ReBONDing: Goldfinger
Reevaluating the Sean Connery Era (1962 - 1971, 1983)
GOLDFINGER (1964)
Directed by Guy Hamilton
Written by Richard Maibaum, Paul Dehn
Ian Fleming (novel)
Running Time: 110 minutes
Original Verdict:
By far my favorite Bond film and usually hailed by most fans and critics alike as the quintessential James Bond movie. Talk about gadgets: the Aston Martin DB5 makes it debut with rotating license plates, water jets, smoke screen, radar and ejector seat. Auric Goldfinger (Gert Fröbe) set the standard as the perfect Bond villain, while Oddjob became one of the best henchmen of the Bond Franchise. Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman) starts the list of my Top 5 Bond Girls.
Rating: 5 out of 5.
THE REEVALUATION
The Cold Open: We finally get our first fully developed pre-title sequence and it's spectacular. It's everything you want in a cold open: A mission that has absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the film, a well-timed explosion, the white tux reveal from underneath the wet-suit, Bond seeing his assailant in the reflection of a woman's eye, using that woman as a shield, and then laying waste to said assailant by electrocuting him in a bathtub. As cold opens go, it's a classic and still one of my favorites.
The Story: Bond is sent to Miami to observe Auric Goldfinger, an international jeweler who is suspected of smuggling. Bond proceeds to get under his skin, uncovers his plot to contaminate the Fort Knox gold reserve, and becomes his prisoner for the last half of the film in the process. As formulaic Bond stories go, it set the standard, or rather the gold standard (smirk). As far as secret agents go, Bond is the worst at his job in this film. But who cares when you're having this much fun!
The Villain: While Dr. No felt a little under-baked in the villain category, Goldfinger was perfectly created by the writers, developed by producers, and expertly brought to life by Gert Fröbe. Rather than in just a handful of scenes -- like Dr. No -- Auric Goldfinger is featured throughout the entire film. He's a wonderful nemesis to James Bond, and was given one of the best arch-villain lines in any Bond film. Ever. If that doesn't win you over, I don't know what will.
The Heavy: Best. Henchman. Ever. Portrayed by Hawaii'an wrestler Harold Sakata, Oddjob set the standard for the unbeatable opponent. A loyal mute who was willing to serve Goldfinger to his own death just to make sure the bomb detonated inside Fort Knox. Now that's dedication.
The Girls: The ill-fated gold-plated Jill Masterson and the strong-willed Pussy Galore. When I was in high school, I loved loved loved Pussy Galore. She didn't take crap from anyone, was fiercely independent and immune to Bond's charm (according to the book, she was a lesbian which would explain why she was immune). She was also the first in the long standing tradition of double entendre names (at least through part of the 90s). Honor Blackman is fantastic in the role and for quite some time held a position in my Top 5. I'm not sure if she'd still make the cut if I had to rank them again.
The Gadgets: Ahh... the Aston Martin DB5. The quintessential Bond car and the ultimate Bond gadget. Equipped with machine guns, oil slick, smokescreen, passenger ejector seat, tire slashers, bulletproof glass, and revolving license plates. Every Bond gadget created after this film has had a difficult time getting out from under the shadow of this spectacular vehicle.
What Doesn't Work? For almost twenty years I had no qualms with Goldfinger. Then the other day my eyes were opened. (1) Bond's horrible terry cloth powder blue onesie. Whose bright idea in the wardrobe department was that?? (2) How much time does this film waste having us watch the complete destruction of a Lincoln Continental? The answer is two minutes, but damn it if it doesn't feel like ten. (3) Lastly, I love all of these Bond villain lairs. They're magnificent, and Auric Goldfinger's Kentucky Thoroughbred Breeding Ground Lair is no different. But the entire layout serves absolutely no purpose other than to provide expositional dialog just to move the story along, explaining his plan to a bunch of East coast mobsters... right before he kills all of them. It's just one more motif to add to the growing list in the Bond formula.
Final Thoughts: I had a long passionate love affair with Goldfinger. When watching it now, however -- where a good decade has passed between viewings -- it feels as if we've both moved on. Don't get me wrong, I still love Goldfinger, but I've matured as a fan and it has lost some of its charm. We still remain friends after all these years, but we don't talk like we used to. And even though we'll say "Hi" to each other when we're both at the same party, I'm no longer obsessed. Did the film lose any any points in its reevaluation score? I don't think so.
Reevaluation Score: 5 out of 5.
James Bond will return...
GOLDFINGER (1964)
Directed by Guy Hamilton
Written by Richard Maibaum, Paul Dehn
Ian Fleming (novel)
Running Time: 110 minutes
Original Verdict:
By far my favorite Bond film and usually hailed by most fans and critics alike as the quintessential James Bond movie. Talk about gadgets: the Aston Martin DB5 makes it debut with rotating license plates, water jets, smoke screen, radar and ejector seat. Auric Goldfinger (Gert Fröbe) set the standard as the perfect Bond villain, while Oddjob became one of the best henchmen of the Bond Franchise. Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman) starts the list of my Top 5 Bond Girls.
