Goldfinger (1964)
Production
Producers: Harry Saltzman & Albert R Broccoli
Director: Guy Hamilton
Screenplay: Richard Maibaum & Paul Dehn
Composer: John Barry
Cast
Mission
Agent 007 investigates a smuggling operation run by the obsessive millionaire Auric Goldfinger and uncovers a plot to irradiate the entire gold supply of the United States by detonating an atomic bomb inside Fort Knox.
Locations
A mystery Latin American country; Miami Beach, Florida, USA; London, UK; Unnamed airport, UK; Golf course in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, UK; Nr. Geneva, Switzerland; 35,000ft above Newfoundland; Friendship Airport, Baltimore, USA; Auric Stud, Kentucky, USA; Fort Knox, Kentucky, USA; Washington, USA.
Pre-Credits Sequence
Bond swims towards an oil refinery and plants explosives inside a secret drugs lab. He sheds his wetsuit to reveal a white tuxedo perfect for the night ahead in a club. The explosions start as 007 makes his way over to an associate; the night is just beginning. Whilst meeting a flamenco dancer Bond sees an assailant reflected in her eyes. A fight ensues, and there can be only one winner. The assailant is quickly thrown into a bath of water where he scrabbles for Bond's gun. Bond reaches for an electric heater, which he throws into the water to electrocute the man and quips, "shocking, positively shocking".
Title
As with the first film in the series, the title is that of Ian Fleming's novel, and is taken from the name of the central villain.
Release Data
UK: 17th September 1964 (PG)
USA: 22nd December 1964 (PG) (New York)
World Premiere: 17th September 1964 (Odeon Leicester Square, London, UK)
UK TV Premiere: 3rd November 1976, ITV
US TV Premiere: 17th September 1972, ABC
Running Time: 111 minutes
Classification: PG (UK), PG (US)
Budget: $3.0m
Worldwide Box Office: $124.9m
US Box Office: $51.1m
US Admissions: 50.6 million
UK Box Office: N/A
Best Line
Bond: "Do you expect me to talk?"
Goldfinger: "No, Mr Bond, I expect you to die!"
Best Mistake
Through his binoculars Bond watches Goldfinger break a pencil; from a great distance he hears the snap.
Distinguishing feature
The Aston Martin DB5 makes its debut, with rotating licence plates, water jets, smoke screen, radar and ejector seat.
Vital Statistics
Conquests: 2
Martinis: 1
Kills: 10
"Bond, James Bond": 1.5
Cut Scenes & Alternate Versions
A scene where Bond passes by a Royal Mail van in Q-Branch which quickly transforms into a sniper platform and machine gun turret was cut, but can be seen projected on the dances in the title sequence. The atomic clock in Fort Knox was originally cut to end at 003, but it was later changed to stop on 007, hence the continuity error of the line "three more ticks".
MI6 Ranking
Fan Ranking
As voted in MI6's Fan Verdict poll
"James Bond Will Return In..." [Thunderball]
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