Goldfinger (Special Edition)
by Guy Hamilton
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Gert Fröbe, Honor Blackman, Sean Connery, Shirley Eaton, Tania MalletDirector: Guy Hamilton
Cinematographer: Ted Moore
Producer: Albert R. Broccoli
Producer: Harry Saltzman
Producer: Stanley Sopel
Writer: Ian Fleming
Writer: Paul Dehn
Writer: Richard Maibaum
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 110 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-10-22
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Movie Reviews of Goldfinger (Special Edition)
Movie Review: The Essential Bond Film: Skip the Special Edition for the Ultimate Edition
Summary: 5 Stars
Along with its predecessor FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, GOLDFINGER is widely considered to be the greatest Bond film of all time. By the third installment in the series, the Bond series had an ever-expanding budget and GOLDFINGER helped to define the series by laying out the formula for all Bond films that would follow. That formula is perhaps best expressed by its director, Guy Hamilton, for what would turn out to be his first of four Bond films: "We're going to take you to wonderful places, we're going to show you beautiful girls, we're going to have some suspense and some laughs. But let's enjoy!" GOLDFINGER lives up to this vision. It is much larger than the previous two films. The villains are grander and the plot is larger than life. Furthermore, Bond seems to have a much larger sense of humor, stylishly making his way through the film with unerring confidence in his own abilities to succeed. Thanks to the success of both DR. NO and FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, not to mention a marvelous advertising campaign, GOLDINGER became the first Bond blockbuster, solidifying the success of the series.
After the "gun barrel" sequence at the top of the film, we are treated to the second pre-credit "teaser" in the series. This time, the teaser establishes a well-known device throughout the rest of the series. We find Bond involved in a mission completely unrelated to the rest of the film. The teaser is designed to introduce our death-defying & charismatic hero in a spectacular way, drawing us into the rest of the film. We see Bond destroying a Mexican drug lord's heroin operations before becoming sidetracked by a beautiful dancer who has obviously met Bond before. Unfortunately, before Bond can properly say "hello," he is attacked by a Mexican thug in a rough and brutal scene that ends in a "shocking" manner. At this point, the opening credits roll and they are spectacular. Improving upon the credits of FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, we once again see the body of a beautiful woman. This time, however, she is covered from head to toe with gold paint. Additionally, scenes from the film, along with the faces of the characters, are cast upon her body (in contrast with the text cast upon the gypsy dancer in FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE). The title song is bold and brassy and would later become the first true Bond hit song.
The central plot of GOLDFINGER is quite complex and unfolds over time, making a quick synopsis rather difficult. Indeed, we do not completely know the plot of the film until the final third of the movie. To avoid too many spoilers (as if one could spoil a film as classic as this one), I will just paint the plot in broad strokes. Bond's assignment is to tail a wealthy businessman and jeweler named Auric Goldfinger (Gert Fröbe). An owner of considerable amounts of gold, Goldfinger has been making a fortune by transporting his gold illegally out of the country and selling it on different markets. This has caused quite a nuisance to the Bank of England, for the price of gold affects the price of the US dollar the British pound. The health of the Western economy is at stake. If only Bond can discover how Goldfinger transports his gold out of the country, they can put a stop to his trade.
Bond, naturally, has reasons of his own for getting involved. In a surprising show of affection, Bond seems to be quietly seeking revenge for the death of his first conquest in the film: Jill Masterson (Shirley Eaton). After foiling Goldfinger's attempt to cheat at cards earlier in the film and stealing his girl, Goldfinger exacts his revenge, killing Jill Masterson by covering her body with gold paint, causing her to suffocate. It is an eerie image and certainly the most memorable one of the entire film. Bond is quick to accept his assignment out of revenge, though his thoughts for Jill Masterson will be easily lost once the next beautiful woman comes along. Bond quickly discovers Goldfinger's method for illegally transporting his gold, but finds that there is a much darker plan in the works. It appears Goldfinger has been working with the government of China on Operation Big Slam. Bond must now risk his life in order to discover this new plot before it is too late.
