This is often considered the quintessential Bond film introducing the gadgets, the cars, the gimmicky villains, the near invincible henchmen that hardly talk, girls with double entrede names and the catchy title song during the opening. In this movie James Bond is assigned to keep an eye on Auric Goldfinger, a wealthy man obsessed with gold. Bond sees him playing cards and quite picky about where he sits to play. Noticing an earpiece, Bond goes up to Goldfinger's hotel room an sees a girl named Jill Masterson helping him cheat with binoculars and a microphone. Bond blackmails him into losing the game and proceeds to have some fun with Jill. Unfortunately, Bond is knocked unconscious and wakes up later to find Jill lying dead from skin suffocation from being completely covered in gold paint, perhaps the most iconic image in the entire series. Bond is then assigned to discover how Goldfinger transports his gold internationally and ends up in a much bigger adventure he expected, stopping him from destroying the gold in Fort Knox and ravaging the economy while increasing the value of his own gold. This is another one of the best of the Bond films with Sean Connery, it's clever, fast paced and one of the most memorable by far. Another thing about this particular movie is that actually lightens up and has its fair share of comical moments.
By now, Connery has the role of Bond down flawlessly, he's the tough, resourceful, suave womanizer we all have come to know and love. One of the most defining moments is in the pre-title scene where Bond is on a mission clad in a stealth commando suit and when he is done, he quickly removes it revealing a white tuxedo, this guy is smooth. Gert Frobe is really great as Goldfinger, clever, ruthless, charismatic, and megalomaniacal. His obsession with gold shows even in how he dresses, but not so much that it becomes too gimmicky. Korean weightlifter and wrestler Harold Sakata plays Oddjob, Goldfinger's manservant and henchman with a deadly bowler hat that he throws at his victims like a discuss, usually to break their necks. He never says a word but he has a lot of personality and is always memorable, yet he never overshadows the main villain. Shirley Eaton appears pretty briefly as Jill Masterson, Goldfinger's mistress who after a brief encounter with Bond, is killed by being completely covered in gold paint, perhaps the iconic moment of the series. It's quite a shame that she gets killed off so early, she's really beautiful and has great personality, which makes her fate even more grim. Then there's Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore, and I really wish I was making that up. Pussy is the main Bond girl this time around, she is a villain when he first meet her, sarcastic, tough, and aloof toward Bond, though he tries to make her warm up to him. I still can't believe her name is what it is, even Bond cracks a slight grin when he says her name, I just know Sean Connery wants to laugh every time.
We also get the return of Felix Leiter, this time played by Cec Linder. I've got to admit I was glad to see Felix again, he doesn't really do a whole lot, but he still appears often and contributes enough humor and he's actually more likable this time. The locations of the film aren't quite as exotic this time around, we get Miami in the beginning of the film, England as usual, Geneva is as scenic as always and has some great scenes taking place there, Bond is in Kentucky for a big duration of the adventure, especially when it comes around to the battle at Fort Knox. I think the gadgets get a very special use this time, a beautiful Aston Martin complete with rockets, oil slick, and a ejector seat. The action scenes are as cool as always, the pre-title sequence, the car chase, the battle at Fort Knox, it's awesome. Humor is another important factor in this movie, the puns, innuendos, the ejector seat, and shortly before Jill Masterson's demise, a moment where Bond says drinking unchilled wine is like listening to The Beatles without earmuffs. I kid you not, James Bond disses The Beatles, that is hilarious. Another thing I should mention is the scene where Bond and Goldfinger actually go golfing and warn each other that they're aware of each other's motives. Bond sparring with the villain has become a popular and enduring element in the series, usually with a game of cards though. Overall, this is a great movie, it's funny, it's inventive, it has a great sixties charm, it doesn't go on too long, and it's satisfying. Definitely check this one out because it's not only a great Bond film, it's just a great film in general and one of the best in the entire series. Go ahead and give a try, I highly doubt you'll be disappointed.
By now, Connery has the role of Bond down flawlessly, he's the tough, resourceful, suave womanizer we all have come to know and love. One of the most defining moments is in the pre-title scene where Bond is on a mission clad in a stealth commando suit and when he is done, he quickly removes it revealing a white tuxedo, this guy is smooth. Gert Frobe is really great as Goldfinger, clever, ruthless, charismatic, and megalomaniacal. His obsession with gold shows even in how he dresses, but not so much that it becomes too gimmicky. Korean weightlifter and wrestler Harold Sakata plays Oddjob, Goldfinger's manservant and henchman with a deadly bowler hat that he throws at his victims like a discuss, usually to break their necks. He never says a word but he has a lot of personality and is always memorable, yet he never overshadows the main villain. Shirley Eaton appears pretty briefly as Jill Masterson, Goldfinger's mistress who after a brief encounter with Bond, is killed by being completely covered in gold paint, perhaps the iconic moment of the series. It's quite a shame that she gets killed off so early, she's really beautiful and has great personality, which makes her fate even more grim. Then there's Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore, and I really wish I was making that up. Pussy is the main Bond girl this time around, she is a villain when he first meet her, sarcastic, tough, and aloof toward Bond, though he tries to make her warm up to him. I still can't believe her name is what it is, even Bond cracks a slight grin when he says her name, I just know Sean Connery wants to laugh every time.
We also get the return of Felix Leiter, this time played by Cec Linder. I've got to admit I was glad to see Felix again, he doesn't really do a whole lot, but he still appears often and contributes enough humor and he's actually more likable this time. The locations of the film aren't quite as exotic this time around, we get Miami in the beginning of the film, England as usual, Geneva is as scenic as always and has some great scenes taking place there, Bond is in Kentucky for a big duration of the adventure, especially when it comes around to the battle at Fort Knox. I think the gadgets get a very special use this time, a beautiful Aston Martin complete with rockets, oil slick, and a ejector seat. The action scenes are as cool as always, the pre-title sequence, the car chase, the battle at Fort Knox, it's awesome. Humor is another important factor in this movie, the puns, innuendos, the ejector seat, and shortly before Jill Masterson's demise, a moment where Bond says drinking unchilled wine is like listening to The Beatles without earmuffs. I kid you not, James Bond disses The Beatles, that is hilarious. Another thing I should mention is the scene where Bond and Goldfinger actually go golfing and warn each other that they're aware of each other's motives. Bond sparring with the villain has become a popular and enduring element in the series, usually with a game of cards though. Overall, this is a great movie, it's funny, it's inventive, it has a great sixties charm, it doesn't go on too long, and it's satisfying. Definitely check this one out because it's not only a great Bond film, it's just a great film in general and one of the best in the entire series. Go ahead and give a try, I highly doubt you'll be disappointed.