Bond Revisited: Goldfinger (1964)

Goldfinger is probably one of the most recognizable and iconic of the films in the series. It's the one that defines what the future film try to do - with an outlandish evil geniuses plot - from the fantasy gadgets of ejector seats and bullet proof glass - and beautiful women.

The film starts with Bond on a mission with a line as a bit of exposition to what's-going-on, which started in From Russia with Love, though this one pre-credit scene is completely unrelated to the film we're about to see. It's even got a completely lovely moment of Bond having a seagull on his head at one point. Anyway it's besides the point, it's silly, and funny with the usual dry wit, besides showing how fantastical the concept of this secret agent is.

However, when on holiday, Bond is pretty much forced upon a different mission concerning a man called Auric Goldfinger. He plays a bit of a trick on the man who's been winning lots of card games with a helping hand from his assistant, a woman called Jill Masterson (Shirley Eaton). She becomes one of the most recognizable figures in the Bond series and she's in the film for about five minutes. The way Bond acts around her does remind me of what a hopeless romantic he can be in the books (read Moonraker). And then she's covered in gold - dead - after James has been knocked down.

M is almost not willing to put him on the case, because he senses that James is rather emotional about the death of Jill. Even worse when he later meets Jill's sister who's out to revenge her sister's death only to die herself at the hands of another iconic figure - Oddjob. The film hasn't a single dull moment, unlike both of its predecessors. It doesn't waste so much time. Thanks to the director Guy Hamilton. Not to say that Terence Young isn't brilliant, as he decidedly is for the former two, but it's easy to notice that Guy has a completely different approach. Here we veer into more fantastical territory, and the director himself said 'not to take it too seriously'.

Goldfinger really is one of the best villains, played by Gert Fróbe who unfortunately didn't know much English at all during shooting, but was dubbe laterd. It's surprising that they didn't recast him, but he's rather convincing in this role nonetheless. There's a lot going on in his facial expressions, so to speak, so it works loads. Nothing compares to the tension filled scene with the laser darting between Bond's legs -

"Do you expect me to talk?"

"No, Mr Bond. I expect you to die."

It's legend. And so is much of this film, of course if one were to nitpick - as I'm apt to do -  is that I wish there had been more development on the parts of another famous aspect Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman). Goldfinger's Fort Knox plot relies on her being able to follow orders, and Bond convincing her in what was probably seen as a rather playful fight scene in hay back in the day, but today is kind of awkward in more ways than one.

I would have enjoyed seeing a scene where Bond tries to give her all of the information he knows, relying on her humane side, with him questioning whether or not she's pulled through while they're on Fort Knox. It would have been nice if she was familiar with Jill and her sister Tilly. It would have given it all a bit more depth, instead of a forced snog turning into a sort of 'oh james' snog fest.

Instead it's all cut to next day where soldiers may or may not have been poisoned. We'd be sitting more like she didn't listen???? Madness!! Maybe they didn't have more time, or maybe they didn't bother giving their female characters much depth...

After all, her name is Pussy Galore.

Highlights

- Bond seeming legit sad about the Masterson sister's deaths was a thing I'd forgotten about.
- Q and the visit to Q-branch.
- Oddjob! One of the best henchmen who seems to not give two shits about dying with a radioactive bomb. He really has an odd job...
- Jill Masterson in gold. Iconic. Just hands down iconic.
- Goldfinger! And the whole laser scene.
- The aston martin just being upgraded. "An ejection seat?! You're joking." "I never joke about my work, 007."
- The seagull on 007's head.
- James' beach wear in Miami.

Downsides

- Pussy being convinced by a kiss. Of course, they probably had a talk after... Some would say, but yeah, no.
- "Man talk" and the smack on the arse. They do love putting a sound effect that sounds like he's just hit someone across the room.
- We never really get to spend enough time with Pussy which is a pity.
- The fact that I can't WRITE HER NAME WITHOUT IT GETTING DIRTY AND SOME BLOKE'S GONNA SHOW UP HERE ALL DISAPPOINTED THIS ISN'T PORN. SORRY BRO.
- Him throwing that lady in front of that guy in the pre-credit scene - is she in on it? Dunno, if she is, I get it, if she isn't - what a terrible morning she'll have.