Movie Review: Goldfinger (1964) directed by Guy Hamilton
On his way back from a Caribbean sabotage mission, British agent James Bond (Sean Connery) stops over in Miami Beach. He’s met by his CIA contact Felix Leiter (Cec Linder) who passes on a mission from MI-6 boss M. Bond’s to do some surveillance of British citizen Auric Goldfinger (Gert Frobe). Why? Not explained at this time.
But it’s immediately obvious that Goldfinger’s a rotter who cheats at cards. James quickly works out how it’s done and suborns Goldfinger’s accomplice Jill Masterson (Shirley Eaton). Goldfinger retaliates by having Jill painted with “gold” that suffocates her to death.
Back in London, Bond is briefed on his actual assignment. It seems that Goldfinger is somehow smuggling gold out of Britain. It’s gold he legally owns, but the movement is illegal. If Bond can prove how it’s done, the Bank of England will be able to freeze the bullion. James is outfitted with Q Branch’s latest gadgets, including a tricked-out Aston-Martin automobile. Bond plays golf with Goldfinger, learns about the wealthy man’s bodyguard, the mute and deadly Korean Oddjob (Harold Sakata), and outcheats his opponent.
Then it’s off to Switzerland, where Goldfinger has an industrial plant. Bond is joined in this part by Tilly Masterson (Tania Mallet), Jill’s sister. James does learn how the smuggling is done, but is captured by Goldfinger, who is working with the Red Chinese agent Ling (Burt Kwouk) on a larger scheme. 007 manages to talk his way out of being bisected with an industrial laser, and is taken to Kentucky by pilot Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman). Now that the true plan is revealed, can Bond stop it?
Goldfinger was the third James Bond movie, and the first to be an immediate hit, helped not least by the brassy opening theme sung by Shirley Bassey.
Good: The gradual reveal of just what Goldfinger is actually up to builds suspense throughout the movie. We know he’s a baddie from the beginning, but just how much of one continues to grow with each of his actions. He may be quite mad, but he’s not stupid.
Good action, especially the final fight with Oddjob.
The latest technology! Lasers were super new when this movie was made, and it’s hard to remember that this is science fiction when they’re so ubiquitous now.
Kentucky Fried Chicken!
Less good: Magical orientation-changing sex/rape. (More subtle than in the book due to film censorship rules.)
The movie started and/or hit all the traditional James Bond 007 beats, and still stands up well.
