gene Park
Member Since 2004
Posted on 1/8/2025
Lance Suarez wrote:
Great great piece! Also my favorite Bond image. I was just looking at the album cover to Thunderball the other day. This art and the one under water are just so great! Congrats Gene on one of the best pieces on the CAF site!
Thanks, Lance! This one's been framed up on my wall for almost 9 years and it never ceases to thrill me looking at it.
Zaddick L
Member Since 2006
1 - Posted on 1/8/2025
Congratulations Gene! Rare, iconic, and a lovely painting.
John S.
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 1/8/2025
About time you got around to posting this. Long live the cabal!
Gene Park
Member Since 2004
Posted on 1/8/2025
John S. wrote:
About time you got around to posting this. Long live the cabal!
Cabal? I'm sure I don't know what you mean, um, or something... ;-)
Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 1/8/2025
After seeing that there's hope after missing out on a piece in auction, I'll Never Say Never Again.
Gene Park
Member Since 2004
1 - Posted on 1/8/2025
Marcus Wai wrote:
After seeing that there's hope after missing out on a piece in auction, I'll Never Say Never Again.
Never Say Never Again...but you may have to initiate your own Operation: Grand Slam to get it!!
J. Sid
Member Since 2004
1 - Posted on 1/8/2025
Perfectly captures everything we grew up loving about the character. Sorry Daniel Craig, THIS is James Bond.
Gene Park
Member Since 2004
Posted on 1/8/2025
J. Sid wrote:
Perfectly captures everything we grew up loving about the character. Sorry Daniel Craig, THIS is James Bond.
Absolutely! And while I can understand those who argue that FRWL and/or Goldfinger were better films, Connery was at his absolute peak as Bond in Thunderball with his best lines, most charm and smoothest, suavest delivery!
Monty B
Member Since 2006
1 - Posted on 1/8/2025
So unbelievably great...iconic doesn't even begin to describe it!!!
Peter Sullivan
Member Since 2006
1 - Posted on 1/8/2025
Worth whatever sacrifices you had to make. Historic stuff.
DC's Showcase
Member Since 2006
1 - Posted on 1/8/2025
He acts while other men just talk.
He looks at this world, and wants it all,
So he strikes, like Thunderball.
He knows the meaning of success.
His needs are more, so he gives less.
They call him the winner who takes all.
And he strikes, like Thunderball.
Gene Park
Member Since 2004
Posted on 1/9/2025
DC's Showcase wrote:
He acts while other men just talk.
He looks at this world, and wants it all,
So he strikes, like Thunderball.
He knows the meaning of success.
His needs are more, so he gives less.
They call him the winner who takes all.
And he strikes, like Thunderball.
PREACH!!
Tom Coker
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 1/8/2025
Congrats Gene! This being in your collection makes me smile real big with you
JOE JUSKO
Member Since 2004
1 - Posted on 1/8/2025
This is insane!! One of my all time favorite pieces of art! Mind boggling! Congratulations, Gene!
Felix Lu
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 1/9/2025
The perfect represenation of what made Bond (and Connery) so ridiculously cool. A+++++!
Bill J
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 1/9/2025
Fantastic! I remember this poster and the other Bond posters from the era, as well! They were classics of their time! But this one is especially memorable with Sean Connery looking calm and dapper as he blasts off with a jetpack mounted over his tuxedo. Connery was always my favorite Bond and this poster really nails his appeal. Absolutely stunning art by Frank McCarthy. It's totally killer! Great pick-up, congrats!
Jeff Singh
Member Since 2004
1 - Posted on 1/9/2025
Great piece of pop culture from a different era. Although 1965 was before our time, the influence of that era was certainly still there for our formative years.
