16/06/2012: Goldfinger [1964]

Goldfinger is the third Bond film, and at this point the series showed no signs of slowing down, continuing to increase in budget and popularity. Many consider Goldfinger to be the best James Bond film, and while it isn't my favourite, it does have a lot of great elements that unfortunately weren't continued on through the rest of the films.

One of my first thoughts when I put on on Goldfinger was that released 48 years ago. I love period pieces that go all out to create the world as it was decades ago. While, 1964 isn't as much work to recreate as some older era's, it is still neat to see recreated in modern movies. However, when I was watching Goldfinger, I realized that I was not seeing props used for recreating the world as it was in 1964. I was literally seeing the world as it was in 1964. That is pretty neat, and why old movies should always be preserved.

When it was released in 1964, Goldfinger set world records for highest grossing film. It has since been aired and viewed an enormous amount  of times, and is considered by many to be the best James Bond film. With Eon Studios having started pretty conservatively with Dr. No, they had almost instantly realized how successful 007's movies would be. So, for From Russia With Love the budget was doubled, and then for Goldfinger, tripled the budget of Dr. No. Truly, James Bond was big after only three movies, and it doesn't surprise me that there has been another twenty movies after this. Goldfinger continued to give us more Bond nostalgia moments, just as each Bond movie has since.

Note: This won't actually kill you and this woman didn't die. Gold paint that is, pouring molten gold over someone will kill them, unless they are born of the dragon.

Personally, I like the Sean Connery era of 007 the best. I don't particularly mind any of the other actors who portray him later, but generally, I always picture Connery when I think of Bond. Once, when discussing who was who's favourite Bond actor, someone told me they didn't like Connery because of the way he appeared to treat women. Interestingly, when I watched Goldfinger, I could see that person's argument for the first time. Connery is quite handsy and  maybe a little forceful when it comes to women, even when they aren't throwing themselves at him. Then again, the 60's were a different time, and I won't judge Connery for it.

Of course, as notable a villain as Goldfinger was, and as much as his name stuck, there was another aspect of Goldfinger that probably pissed off some women. Pussy Galore. I mean that is one hell of a name. Ian Flemming first used that name in his novel, and it was apparently based off a number of things, from his lover/neighbor to his octopus (why we later have Octopussy). However, I'm sure there was some debate as to whether or not the name would be used in the movie. But then again, this was James Bond, and we already had a few bond girls with some creative names, although I don't think any will ever top Pussy Galore. The role of Pussy Galore was determined to go to Honor Blackman very early on, as the producers wrote her judo abilities into the script simply to push the role towards that actress. Honor Blackman, left her role in The Avengers to play Pussy Galore, and to this date is the oldest Bond girl. I think she did one hell of a job.

Okay, why is this outfit not still in-style? All the comfort of a housecoat as casual beachwear.

Gert Fröbe also did an imposing job as Goldfinger, but he didn't actually speak english, so Michael Collins is actually the voice of Goldfinger. Then there is also one of the most memorable of villains, Oddjob, who I'm not sure if he is so memorable because of the movie, or just his height advantage in Goldeneye for N64. Goldfinger also features a couple other Bond girls, the Masterson sisters, Gil, and Tilly. One of the unique things about them is that unlike he always does, Bond is unable to save them. While, I wasn't sure on Tilly's death at first, Gil's is one of the more memorable Bond moments. Painted in gold, Gil is left dead and golden in 007's bed in one of the more iconic cinema deaths, and send a clear message. This death is so iconic that it has created its own myth, with many believing that skin suffocation is a real threat. For those of you that think that, it isn't, you don't breath through your skin. Although, such full body painting could cause death from overheating, so girls, be careful when you paint yourself golden and break into Sean Connery's bedroom.

Of course, like any good Bond movie, we have 007's gadgets. While Goldfinger is not the first to give us such fun toys, it is the first to show us Q's workshop, always full of interesting things, that Bond just never gets to try. Goldfinger is also the introduction of the Austin Martin as Bond's signature car. While they had to pay for the two used in Goldfinger, no Austin Martin has had to be purchased since. The one in Goldfinger is quite tricked out, with revolving license plates, ejector seat, machine guns, smoke streams and oil slicks, is there anything it doesn't do? And yes, it does drive.

Some of these are men, I'm guessing back left, the one so ugly they cut out of the shot and possibly one other.

Goldfinger is one of the most iconic Bond villains, and he did have it all. The name, the strange gold fetish, the evil henchmen, Pussy Galore as his left hand, and of course, the evil plan. If you noticed, he does also have a golden gun, although it is a revolver and not the iconic gun from the later titular movie. Goldfinger's plan is quite the scheme, with the radiation of the United States gold repository, his gold increases immensely whilst also upsetting the worlds economy. He also even outsmarts Bond a couple of times. First, when he tells him "No Mr. Bond, I expect you to die." and later when he reveals that he isn't going to steal the gold, after Bond has done all that trouble with the maths.

Overall, Goldfinger as I've said is probably the most popular Bond movie. Is it because, it is the one in which Bond is the most failable, and therefore the most human. It is interesting to note that while he is a one man army in the later movies, in Goldfinger he is not unstoppable. Assisted immensely at every turn, and unable to save everyone, Bond is even a prisoner for much of the film, with his escape attempt foiled. I thought that this was a very interesting aspect and analysis of why Goldfinger is the best when I read it online. Wouldn't you agree?

Link:
Goldfinger IMDb