Goldfinger is probably Connery's best performance, but that much is up for debate. The more important consideration is that Goldfinger is THE quintessential "Bond film". It's the film that defined "Bond film." It was the first in the franchise to truly deliver all of the elements. The style is timeless. The plot is unique and inventive. The music is incredibly iconic. The car is unforgettable. The gadgets are fun but never distracting. The sets are memorable. The villain's clever and nefarious. Bond is overwhelmingly charming, playful, witty, and full of class. In fact, the whole film just exudes class. It gives us all of the elements in such a perfect ratio. In addition to being the most "Bond" of all Bond films, it's also hugely important in the history of cinema. That's an important point to remember. It was a genre-defining film. We're taking too myopic a view as Bond fans by ranking Goldfinger anywhere other than the top of the heap. We'll all inevitably have our own favourite films for sentimental or subjective reasons; but, Goldfinger is, objectively, one of the most iconic films of all time.
Jonathan Snowden No doubt about it.As hardcore fans we will have our personal favorites,of course, but if you look at the big picture-Goldfinger is really the only Bond film that will be forever entrenched in the larger scope of the entire history of Cinema. It is almost always on every list of the greatest films of all time.
I think Goldeneye hits all of those marks other than maybe the music. The lineup of characters/villains, better action and pacing push it even higher imo.
8:40 "Why tell them the plot?" It's developing the character of Goldfinger. He's very intelligent but you can tell he desperately wants to brag about his operations, yet conversely too smart to fully reveal his plan. Even when he tells the mobsters the plan, he still gives them disinformation, but you can tell he still wants the recognition for his ambitions, for however short it lasts. That's why he's so smug when Bond finally figures out the genius of Goldfinger's plan, it's his character weakness. The moment Goldfinger's plan encountered problems, he was ready to escape instantly with his disguise, that's the sort of foresight few villains ever have and he never revealed that contingency plan to anyone.
Regarding versions of the Goldfinger theme, my favorite is the instrumental version played while Bond is following Goldfinger through the mountains. My favorite music to play when driving.
Everything David said is spot on. I loved Goldfinger as a child but rewatching it now, its a bit lackluster particularly the Operation Grand slam part. JB feels more like a passenger in the 2nd half of the film than the protagonist.
I'd agree the pacing is looser than it should be - but it was those days when movies gave people a larger way to see the world from their hometown. I tend to feel many of the Bond movies could use tighter editing.
@@TheBondExperience I admit, I like the looser pacing. Just seeing parts of Kentucky in the 60's is fascinating to me because it's a time period long before I was born. More modern films will show spectacular locals but never hang on them and you don't get a sense of what life is like there. If anything, I would criticize the pacing with the bomb in the gold vault, because the bomb timer is inconsistent, the drama feel fake.
Goldfinger if you watch it too many times you can tire of it..it's like your favourite artists greatest hits. Once you tire of the films that made you a fan you start to see merit in lesser works. I keep it fresh by not repeat viewing too many times. The first few times watching the Bond films Goldfinger was the standout for me it was the first film where they got it all together. If the third film is where it all comes together then maybe it's a shame that Tim Dalton didn't do a third.
Paul Andrew Great great point.I have definitely seen this movie more than any of the others so I tend to go to it a little bit less now simply because I know it too well!
First, that onesie is the bomb, and second, I would agree that Goldfinger is one of Connery's best, but it is not my personal favorite. You Only Live Twice is my favorite Connery flick.
From Russia with Love and Goldfinger are both great, but as I've grown older, I've appreciated From Russia with Love more. But you can argue that the 3rd film is really when the actor and the audience really find a groove and a phenomenon takes place in the franchise. For example, Goldfinger, The Spy Who Loved me, The World Is Not Enough (debatable), and Skyfall.
From Russia With Love may be entertaining if you watch all of Moore's goofier Bonds in a row and want something different. Other than that, FRLW have major pacing issues in which I found the first and last 20 minutes far more entertaining than the dreadful middle.
For me, I believe Connery's best film was From Russia With Love, his best performance was Thunderball (a very close 2nd as his best film), and IMHO Goldfinger hasn't aged as well as, say, FRWL. The look of it is great, and it's undeniably where the franchise became the global runaway train that we know now. It doesn't have the same feel as the Terrance Young films - especially Thunderball, but it's still high entertainment and one of the best of the series.
I disagree I think it's FRWL that seems extremely old fashioned now, while Goldfinger still seems stylish and cool. I'm glad Terence Young didn't direct it, although he is very good his style lacks a certain polish that this film needed.
Goldeneye, Goldfinger, OHMSS, Living Daylights are my favorite four films. Love Goldfinger. Goldfinger, Silva, Telly Savalas Blofeld are my favorite villians right behind Alec Trevelyan. Oddjob is tied with Onnatop as my favorite henchman. Goldfinger has such a great scheme. One of my favorite villian schemes in the series.I like how Bond is captured, and uses that to his advantage to get intell on Aurics plot, and get out word to Leiter. I enjoy the slower pace of this film. Its a different way for Bond to get to the villian. For me the slower pace works great here. I love the dialogue between Bond and Goldfinger. Like Octopussy, Bond does what is needed to complete his mission. He dresses as 009 did to infiltrate the circus. Here in Goldfinger Bond gets captured, and uses that to his advantage, to get a full guist of Goldfingers scheme. Plus he realises, after the laser, Goldfinger is nasty, and dangerous. I feel Auric Goldfinger is one of the top Bond villians. As i said Trevelyan, Go.dfinger, Silva, telly Blofeld are my favorites. Goldfinger has the gangsters get him materials, and promises them a share of gold. But he gets rid of them, as he is not stealing the gold. He is vane, and of course he will explain what he is doing. He takes great pride when Bond realises, that, he is not stealing the gold, he is radiating it, therefore boosting the value of his gold. And tbereby recking the US economy and boosting China, his partners. And Auric taking out his head partner at Knox, shows his nastiness. Yes, he is rolly polly, average Joe, but that is what makes him so great. Much like David doesnt watch Goldfinger, i dont rewatch Casino. Its great, But i just dont feel like watching it much. I have watched OHMSS, Goldeneye, Goldfinger, LD, Octopusy, Skyfall at least a half dozen times each since march. Casino i have watched 4 times since 2006. Goldfinger is in my top films. It was my fathers favorite with Majesties.