Rating: 5 out of 5.
THE REEVALUATION
The Cold Open: We finally get our first fully developed pre-title sequence and it's spectacular. It's everything you want in a cold open: A mission that has absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the film, a well-timed explosion, the white tux reveal from underneath the wet-suit, Bond seeing his assailant in the reflection of a woman's eye, using that woman as a shield, and then laying waste to said assailant by electrocuting him in a bathtub. As cold opens go, it's a classic and still one of my favorites.
The Story: Bond is sent to Miami to observe Auric Goldfinger, an international jeweler who is suspected of smuggling. Bond proceeds to get under his skin, uncovers his plot to contaminate the Fort Knox gold reserve, and becomes his prisoner for the last half of the film in the process. As formulaic Bond stories go, it set the standard, or rather the gold standard (smirk). As far as secret agents go, Bond is the worst at his job in this film. But who cares when you're having this much fun!
The Villain: While Dr. No felt a little under-baked in the villain category, Goldfinger was perfectly created by the writers, developed by producers, and expertly brought to life by Gert Fröbe. Rather than in just a handful of scenes -- like Dr. No -- Auric Goldfinger is featured throughout the entire film. He's a wonderful nemesis to James Bond, and was given one of the best arch-villain lines in any Bond film. Ever. If that doesn't win you over, I don't know what will.
The Heavy: Best. Henchman. Ever. Portrayed by Hawaii'an wrestler Harold Sakata, Oddjob set the standard for the unbeatable opponent. A loyal mute who was willing to serve Goldfinger to his own death just to make sure the bomb detonated inside Fort Knox. Now that's dedication.
The Girls: The ill-fated gold-plated Jill Masterson and the strong-willed Pussy Galore. When I was in high school, I loved loved loved Pussy Galore. She didn't take crap from anyone, was fiercely independent and immune to Bond's charm (according to the book, she was a lesbian which would explain why she was immune). She was also the first in the long standing tradition of double entendre names (at least through part of the 90s). Honor Blackman is fantastic in the role and for quite some time held a position in my Top 5. I'm not sure if she'd still make the cut if I had to rank them again.
- Body Paint Fun Fact: You cannot die from being completely covered in paint. You do not breath through your skin. Your body takes in oxygen through the mouth and nose. This myth was debunked a while ago.
The Gadgets: Ahh... the Aston Martin DB5. The quintessential Bond car and the ultimate Bond gadget. Equipped with machine guns, oil slick, smokescreen, passenger ejector seat, tire slashers, bulletproof glass, and revolving license plates. Every Bond gadget created after this film has had a difficult time getting out from under the shadow of this spectacular vehicle.
What Doesn't Work? For almost twenty years I had no qualms with Goldfinger. Then the other day my eyes were opened. (1) Bond's horrible terry cloth powder blue onesie. Whose bright idea in the wardrobe department was that?? (2) How much time does this film waste having us watch the complete destruction of a Lincoln Continental? The answer is two minutes, but damn it if it doesn't feel like ten. (3) Lastly, I love all of these Bond villain lairs. They're magnificent, and Auric Goldfinger's Kentucky Thoroughbred Breeding Ground Lair is no different. But the entire layout serves absolutely no purpose other than to provide expositional dialog just to move the story along, explaining his plan to a bunch of East coast mobsters... right before he kills all of them. It's just one more motif to add to the growing list in the Bond formula.
 |
| You remember that one time when Bond played hide and seek with his captors? |
Final Thoughts: I had a long passionate love affair with Goldfinger. When watching it now, however -- where a good decade has passed between viewings -- it feels as if we've both moved on. Don't get me wrong, I still love Goldfinger, but I've matured as a fan and it has lost some of its charm. We still remain friends after all these years, but we don't talk like we used to. And even though we'll say "Hi" to each other when we're both at the same party, I'm no longer obsessed. Did the film lose any any points in its reevaluation score? I don't think so.
Reevaluation Score: 5 out of 5.
James Bond will return...
I think the point is that now what we like in a movie (especially a Bond movie) is different from what we were cool with before. To me, what sets Goldfinger apart from everything else with only Thunderball as it's equal, is the shear confidence and suave nature of Bond in these films. It's Connery at his peak with Bond. He likes the role, knows what's expected of him in it and is even starting to move towards hating it (as he would totally by YOLT). You are totally dead on about your praise towards Odd Job too. He is and may never be unseated as the best henchman. He was truly menacing and still can pass as that way even over 40 years later. Top hat blade is the best weapon ever.
ReplyDeleteIt's Connery at his peak and the beginning decline of a good story over spectacle and them trying to out-do the last film.
DeleteGood review... I am not in total agreement about your scoring - it has lost a little "luster" since I saw it last and we watched it together several weeks ago. I think I would make it 4 out of 5... but that's just me. I'm NOT an expert or do I look at movies the way you do. Thanks for the review and keep them coming.
ReplyDeleteI'm no expert. I just over-analyze them at times. It's still fun and much more enjoyable to re-watch over Thunderball as you will find out when I post my review on that film on Saturday. :)
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