Dominetta Vitali known simply as Domino, is a character and Bond girl in the James Bond novel, Thunderball. For the 1965 film adaptation, Thunderball, her name was changed to Dominique Derval (though her nickname is still Domino) and was portrayed by Claudine Auger. Domino appeared again in the 1983 unofficial film remake, Never Say Never Again, in which her character was renamed Domino Petachi (Domino now being her actual name) and she was played by Kim Basinger.

Claudine Auger as Dominique Derval in ‘Thunderball’.

Novel biography: Born Dominetta Petacchi, she is an Italian beauty who goes to school in England at Cheltenham Ladies’ College. She later studies acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art until being forced (after her parents’ death in a train wreck) to return to Italy, where she becomes an actress. She changed her surname to Vitali, a stage name. While in Italy she also becomes the mistress of Emilio Largo, whom she calls a “guardian” of no relation.

Bond meets Domino while in Nassau. She is staying on Largo’s yacht, the Disco Volante, and believes Largo is in the area on a treasure hunt. For reasons she does not understand that Largo makes her stay on land while he and his partners (whom she describes as shareholders) go prospecting for the hidden treasure. She also tells Bond that she has never been able to see the map that they use. Although Bond is successful in engaging Domino in conversation, she snubs him, but later agrees to meet with him again when she returns to land. She also becomes testy when Bond uses her given name, Dominetta, and bluntly tells him to call her ‘Domino’.

When Bond and Domino meet again at the casino later, she has transformed entirely. She tells Bond that she is tired of watching Largo show off and letting him use her. She explains to Bond that she is trapped like a bird in a gilded cage. Domino later reveals that Giuseppe Petacchi is her brother who she hasn’t seen for quite some time. Bond finds out that Largo had Petacchi killed after Petacchi had hijacked bomber on SPECTRE’s behalf. He proves this to Domino, and recruits her as an ally to spy on Largo. Domino returns to the Disco Volante with a geiger counter to verify the ship as the location of the two stolen nuclear bombs, however, she is uncovered and taken prisoner. Largo tortures her by burning her with a cigar for heat and then using ice cubes for cold.

Domino ultimately escapes as Largo attempts to carry out his plan. During a battle with Bond, while he is focused on 007, she appears behind him and shoots him in the back with a harpoon from a spear gun, avenging her brother and for what he had previously done to her.

Claudine Auger as Dominique Derval in ‘Thundeball’.

Film biography: In early drafts of the Thunderball screenplay, the character’s name was Dominetta Palazzi. When Claudine Auger was cast as Domino, the character’s surname was changed to Derval to reflect her nationality. In this film, Dominique is first seen when Bond is swimming in Nassau, her foot gets stuck in a form of ocean floor but Bond sets her free. She swims up to her boat and thanks Bond. Bond swims back to his boat with his Nassau contact, Paula Caplan.

Paula takes care of their boat as Bond is about to learn more about Domino. Domino and Bond have lunch on the beach. But Quist spies on the two — a sign that Domino must go back to the Disco Volante. At the hotel Bond stays in, he sees Domino with Largo; Domino is smoking a cigar, as Bond bids in the game against Largo. Domino tells Largo that Bond presses her to a drink. Domino and Bond slowdance outside but Largo takes her away. At Largo’s home, Palmyra, Domino is swimming when Bond visits again. She leaves Bond with Largo to prepare lunch. Largo invites Bond to the Nassau Junkanoo.

After attending the Junkanoo, Domino tells Bond that Felix Leiter is trying to contact him. He leaves Felix with Domino, to go and search for Paula, who has been abducted by Fiona Volpe. Domino sees Bond in the water the next day and they make love. They go on shore and Bond tells the rather misunderstood Domino the entire predicament that her brother was killed by Largo and Largo plans a nuclear holocaust with the bombs SPECTRE gave him. She helps Bond kill Vargas and spies on board the Disco Volante but is caught and tortured by Largo. Domino gets back at Largo and shoots him in the back with a harpoon. Bond and Domino jump off the yacht Volante as it is about to run aground and explode. The two are saved by the CIA and are carried off into the air by a sky hook.

In Never Say Never Again, Domino Petachi is structured after Domino Derval. The character seems to be called Domino (i.e. it is no longer just a nickname), but her last name has reverted to the novel’s original Petachi. Unlike the character in the first film version where she refers him her “guardian,” it is well-known that she and Largo are longtime lovers.

She meets Bond at a spa in Monte Carlo, where he poses as a masseur and massages her. This gives her immense pleasure, though she later realises he is not who he appears to be. She encounters him again at a casino where Bond introduces himself to her. They have drinks together before being interrupted by Largo. The two dance briefly, where Bond informs her about the death of her brother Jack. Bond is then invited to Largo’s yacht, where Largo spies on them kissing in her cabin. He leaves Bond for dead near Palmyra, while Domino is auctioned off as a slave to some unsavoury Arabs. Bond eventually escapes and rescues her.

They are then chased by the Arabs on horseback until the horse jumps off a cliff into the ocean. They are rescued from the water by Felix Leiter and a team from MI6. After their rescue, Domino and Bond track Largo to a location known as “The Tears of Allah,” located below a desert oasis. The two take a shower together, and Bond kisses her before heading off to stop Largo. The circumstances of her spearing Largo as he and Bond fight are altered from the original film – it here takes place underwater, with all the characters in scuba gear. The films ends with Bond indicating his intention to retire from MI6 and settling down with Domino.

See also:

• Bond girls