Goldfinger (4 Stars)

This is the third James Bond film, made in 1964. It's based on the seventh novel written by Ian Fleming about James Bond. After the first two films were more or less serious spy thrillers, "Goldfinger" is the beginning of the exaggerated stories that will be standard for the James Bond films.

Rather than a criminal organisation, the villain in this film is an industrialist called Auric Goldfinger. That's a corny enough name in itself. He runs a legitimate business trading jewellery, but he also smuggles gold illegally. That's the initial reason for James Bond being sent to investigate him. The CIA is certain that Goldfinger is smuggling gold, but it has no proof, so Britain's MI6 has been asked to find proof. In the process, James Bond accidentally discovers an even bigger plot: Operation Grand Slam. Goldfinger wants to break into Fort Knox and destroy America's gold reserves with an atomic bomb. This will make his personal gold reserves worth at least ten times as much.

He's played by the German actor Gert Fröbe, but for some unknown reason he's listed in the credits as Gert Frobe. Didn't they know that it's cool to put dots on an O? These were the days before Blue Öyster Cult and Motörhead.

James Bond flirts with Miss Moneypenny again. Doesn't he always? By now she should know that she doesn't stand a chance with him. He's too busy chasing the legendary Bond Girls who rotate from film to film. However close the romantic involvement with a woman is at the end of a film, she's always gone, without explanation, by the beginning of the next film. Don't you remember that "From Russia With Love" ended with Bond and Tatiana Romanova enjoying a romantic boat ride in Venice? That might as well be a hundred years ago.

I made a mistake yesterday. I claimed that Moneypenny never experienced more than rubbing cheeks with Bond. I was wrong. In this film he actually kisses her on the cheek. You can almost see her melting. She doesn't want to let him go.

This girl is more his type. Her name in the film is Dink. Dink? What sort of name is that? She's played by the 1960's glamour model Margaret Nolan. She didn't have much of an acting career. She appeared in films and television series in small roles whenever a busty blonde was needed. She also appears in the "Goldfinger" title sequence painted with gold. That's her in the title picture of this post.

"Oh, hello Moneypenny, didn't I tell you I'm busy today?"

But James Bond is as fickle as always. Less than half an hour later he's rolling in bed with Jill Masterson, played by Shirley Eaton. She has more screen time than Margaret Nolan, so she's usually considered to be this film's good Bond Girl. She helps Goldfinger cheat at cards, but only because he pays her. She's a good girl really. She doesn't last long. Shortly after the tumble with James beneath the sheets she's murdered and left painted with gold.

Note that her naked body is censored by the strategically placed cushion. Welcome to the 1960's!

The film's bad Bond Girl is Pussy Galore, played by Honor Blackman, best known for her role as Cathy Gale in the Avengers TV series from 1962 to 1964. She trains the pilots in Pussy Galore's Flying Circus who will carry out Operation Grand Slam, killing thousands of soldiers. She proudly dismisses James Bond, telling him she's immune to his charm, but after rolling with him in the hay she changes her mind.

The pilots in Pussy Galore's Flying Circus are all blonde and beautiful. Of course. Deadly females will be a common theme throughout the James Bond film series.

James Bond was slacking in this film. He didn't flirt with any of the pilots. Weren't they blonde enough for him?

This is the first film in which James Bond is seen riding an Aston Martin, the car that's usually associated with him. The car looks identical from film to film, although it can't possibly be the same one. He wrecks his car on every mission.

Q tells Bond that he has to return the car in one piece. Some hope!

One important feature of all the James Bond films is the exotic locations. Here we see his Aston Martin winding its way through the villages in Switzerland.

And up into the mountains! It must have been great fun for the film's cast and crew to make the film. Who wouldn't want to be paid to spend time in the Swiss scenery?

Honor Blackman
22 August 1925 – 5 April 2020

Honor Blackman passed away earlier this month at the age of 94. She'll always be remembered, as Cathy Gale and Pussy Galore.

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