Goldfinger
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What is the film 'Goldfinger'?
Goldfinger, a British spy film released in 1964, significantly boosted James Bond's international fame within action cinema. As with other Bond films, it draws from Ian Fleming's novels.
In the film, Bond, played by Sean Connery, investigates Auric Goldfinger (Gert Fröbe), a millionaire suspected of using his smelting business to smuggle gold. Bond uncovers Goldfinger's scheme, called Operation Grand Slam, to contaminate Fort Knox's gold reserve with a nerve gas and an atomic bomb to increase the value of his own gold. Bond thwarts the plan, and in the end, Goldfinger dies when he is sucked out of an airplane window.
Directed by Guy Hamilton, Goldfinger won an Academy Award for sound effects and is known for its iconic villains and the introduction of the Aston Martin DB5.
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Who directed 'Goldfinger' and when was it released?
Goldfinger, a British spy film that was released in 1964, was directed by Guy Hamilton. The film, based on the works of Ian Fleming, stars Sean Connery as James Bond, who is tasked with tracking Auric Goldfinger, played by Gert Fröbe, a millionaire engaged in illegally transporting gold internationally.
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Which famous character is the main hero in 'Goldfinger'?
The main hero in Goldfinger (1964) is James Bond, also known as Agent 007 of MI6, played by Sean Connery. In the film, Bond is assigned to track Auric Goldfinger, a millionaire who smuggles gold internationally. Bond uncovers Goldfinger's plan, called Operation Grand Slam, to irradiate Fort Knox and devalue the world's gold market. Bond seduces Pussy Galore, who then helps Bond thwart Goldfinger’s scheme. In the end, Bond survives a plane hijacking attempt by Goldfinger, leading to the villain's death.
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What is the main plot or mission in 'Goldfinger'?
In Goldfinger, James Bond, portrayed by Sean Connery, is tasked with monitoring Auric Goldfinger, a millionaire suspected of illegally transporting gold internationally. Bond discovers Goldfinger's scheme to smuggle gold by incorporating it into a vintage car and uncovers his collaboration with Chinese agents on "Operation Grand Slam".
Bond learns that Goldfinger intends to release a deadly nerve gas over Fort Knox, and irradiate the complex with an atomic bomb supplied by the Chinese. This would reduce the amount of gold on the world market and increase the value of Goldfinger's personal stockpile. Bond thwarts the plan, and Goldfinger dies when he is sucked out of a hijacked plane.
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Who are some of the important villains and allies featured in the film?
Goldfinger, the 1964 film directed by Hamilton, features several notable villains and allies. The protagonist, James Bond (Sean Connery), is tasked with investigating Auric Goldfinger (Gert Fröbe), a millionaire engaged in illegal gold smuggling. Goldfinger's henchman, Oddjob (Harold Sakata), is known for his deadly bowler hat.
Bond encounters Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman), who initially oversees female stunt pilots working for Goldfinger. However, she later becomes an ally to Bond, informing Washington about Goldfinger’s plot and substituting a harmless substance for the lethal nerve gas.
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Why is 'Goldfinger' considered an important or influential film in the James Bond series?
Goldfinger, a British spy film released in 1964, elevated James Bond to an international icon within action cinema. The movie boasts memorable villains like Auric Goldfinger and his lethal manservant Oddjob.
Goldfinger was also the first Bond film to win an Academy Award for sound effects and introduced the iconic Aston Martin DB5, a sports car that would become a mainstay in the series.
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Goldfinger, British spy film, released in 1964, that made James Bond an international icon of action cinema. Like the rest of the Bond film franchise, it is based on the works of author Ian Fleming.
Bond (played by Sean Connery) is assigned to track the activities of millionaire Auric Goldfinger (Gert Fröbe), who is using his legitimate interests in smelting to illegally transport gold internationally. Bond traces the industrialist to his Swiss smelting plant, where he discovers that Goldfinger has been melting gold and having it placed as parts of the décor of a vintage automobile, which serves as his method of smuggling. Bond also finds him in collusion with Chinese agents on a major secret plan referred to as Operation Grand Slam. Bond ends up being captured by Goldfinger and threatened with dissection by laser beam. He bluffs that he knows the meaning of Operation Grand Slam, and Goldfinger spares his life.
As he is being transported to Goldfinger’s Kentucky stud farm, Bond meets Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman), who oversees female stunt pilots in the millionaire’s employ. While imprisoned at the farm, Bond breaks out of his cell and overhears Goldfinger briefing a group of Mafia leaders about the true meaning of Operation Grand Slam: he intends to have Galore’s pilots spray a lethal nerve gas over Fort Knox and then irradiate the complex with an atomic bomb supplied by the Chinese. The amount of gold on the world market will be reduced, and Goldfinger’s personal stockpile will thus skyrocket in value. After the briefing, Goldfinger tests the gas by assassinating the mob bosses. Bond is recaptured and later awakens at Fort Knox, clad in a gas mask as the nerve gas seemingly kills off the U.S. Army troops in the surrounding areas. Before Goldfinger can escape, however, the U.S. troops attack, having been only faking incapacitation. As the battle rages, Bond frees himself and manages to electrocute Goldfinger’s henchman Oddjob (Harold Sakata) after a vicious hand-to-hand battle. The bomb is stopped seconds before detonation.
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In the aftermath, Bond learns that Galore, whom he had previously seduced, had notified Washington about Goldfinger’s plot and then substituted a harmless substance in the nerve-gas canisters. Aboard a plane en route to the White House to be honoured by the president, Bond is startled to find that Goldfinger has hijacked the plane and is taking it to Cuba with Galore aboard as a captive. Bond distracts Goldfinger, and the two men engage in a brief struggle. A pistol shot shatters the window and decompresses the cabin, sucking Goldfinger out of the plane to his death. Bond and Galore barely survive by parachuting to safety.
Goldfinger boasts two of the most memorable villains in movie history, with Fröbe as the jovial but evil Goldfinger and Sakata as his mute manservant Oddjob, who has a penchant for using a lethal bowler hat to decapitate his targets. German actor Fröbe learned to mouth his lines phonetically, and he was dubbed in the final cut by British actor Michael Collins. The film introduced another Bond “star”: the Aston Martin DB5, a sports car that became a mainstay in the series. Goldfinger was also notable for being the first Bond film to win an Academy Award (for sound effects).
Production notes and credits
- Studio: Eon Productions
- Director: Guy Hamilton
- Producers: Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman
- Writers: Richard Maibaum and Paul Dehn
- Music: John Barry
- Running time: 110 minutes
Cast
- Sean Connery (James Bond)
- Honor Blackman (Pussy Galore)
- Gert Fröbe (Auric Goldfinger)
- Shirley Eaton (Jill Masterson)
- Tania Mallet (Tilly Masterson)
- Harold Sakata (Oddjob)
Academy Award nomination (* denotes win)
- Sound effects*