“Goldfinger” is the third in the James Bond spy thriller film series where the story this time has 007 investigating gold smuggling by villain Auric Goldfinger, and uncovering his plot to contaminate the U. S. gold bank at Fort Knox, Kentucky. This was the first of the three Bond films to be a blockbuster, with a budget more than the first two combined. Director Guy Hamilton was solidly in control of this outstanding production, the first of four 007 pictures he directed.
Sean Connery, of course, returned as the lead actor and solidified his position as the top spy in the Her Majesty’s Service. His co-stars who would continue to be series regulars include Bernard Lee as M, Desmond Llewelyn as Q, and Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny. Other cast includes Gert Frobe as Goldfinger, Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore, Harold Sakata as Oddjob, Cec Linder as Felix Leiter, and Shirley Eaton, Tania Mallet, Martin Benson, Austin Willis, Bill Nagy, Burt Kwock, Richard Vernon, and Margaret Nolan. (Both Vernon and Nolan appeared in the Beatles’ blockbuster “A Hard Day’s Night” the same year.)
The very watchable “Goldfinger” was the third highest-grossing film of the year (after “Mary Poppins” and “My Fair Lady”) for producers Harry Saltzman and Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli, Eon Productions, and United Artists. Shirley Bassey performed the memorable theme song, and would do the same for “Diamonds are Forever” (1971) and “Moonraker” (1979). “Goldfinger” won an Oscar for Best Sound Editing.
Goldfinger (1964)
cinema
My Review
“Goldfinger” is the third in the James Bond spy thriller film series where the story this time has 007 investigating gold smuggling by villain Auric Goldfinger, and uncovering his plot to contaminate the U. S. gold bank at Fort Knox, Kentucky. This was the first of the three Bond films to be a blockbuster, with a budget more than the first two combined. Director Guy Hamilton was solidly in control of this outstanding production, the first of four 007 pictures he directed.
Sean Connery, of course, returned as the lead actor and solidified his position as the top spy in the Her Majesty’s Service. His co-stars who would continue to be series regulars include Bernard Lee as M, Desmond Llewelyn as Q, and Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny. Other cast includes Gert Frobe as Goldfinger, Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore, Harold Sakata as Oddjob, Cec Linder as Felix Leiter, and Shirley Eaton, Tania Mallet, Martin Benson, Austin Willis, Bill Nagy, Burt Kwock, Richard Vernon, and Margaret Nolan. (Both Vernon and Nolan appeared in the Beatles’ blockbuster “A Hard Day’s Night” the same year.)
The very watchable “Goldfinger” was the third highest-grossing film of the year (after “Mary Poppins” and “My Fair Lady”) for producers Harry Saltzman and Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli, Eon Productions, and United Artists. Shirley Bassey performed the memorable theme song, and would do the same for “Diamonds are Forever” (1971) and “Moonraker” (1979). “Goldfinger” won an Oscar for Best Sound Editing.