James Bond Goldfinger

James Bond Goldfinger (1964)

The 1964 spy film, “Goldfinger” is the third instalment in the James Bond movie series produced by Eon Productions. Starring Sean Connery as the legendary MI6 agent James Bond, the film is based on the 1959 novel of the same name written by Ian Fleming. Honor Blackman plays the role of Pussy Galore and Gert Fröbe stars as Auric Goldfinger, the film’s title character, while Shirley Eaton plays Jill Masterson. Directed by Guy Hamilton, “Goldfinger” was produced by Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman and was the first of four Bond films directed by Hamilton.

The film revolves around James Bond investigating the gold smuggling activities of gold magnate Auric Goldfinger and uncovering his plans to contaminate the U.S. Bullion Depository at Fort Knox. “Goldfinger” was the first James Bond film to have a high budget, equal to that of the two preceding Bond movies combined. Principal photography for the film took place from January to July 1964 in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and the United States.

“Goldfinger” is considered a turning point in the James Bond franchise, as it was the film that established James Bond as a pop-culture icon. The film’s release led to a number of promotional tie-in items, including a toy Aston Martin DB5 car from Corgi Toys, which became the best-selling toy of 1964. The film was also the first Bond film to win an Oscar (Best Sound Editing) and received largely favorable critical reviews. “Goldfinger” was a huge financial success, grossing over $120 million worldwide and recouping its budget in just two weeks.

In 1999, “Goldfinger” was ranked No. 70 on the BFI Top 100 British films list compiled by the British Film Institute. The film introduced several elements that have since become synonymous with the James Bond franchise, including the use of gadgets, a standalone pre-credits sequence, multiple foreign locations, and tongue-in-cheek humor.