Directed by Guy Hamilton starring Sean Connery, Honor Blackman and Gert Frobe. Released Jan 9, 1965 110mins.
This is it folks, this is THE James Bond film. It only took them three times to get the formula down. The fashion, the Aston Martin car, Honor Blackman as one of the best and strongest Bond women in the series, and Auric Goldfinger is the bondest of all Bond Villains;
With Bond strapped to a table and Goldfinger using a laser weapon straight towards him he asks:
“Do You expect me to talk, Goldfinger?”
“No Mr Bond, I expect you to die.”
Connery is finally comfortable in the role and this is the one that all other Bond’s should be measured against. It’s got it all.
This BOND adventure cements in my mind why Bond is a character of the 60s— the fashion, the skinny ties, the Cold War at its hottest, this was the time to be a spy.
Shirley Eaton is the backup Bond girl who ends up on the poster covered in gold. Tania Mallet is her sister who comes to seek revenge and ends up worse.
Shirley Bassey knocks the theme song out of the park and John Barry brings the rest of the score up to the same level.
Sadly, Jack Lord was replaced as Felix Leiter— a role he had originated in DR NO (1962) three years earlier (see trivia below). His replacement seemed ill-matched.
TRIVIA: Originally they were going to use a buzz saw in the laser scene (as was in the book) but the producers decided the threatening buzz saw was too old fashioned.
Orson Welles was the original choice for Goldfinger, but wanted too much money.
Bond creator Ian Fleming visited the set while the movie was filming but passed away before it’s release.
One of the favorite movies of director Federico Fellini who felt this kind of film is what cinema was supposed to be about.
Producers replaced Jack Lord with the uninspiring middle aged looking Cec Linder as Bond’s best friend, CIA Agent Felix Leiter because it was felt that Lord was overshadowing Connery when he played the part in DR NO (1962)
This movie was so popular that theaters took to 24 hour showings to meet demand.
BOND will return in THUNDERBALL.
BOND: Sean Connery is James Bond
VILLAIN: Gert Frobe is dubbed as Goldfinger which adds something to his off manner. *****
THEME SONG: by Shirley Bassey. *****
HENCHMAN: OddJob kills people with his hat. *****
OVERALL BOND RATING: 10.0