Goldfinger (1964)

Director: Guy Hamilton

Starring: Sean Connery, Gert Fröbe, Honor Blackman

While investigating a gold magnate’s smuggling, James Bond uncovers a plot to contaminate the Fort Knox gold reserve.

Goldfinger is a gold trader and legitimate gold jeweler, but he also runs various illegal operations. He plans to break into the Bullion Depositary at Fort Knox to contaminate the gold. It is up to James Bond to stop him (once again portrayed by the incredibly handsome Sean Connery).

‘Goldfinger’ is not as complex as ‘Dr No’ and ‘From Russia with Love’ and is an easy-to-follow, more enjoyable movie. Unlike its predecessors, the antagonist is introduced in the film’s opening scenes already. Goldfinger is the most significant villain in the series so far, and well portrayed by Gert Frobe. His henchman, Oddjob, serves as secondary antagonist – a Korean guy with a steel-enforced hat rim.

Lois Maxwell returns as British Intelligence secretary to ‘M’ and I once again enjoyed the chemistry between her and James Bond. Desmond Llewellyn returns as ‘Q’ and dishes up even more fabulous gadgets this time around. For the first time in the series, we see a modified car for Bond’s use. We also hear the now famous phrase “Martini. Shaken not stirred” for the first time.

Goldfinger and Bond plays a game of cat and mouse while Bond tries to get more information from him. He meets (the now famous character name) Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman), who initially remains immune to Bond’s charm. It’s amazing how Bond always seem to end up in bed with women who wants to kill him! Off course, his ‘romances’ are by no means realistic, but it is a Bond trademark and serves mostly as comic relief.

From liquor to cars, they throw around brand names in this film like candy at Halloween, with Bond being a liquor connoisseur and being knowledgeable on just about everything. ‘Goldfinger’ inches more towards fantasy, and this installment is by far more entertaining than ‘Dr. No’ and ‘From Russia with Love’. It is still a very dated action movie with those badly added backgrounds! Regardless, it is a fun ride!

‘Goldfinger’ earned $125 million on a budget of $3 million. It became the first Bond movie to receive – and win – an Oscar nomination, for Best Sound Effects.

Would I watch it again? Yes.