Goldfinger is the quintessential James Bond movie. The formula for all the future 007 movies is laid down right here. Many classic elements that make Bond great debut. Q-Branch makes it's first appearance, as does the repartee between Q and 007. Bond is issued with his first Aston Martin, replacing the Bentley he favoured in the first two films. The fine tradition of suggestively-named Bond girls is founded here with Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman), as is Bond's penchant for seducing his enemies' women. He bags two here: Pussy Galore and Jill Masterson (Shirley Eaton). The latter is suffocated when her body is covered in gold paint as punishment for her betrayal. Her death is, of course, at the hands of the eponnymous villain, Auric Goldfinger (Gert Frobe).
A British billionaire, Goldfinger is obsessed with increasing his personal fortune. M sends 007 to investigate Auric, as he is suspected of smuggling gold out of Britain. When our hero finds the villain he is cheating at cards in Miama. Bond folds this evil little plot, but discovers another one: Operation Grand Slam is Goldfinger and Red China's plan to detonate a nuclear device insode Fort Knox. This will cause economic chaos and cause Goldfinger's gold to soar in value.
To help him The Man with the Midas Touch has enlisted the help of the first great Bond henchman; the inimitable Oddjob (Harold Sakata). This rock hard little mute is a seminal movie henchperson. His 'thing' is the razor-edged bowler hat that can decapitate statues. He also remains loyal to the end, unlike that useless turncoat Jaws.
Goldfinger remains a hugely entertaining movie to watch. More tongue-in-cheek and over-the-top than the previous mvies it successfully walks the line that most Roger Moore movies fall off into silly campness from. It nails the Bond formula for decades to come and is the blueprint and yardstick for the rwst of the franchise.
The Goldfinger theme, sung by Shirley Bassey, is also fantastic. Rhyming 'Goldfinger' with 'cold finger'. Genius.
|
