GOLDFINGER (1964)

September 18th marks the 60th anniversary of the UK release of today's must see movie, GOLDFINGER (1964). The third film released in the 007 series, GOLDFINGER is widely considered to be a contender for best Bond film. 

With this entry, Sir Sean Connery really locks into his version of 007. In this film Connery's Bond finds a balance between gritty violence, humor, and charm. This is personally my favorite version of the character, but I will acknowledge that some of the mannerisms and behavior are not acceptable today. Everyone has their favorite Bond, I feel Connery's 007 is the most iconic.

Director Guy Hamilton created a template for Bond films that would remain the standard for the next four decades, until the series was soft rebooted in 2006 with CASINO ROYALE. Even then, most of the core elements would creep back in, because it didn't quite feel like 007 without them.

GOLDFINGER is responsible for many of the iconic images, and moments that even casual fans associate with Bond, whether they are aware of it or not, and these are the moments that the series would callback to decades later. This is the first time Bond wears a three piece suit, a look equally iconic to his tuxedos. Bond would wear many three piecers over the years, but this style specifically was recreated almost exactly (but in a darker colour) for Daniel Craig in CASINO ROYALE, as one of two major visual nods to GOLDFINGER. I'll get to the other a little later.

Another iconic visual is the dead girl painted gold, head to toe. Even the most casual 007 fan knows this image, and it was referenced decades later in QUANTUM OF SOLACE (2008), this time with a dead girl covered in oil. GOLDFINGER also features the most famous Bond interrogation scene, when he is strapped down on a table, with an industrial laser nearly cutting him in half. 

GOLDFINGER is the first time we see Bond visiting Q's workshop. Desmond Llewelyn had appeared in the previous film, FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (1963), coming to M's office to provide Bond with special equipment for his mission, but this is the first time he's called Q, and the first time we see him in his workshop. Scenes with technicians working on crazy devices in the background, while Q briefs 007 on his newest gadgets, would be staples of the series for the next four decades. Q being one of the few people who would be completely unfazed by Bond, and talk down to him, have always been fan favorite moments. Of course these scenes always culminated in the unveiling of the most important gadget of all, the car.

Bond escaping from the bad guys in a fancy car, outfitted with crazy gadgets and weapons, is another staple of the series. It started in Goldfinger with the silver Aston Martin DB-5, unquestionably THE Bond car! When you talk about a Bond car, this is the one you're talking about. The DB-5 is so iconic it was brought back in both the Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig eras, both times portrayed as Bond's personal car, that he drives on his off days. This is a case of 007 being an audience prox. It's his favorite car, because it's our favorite. It was originally shown in the Craig film as a normal DB-5 that Bond wins in a poker game, but in SKYFALL (2012) this specific car is brought back, with vintage gadgets,  as a direct reference to the original Goldfinger DB-5. The series has featured other makes, other Aston Martins, but in the end they always come back to the DB-5, and it's one of the most enduring symbols of 007. Sometimes you just get it right the first time. Ironically Aston Martin motor company was hesitant to give cars to the production, questioning the value of this product placement. Six decades later the silver DB-5 is still the most coveted, sought after Aston Martin. 

Another iconic (I'm saying iconic a lot, deal with it) element of Goldfinger is PUSSY GALORE. Played to perfection by Honor Blackman, Miss Galore wasn't the first Bond woman, but she's the first who isn't portrayed as a damsel in distress. Pussy doesn't need saving, in fact she saves the day in the end, while 007 trades punches with henchmen. Galore is Bond's equal in every way. There have been many great Bond women, played by many great actresses, but for my money Honor Blackman is the best, first among equals. Also as far as double entendre names go, you can't top Pussy Galore. Miss Galore is in every way possible the gold standard for Bond women. (pun intended)

How have I gotten this far without talking about the villains? Auric Goldfinger, played by Gert Fröbe, is arguably the greatest Bond villain of all. His calm, understated physical presence is menacing, and believable. Many fans would call out Blofeld as 007's top adversary, but I disagree. Blofeld does return again, and again, but usually portrayed by different actors, and the performances always vary. I feel that Goldfinger as a one off is better, especially considering Fröbe spoke no english, and had to be dubbed by another actor, Michael Collins. Fröbes physical presence is so menacing in itself. 

I acknowledge that my opinion about GOLDFINGER's status as top villain can be debated, but I feel a lot more confident saying that the greatest 007 henchman of all time is Oddjob. Played by Harold Sakata, Oddjob created such an impression with zero dialog. His unflinching demeanor, and lethal throwing bowler hat have been parodied many times in pop culture. Perhaps only Jaws, played by Richard Kiel, even comes close to Oddjob. 

I feel I need to take a brief moment to acknowledge that there are elements of GOLDFINGER that are extremely dated, and are simply unacceptable by contemporary standards. I can absolutely understand how some modern audiences would not want to engage with this film because of some of it's more offensive elements, and I believe that is one's own personal choice. GOLDFINGER is not the only film to be in this category. I personally can still enjoy films that contain subject matter that is offensive by modern standards by considering the context and time when they were made, but again this is a personal choice. GOLDFINGER is very much of it's time.

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Neale Bastiaans is a blogger, podcaster, occasional screenwriter, and frequent teller of bad jokes and tall tales.