Daren Domina
Member Since 2006
1 - Posted on 1/11/2025
There's so much I'd like to like to say that I wish I had the skill to write this with the same eloquence as my thoughts and feelings. First of all, heartfelt congratulations again my friend on acquiring this piece. It's clearly so gratifying for you (and us when we hear these stories) when one is rewarded by obtaining a highly desired and sought after piece of art (even if the "cost" was very high). And thank you for publicly sharing. Secondly, the art itself is so impactful. Yes there is a lot of great art but there are a few categories and examples of art that by either subject, context or other reason transcend personal (or limited group) nostalgia and importance. While most of us were too young to see the original films in the theater, the abundance of TV broadcasts for years meant that for many, incl. me, Sean Connery was and always will be the quintessential Bond (not that I didn't enjoy many of the other Bond movies). And Bond, with Connery providing the foundational characterization, is of course a cultural icon and touchpoint. Beyond that significance, the painting is such a great and beautiful representation. The scene, the layout, the forced perspective, the colors, and the absolute dead-on photorealistic depiction of Bond/Connery is literally perfection. It truly is an amazing piece, an epic acquisition. And it's found a long term home of someone who can deeply appreciate it. Enjoy and well done sir! ( and did I hear something about some secret Cabal???)
Gene Park
Member Since 2004
Posted on 1/11/2025
Daren Domina wrote:
There's so much I'd like to like to say that I wish I had the skill to write this with the same eloquence as my thoughts and feelings. First of all, heartfelt congratulations again my friend on acquiring this piece. It's clearly so gratifying for you (and us when we hear these stories) when one is rewarded by obtaining a highly desired and sought after piece of art (even if the "cost" was very high). And thank you for publicly sharing. Secondly, the art itself is so impactful. Yes there is a lot of great art but there are a few categories and examples of art that by either subject, context or other reason transcend personal (or limited group) nostalgia and importance. While most of us were too young to see the original films in the theater, the abundance of TV broadcasts for years meant that for many, incl. me, Sean Connery was and always will be the quintessential Bond (not that I didn't enjoy many of the other Bond movies). And Bond, with Connery providing the foundational characterization, is of course a cultural icon and touchpoint. Beyond that significance, the painting is such a great and beautiful representation. The scene, the layout, the forced perspective, the colors, and the absolute dead-on photorealistic depiction of Bond/Connery is literally perfection. It truly is an amazing piece, an epic acquisition. And it's found a long term home of someone who can deeply appreciate it. Enjoy and well done sir! ( and did I hear something about some secret Cabal???)
Thanks, Daren (and everyone else)! I think your post summed up all of my feelings about this piece the best - it's an iconic pop culture image, a fantastic work of art, something that pushes all the right buttons as both an art collector and 007 superfan. Thanks for the very thoughtful write-up!
Secret Cabal, though? First I'm hearing about it...surely these things don't exist anymore in 2025?!! ;-)
J L
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 1/14/2025
This is so great. Love the story of how you got it too. Congrats Gene!!!!
Gene Park
Member Since 2004
Posted on 1/17/2025
J L wrote:
This is so great. Love the story of how you got it too. Congrats Gene!!!!
Thanks, Joe!!
Peter Roe
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 1/16/2025
Wow!!! I appreciate your description and examples of how it was used in the marketing campaign. Amazing that you have the gum wrapper! Growing up I remember this poster being in my friend's bedroom, which was filled with comics and Bond novels. He loved the Bond books and movies, publishing a Bond fanzine as a kid. He subsequently became a screenwriter. His dream was realized when he wrote the story for GoldenEye. Although he has since passed away, seeing this poster reminds me of his talent and what a great person he was.
Mark Levy
Member Since 2004
2 - Posted on 1/17/2025
It sounds like James will not escape his current home - delayed congrats!
Peter Sullivan
Member Since 2006
1 - Posted on 1/17/2025
Mark Levy wrote:
It sounds like James will not escape his current home - delayed congrats!
Bond always escapes. He's flying out of Genes clutches, on a painted jet pack, as I type this.
Gene Park
Member Since 2004
Posted on 1/17/2025
Peter Sullivan wrote:
Bond always escapes. He's flying out of Genes clutches, on a painted jet pack, as I type this.
:-D
Gene Park
Member Since 2004
1 - Posted on 1/17/2025
Mark Levy wrote:
It sounds like James will not escape his current home - delayed congrats!
I've got him locked down more securely than any Bond villain!!
Todd Sheffer
Member Since 2012
1 - Posted on 7/11/2025
In my opinion, this is one of the most iconic Bond art pieces ever done. Amazing that you are able to own this, it is so very cool.
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