Goldfinger (1965)

A sophisticated romp in the hay

This classic James Bond film, which introduced 007 to the movie-watching world, cleverly uses the reticence required by film-making in the 1960s as an instrument of the plot. Of course, James, handsome and irresistible as always, goes to bed with all the beautiful ladies he meets: Jill Masterson and her lovely sister Tillie, and later the inimitable Pussy Galore (whose name Sean Connery pronounces with delicate and lascivious irony).

But we are not privy to the obligatory close-ups and body shots or the accompanying moaning that make contemporary films so cloying. Skip the pillow talk and on to the next moment of the action: The champagne has grown warm and so James must repair to the kitchen where the mute but efficient Korean blackbelt Oddjob and a rousing fight scene await him. Similarly, when James bests the cocksure Pussy in a romp in the hay in the stables of a Kentucky horse farm, the camera fades out. It's not until much later that we find out whether or not his love-making was transformative enough to have turned Pussy into an honest woman. Thus, modesty is transformed to suspense. Brilliant. James also dresses up so well; nobody so perfectly becomes white tie, down to the rose in his lapel. July 26, 2008

one of the top 2 james bond movies of all time

More than likely you've seen this movie but if not here's a brief take. James Bond secret agent for the british empire is on assignment investigating goldfinger. He is and international "businessman" who simply loves gold. He has stock piled millions of dollars of gold in various countries around the world. He plans to well, without spoiling to much, he plans on attacking fort knox (where the usa supply of gold is kept) to throw off the world enonomy and become even richer and more powerful. Generally acknowledged as one of the best bond movies of all time, you won't be dissapointed! As a side note my pick for best bond movie #2, casino royale. July 7, 2008

"GOLDFINGER, the man with the Midas Touch..."

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It's difficult to believe that this movie is almost 45 years old (counting from the date of this review).

(Sir) Sean Connery was in six EON (or "official") movies with him starring as James Bond. They were: (1) Dr. No (1962) (2) From Russia with Love (1963) (3) Goldfinger (1964) (4) Thunderball (1965) (5) You Only Live Twice (1967) and (6) Diamonds are Forever (1971).

As you can see from the above list, "Goldfinger" is the third spy film of the British Bond series. As well, it is the third to star Connery as the fictional MI6 agent Commander James Bond (code number 007).

This movie is based on the 1959 novel "Goldfinger" by Ian Fleming (1908 to 1964).

The story has Bond following gold smuggler Auric Goldfinger (Gert Frobe whose voice was dubbed) who plans a nuclear detonation inside the Fort Knox gold depository thus making the gold supply radioactive for 58 years. This would cause economic chaos in the West and increase the value of Goldfinger's non-radioactive gold (that he has stashed away) many times.

(Look at Goldfinger's first name "Auric" closely. The word gold comes from the Latin word "aurum." "Au" is the chemical symbol for gold.)

This was the first Bond movie to use a pop singer (Shirley Bassey) to sing the theme song during the titles. The lyrics of the title song were co-written by Anthony Newley. Bassey would go on to sing the theme song in two other Bond movies.

Several memorable scenes frequent this movie such as:

(1) the dead woman painted in gold
(2) Goldfinger's Korean mute manservant named Oddjob (Olympic silver medalist weight lifter Harold Sakata) who uses his Bowler hat as a lethal frizbee
(3) Goldfinger attempting to slice Bond in half with a laser
(4) the modified Aston Martin DB5 car that has a host of gadgets such as a handy passenger ejector seat
(5) the movie's double climatic ending

Another thing memorable about this movie is its witty dialogue. For example, take the scene where Bond is tied spread-eagled to a slab of gold with a laser beam slowly inching up between his legs threatening to cut him in half:

Bond: "Do you expect me to talk?"
Goldfinger: "No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die!!"

Connery brings his characteristic savoir fare to the role. Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore (Goldfinger's personal pilot) does a good job as an independent and strong Bond girl. Gert Frobe gives an excellent performance as Goldfinger. (I found it odd that in the beginning and end credits that Blackman is given first billing over Frobe who plays the title character.)

M, Q, Miss Moneypenny, and Felix all appear in this movie.

Filming was primarily in Switzerland, Miami, and London, England.

Some trivia: Burt Kwouk has a small part in this movie. He became famous for playing "Kato" in the Pink Panther series starring Peter Sellers.

Total box office for this movie was about one-hundred and twenty-five million dollars. In today's dollars, that's about eight-hundred and seventy million making this movie the first official Bond blockbuster.

The DVD (the one released in Feb., 2007) is flawless in picture and sound quality. The picture has been digitally restored and I'm sure the picture is just as good (if not better!!) than when it was released almost 45 years ago. As well, there is one extra in the form of an audio commentary.

Finally, here is some information to consider. This DVD is actually the first disc of the two-disc "Ultimate Edition." Bond enthusiasts might want to purchase this two-disc Ultimate Edition since the second disc has "the best collection of special features ever assembled for Bond." (Unfortunately, the Ultimate Edition is no longer available but it can be purchased second-hand.)

In conclusion, this movie is the first official Bond blockbuster thus making it a must-see!!!

(1964; 1 hr, 50 min; wide screen; 32 scenes)

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June 27, 2008

The Gold Standard...

Sean Connery's third outing as James Bond in 1964's superb "Goldfinger" has the 007 franchise solidifying its primary thematic elements. Connerly is smoothly witty and deadly as the British Secret Service assassin. The exotic villain is one Auric Goldfinger, played by veteran German actor Gert Frobe, out to corner the world's gold supply. His evil henchman is Oddjob, a giant, mute Korean martial arts expert whose special touch is a bowler hat with a steel rim. The Bond girl of the moment is Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman), Goldfinger's pilot, who will fall for Bond, as they always do.

Bond's assignment is to infiltrate Goldfinger's organization, learn his plans, and stop them. Bond and Goldfinger will play an exciting game of cate and mouse, with Bond repeatedly surviving close calls to stay close to Goldfinger. The climax of the movie is Goldfinger's raid on Fort Knox, inside the vault of which Bond will have his final confrontation with the seemingly indestructable Oddjob.

Shirley Eaton figures in an iconic scene early in the movie as Jill Masterson, one of Goldfinger's assistants who is seduced by Bond. Goldfinger gets his revenge by having her body covered with gold paint, causing her death by suffocation. Bond's discovery of her body helps set him on a collision course with Goldfinger.

This movie is highly recommended as one of the best of the original Bond movies based on Ian Fleming's novels. March 11, 2008

Goldfinga... have some pie won't you?

I just saw this movie last night on tv and I had seen pieces of it through the years... like the other James Bond stories but it's still over my head although for some reason it's still my favourite movie that may say a lot about me but may say more about you.

I'm ordering the DVD from Amazon here and can't wait at the price it's going for... I may just buy the whole bunch that is to say Bond, James 007 starring Sean Connery.

It's about this guy that gets an idea into his head and won't take no for an answer so he plans to rob the US for all of it's gold and then it gets a little beyond me but I'm sure somebody could get hurt nonetheless.

Great color and acting and stars and all that but even so it's just a movie and I think the staff did their job well to put out a product that satisfies the curious.

Translated by Won Won
Victoria BC December 24, 2007

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