Goldfinger
- This page is for the James Bond novel and film; see Goldfinger (band) for the band, Ernö Goldfinger for the architect and Pussy Galore for the Jon Spencer-fronted rock group.
Goldfinger is a novel by Ian Fleming featuring James Bond, later made into a film starring Sean Connery. The novel was published in 1959 and the film was released in 1964 and is the third installment of the film in the James Bond series.
Plot Summary
Spoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow.
The plot revolves around Auric Goldfinger, the world's top gold smuggler (the name was inspired by the name of architect Ernö Goldfinger). In the movie version (1964), Bond discovers a sinister plot by Goldfinger and his organization and the forces of communist China to steal all the gold from Fort Knox. We later find out that it was actually not Goldfinger's intention to steal the gold, but to destroy it by detonating a nuclear bomb in the U.S. Bullion Depository at Fort Knox, contaminating the United States gold reserve and thereby dramatically increasing the value of his gold holdings. It should be noted that in the original novel, Goldfinger really did plan to steal the gold, but this plan is completely unfeasible and was later altered for the film.
The most famous scene in the film — arguably the most famous scene in any Bond film — is the one in which Goldfinger has the recalcitrant Bond tied down in the path of a laser beam:
- Bond: "Do you expect me to talk?"
- Goldfinger: "No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die."
This scene, too, differs from the corresponding scene in the book (where Goldfinger used a buzz saw, not a laser, and spared Bond not because of his claimed knowledge of "Operation Grand Slam" but in acceptance of Bond's offer to work for Goldfinger!).
In addition, in the book, Bond was issued with a car with few modifications like revolving license plates. The film greatly expands on the idea with the spy getting an Aston Martin packed with special functions like forward machine guns, oil slick, smokescreen, bulletproof shield, telescoping tire slashers and most famously, a passenger ejector seat for the removal of unwanted passengers. The popularity of this car in the film led to the increasing inclusion of spectacular gagetry including other special vehicles.
Author Ian Fleming also contributed to the original draft for the television series The Man From U.N.C.L.E., in which one of the heroes was named "Napoleon Solo". The name originally came from the book version of Goldfinger: Napoleon Solo is one of the crime bosses Goldfinger invites to participate in his scheme to steal the gold from Fort Knox (in the film he is called simply "Mr. Solo"). Viewers of the film will remember him as the fellow who "had a pressing engagement."
In addition, Goldfinger set the tone for how future James Bond films would appear, starting with (in certain movies) a large action sequence followed by the opening credits.
Theme Music
Goldfinger is the first of three Bond films with a theme sung by Shirley Bassey. Though she only performed three out of numerous Bond film themes, her style has become a trademark of Bond themes. Bond veteran John Barry would compose the soundtrack. His second credited Bond film.
Vehicles & Gadgets
- Aston Martin DB5 - The most famous Bond car of all, this was his very first in the films. It came with all the usual Q refinements that have been copied from movie to movie including bulletproof front and rear panels, oil slick, smoke screen, machine guns, rotating licence plates, and most famously the passenger ejector seat. The ejector seat would be used again the film Die Another Day in a Aston Martin V12 Vanquish. While being the most recognized Bond car, it's actually only been featured in four films (Goldfinger, Thunderball, GoldenEye, and a small appearance in Tomorrow Never Dies.
- Homing beacon - Bond is given two homing beacons from Q-branch. The first is larger and used when Bond tracks the villain, Auric Goldfinger, to his base. The second is smaller and allows MI6 to know where Bond is. He hides it in a secret compartment in the heel of his shoe.
Cast & Characters
- Produced by: Albert R. Broccoli, Ian Fleming
- Screenplay by: John Barry
Asphyxiation Argument
Though Bond films are not known for technical accuracy, but rather outlandish but plausible action, one incident in this film bears mentioning.
In one scene, a girl is killed by "skin suffocation." She was painted with gold and died due to her skin being unable to "breathe." According to an urban legend, the idea was based on a real Swiss fashion model who painted herself and died of asphyxiation.
While this is a plausible-sounding explanation for this unusual method of killing someone, it's been argued whether or not it is truly possible.
Humans, being mammals, achieve respiration via their mouths and nostrils. The only animals which breathe through their "skin" are some insects. If it were, in fact, true that people breathed in some necessary auxiliary fashion through their skin, it would be impossible for people to engage in extended baths, mud baths, scuba diving and other activities which require extended covering of the skin. If one did try to murder someone via gilding, the person most likely would die, but not in the manner given in the movie. The person would die of heat stroke. The gold paint would clog the pores and prevent perspiration rendering the body unable to provide proper heat regulation. Dying in this fashion, however, would take several days and is a very inefficient manner of terminating someone.
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