Goldfinger (1964)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Guy Hamilton

Writers:

Richard Maibaum (screenplay) &
Paul Dehn (screenplay)

Release Date:

9 January 1965 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Thriller

Tagline:

Miss Honey and Miss Galore Have James Bond Back For More!

Plot:

Investigating a gold magnate's gold smuggling, James Bond uncovers a plot to contaminate the Fort Knox gold reserve.

Plot Keywords:

Goldfinger | Gold | James Bond | Fort Knox | Pilot

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 4 wins & 3 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Wed. July 22

11:00 PM

USA

Cast

Sean Connery	...	James Bond
Honor Blackman	...	Pussy Galore
Gert Fröbe	...	Auric Goldfinger (as Gert Frobe)
Shirley Eaton	...	Jill Masterson
Tania Mallet	...	Tilly Masterson
Harold Sakata	...	Oddjob
Bernard Lee	...	'M'
Martin Benson	...	Solo
Cec Linder	...	Felix Leiter
Austin Willis	...	Simmons
Lois Maxwell	...	Moneypenny
Bill Nagy	...	Midnight
Michael Mellinger	...	Kisch
Peter Cranwell	...	Johnny
Nadja Regin	...	Bonita

Also Known As:

Gold Finger (International: English title) (alternative spelling)
Ian Fleming's Goldfinger (UK) (complete title)

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Singapore:PG | Canada:13+ (Quebec) (original rating) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) (re-rating) (2003) | Iceland:12 | Ireland:PG | West Germany:16 (nf) | South Korea:15 | New Zealand:M | Spain:18 | Portugal:M/12 | Canada:PG (video rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Netherlands:12 (video rating) | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (original rating) | Peru:14 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG (video rating) | USA:Approved (certificate #20808) | USA:GP (re-rating) (1971) | USA:PG (re-rating) (1994) | UK:A (original rating) (cut) | Brazil:14

Filming Locations:

Andermatt, Uri, Switzerland

Company:

Eon Productions

Trivia:

The part of Jill Masterson was initially offered to Shirley Anne Field, who turned it down.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Bond ejects Goldfinger's henchman at the factory, subsequent shots of the Aston Martin show the roof sections intact.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Sierra: Congratulations.
James Bond: Thank you.
Sierra: Mr. Ramirez and his friends will be out of business.
James Bond: At least they won't be using heroin flavored bananas to finance revolutions.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Diabolik (#11.13)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

Goldfinger

The superlative James Bond film

First of all, I must state for the record, Sean Connery is THE James Bond. Even though the first Bond film I ever saw was "For Your Eyes Only" with Roger Moore. I was very young and very much drawn in. I have seen every one of the Bond films and without a doubt, "Goldfinger" is the finest the 007 saga has to offer.

Before I had begun an appreciation of the Connery films, i.e. before I'd seen them, a good friend and cartooning mentor, Ross Paperman, sorted me out. He helped me see how Connery's Bond was suave and sophisticated but also demonstrated a quality the other Bonds do not portray: fear. Not a panicky soil-your-pants kind of fear, mind you. But Connery's Bond actually has a few anxious, sweat-soaked-brow moments. A perfect example is when Bond is strapped to a table as Goldfinger's captive with a laser beam primed to cut him in half. 007 has to think fast. "Do you expect me to talk?" "No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!" A famous scene and line from Bond's most enjoyable film.

Perhaps what makes the earlier films more enjoyable is that they had fresh, innovative elements that have now become cliché and gimmicky. The new films are often stale and already covered ground and they don't even appear to be trying anymore.

But it's more than that. Even watching "Goldfinger" today, having seen all the latest in special effects and technology that Hollywood has to offer, it still is riveting and thoroughly entertaining. That is also without the added advantage of being overly nostalgic about "Goldfinger". How could I? I hadn't even been born when it first hit theaters, and it was far from my first 007 experience. The story, the characters and the fun of "Goldfinger" is timeless and if given a chance could probably rope in a whole new generation of fans. It just doesn't seem likely to happen.

Much of the satire from the Austin Powers films is directly derived from the Connery films, especially "Goldfinger" and "Dr. No", proving their lasting effect on popular culture. As well, John Barry's scores from the Connery films are finding their way into the ears of a new generation through pop music as snippets from his soundtracks are sampled by such artists as Robbie Williams, Mono and Curve, to name a few.

But if by some fluke you read this and you haven't seen "Goldfinger" yet, do yourself right and acquaint yourself with the real James Bond. You'll probably be hooked by the time you hear Shirley Bassey's voice in the famous opening theme.