Unlike DR. NO and FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, the plot of GOLDFINGER is on a much larger scale and is the first that actively involves another country (China) in the evil plan of the film. The evil plot involves introducing chaos into the Western economy by tampering with the price of gold. Such worldwide plots would become all the more common in later Bond flicks, ultimately resulting in plans to start World War III and destroy the world.
Connery's performance seems to get more and more confident as the films progress. In GOLDFINGER, Connery seems untouchable. Even during the film's famous "laser" scene, in which Bond is threatened with a modern castration, Connery manages to handle the scene with composure and style. His performance in this film proves why Connery is considered the best Bond. No one else can handle the action, charisma, and dry one-liners like Connery can. Connery has an intensity about him that prevents the film from becoming campy and ridiculous. Gert Fröbe's performance as Auric Goldfinger is also superb. In fact, Goldfinger is often listed as one of the greatest Bond villains--if not the greatest. It is largely due to Fröbe's creepy performance. Whenever there is a close-up on him, I get the creeps and am thankful not to be in his presence. Goldfinger is supplemented by his Korean man-servant, Oddjob (Harold Sakata). Oddjob is one of the most famous henchmen in the entire series, known for his brute strength and flying hat, capable of decapitating any foe.
We have two women who compete for the "Bond girl" role in GOLDFINGER. At the top of the film, Jill Masterson (Shirley Eaton) seems the likely candidate until her unfortunate gilding, sending Connery off into a vengeful mission. Later on in the film, the famous Pussy Galore shows up on screen, played by Honor Blackman. Subtly portrayed as a lesbian pilot with a peculiar name, Pussy Galore is at first "immune" to Bond's advances. But even she falls prey to Bond's charm in a "romantic" scene which is a bit shocking for its violent nature. Bond really has to force himself onto Pussy Galore which is a bit surprising, but I suppose it works with the play-fight atmosphere of the scene. Indeed, it seems that no one can resist Bond, heterosexual and homosexual alike. Honor Blackman's performance is well-done and she holds herself up as Bond's equal--smart, sophisticated, athletic, and in control. If you don't count the Mexican dancer at the top of the film, Bond limits himself to two women in GOLDFINGER. Is he slowing down?
Finally, we can't review GOLDFINGER without mentioning the gadget that plays as big a role in the film as many of the secondary characters: Bond's famous Aston Martin DB5. Q (Desmond Llewelyn) once again makes an appearance, this time given an entire laboratory for developing new weapon technology. Unlike their two previous encounters in the first two films, Q and Bond now have a genuine chemistry together, one largely based on Bond's lack of respect for Q's work and Q's disgust for Bond's disrespect. It is here that we are introduced to the Aston Martin. Complete with twin machine guns, tire punctures, smoke, oil slick, bulletproof glass, rear bulletproof shield, tracking device, radar, and ejector seat, the Aston Martin is the first souped up gadget Bond has ever had his hands on. Of course, every single innovation in the car will be put to full use later in the film. The Aston Martin DB5 quickly became one of the most popular film cars of all time and it is not hard to see why.
With such a memorable cast of characters and images, GOLDFINGER became one of the most popular Bond films of all time. In addition to being one of the best of the series, it is a good action film in its own right. True to Hamilton's promise, the film is ultimately a joy-ride and quite fun to watch. Make sure you don't wind up with the inferior Special Edition. The Ultimate Edition DVD contains a generous host of extra features, including a "Making of" documentary, interviews with Connery and Honor Blackman, original screen tests for Goldfinger tryouts, a film about the legendary Aston Martin DB5 car and its publicity tour that made the car famous, and a documentary about the film's release and popularity. With Dolby surround sound and a beautifully restored image, this is the edition to buy for your home collection.
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