Of all the Bond movies, only Goldfinger and You Only Live Twice were outrageous in their day. Everybody was talking and there were so many elements that had never been imagined before - the Golden Girl and how well it melded with the title song, the incredible title sequences, the amazing car, "I don't want you to live Mr. Bond..." You criticise it for being slow but Thunderball is not only much slower, it also gives away the whole plot at the start. An advantage of the film's speed is that you gradually colour in the character of Goldfinger.
I used to think Goldfinger was the best Bond movie... but as I’ve grown older... I’ve actually developed more of an appreciation of From Russia With Love... he’s less reliant on gadgets and it’s more story driven
For me it will always be "Dr. No". Not so much because of Ursula Andress, who certainly set the bar very high, or Joseph Wiseman, who I loved years later as a Mafia don in Michael Mann's "Crime Story", or Jack Lord, who is still my favorite Felix Lighter. It's Connery's cold performance that makes this first foray stick so hard. He aged so quickly that he never looked better than in "Dr. No", and I also love him in "Diamonds are Forever", by the way, where he is just SO charming, but "Dr No" remains my favorite 007 film. It's the only one of the whole series that feels like a genuine B-movie matinee, but I still like it a bit better than "Goldfinger"!
Another great talk 👍 Have you thought about talking about why Connery felt “Never Say Never Again” would be good enough to rival Thunderball (my personal favorite Connery Bond). Random: can you put me in touch with Marcus Mills? I may have some projects for him in the near future.
Goldfinger may not be my favorite film in the canon but it’s the film where ALL of the classic 007 ingredients came together to create the benchmark by which future entries were compared. Connery ‘s performance was so good that this was the film you could never imagine any other actor portraying 007. For the record, my favorite film is Thunderball, a film with arguably many aesthetic flaws but undeniably very entertaining and also my “go to” film when I need a good shot of Bond. Great job, guys!
Some great insights. I must admit I also tend towards Dr. No and even From Russia with Love. Though that does not lessen my love for Goldfinger. I still remember the first viewing, part of a double feature with Dr. No.
It makes me wonder if it's us as a audience accepting a actor as James bond by the time they make their 3rd movie. I know there was resistance to Dalton when he took over the role from Moore, and Roger Moore had his difficulties after Connery until the spy who loved me.
Enjoyed this! I do like seeing Bond on the other side of the coin in this film. Yes he is captured for a good portion of the movie but I feel like it shows his ability to still complete his mission on the “back foot.” He isn’t free with all of the resources at his disposal but stuck with certain circumstances and manages to do what he needs to finish the job. Also Joe looks like he is doing his best impression of Brosnan in Die Another Day after he was traded for Zao lol
I'm one of those old guys who saw Goldfinger in the theater when it first came out. I had read all the books previously. I am with David in thinking the film fell apart when they got to Fort Knox. It all felt fake from that point. The Army guys falling down, Bond supposedly seducing a lesbian, come on! Actually, my favorite thing from the movie is the Rolex 6538 Submariner he wears when timing the bomb in the first part of the film.
Can I ask you something? When you saw Goldfinger the first time, What was your reaction and the audience reaction when James Bond took a shot at the Beetles? Thanks to my music teacher decades ago I know why James Bond insulted the Beetles in Goldfinger and I laughed hard.
@@greatwuta I honestly don't remember that part and it is probably because I was really into jazz at that time. If he had insulted Thelonious Monk I would have remembered.
They are back!!👏🏻👏🏻🍸🍸🍾🍾 Live and in person-not a Zoom chat-a great sign of life getting back to normal! And this time we have the EPIC beard and the Onesie to add to the excitement!! This theory of the 007 actors third film being a great one is going to be proven to be right on the money. This was my first Bond film ever so it will always have a special place for me-sure, it has dated just a bit but it is still the single most influential Bond movie ever-and features Connery’s coolest and most polished performance as 007. I agree, I probably watch Thunderball or even YOLT more often -but this one remains the absolute gold standard for the series and will forever be remembered as an iconic part of Cinema History!
Interesting argument. Certainly generally is the rule except for Brosnan's third. Don't mean to offend anyone but 'The World is Not Enough' was not Brosnan's stride film..... Was it?
I don't know if anyone has already made this point in the comments here. Guy Hamilton was very deliberate about Bond being captive for so long. Both to emphasize how formidable Goldfinger and his organization were and because Hamilton felt Bond was in danger of becoming a 'superhero'.
What's up my bud. Goldfinger is good but I enjoyed You Only Live Twice and Thunderball and I recently have to add From Russia With Love as better than Goldfinger.
Id say this is very possibly true. Connery- Goldfinger is great(not my favorite), Bond was at the top and Connery looked his best during this movie. Id say this is very true for this movie
Agree that this is further down my list of Connery films, still good but not one I come back to. You both summed up how I feel about this one pretty perfectly
Connery has never looked better then in Goldfinger. To summarise Connery's bond film carreer. Dr No he was hungry FRWL he was at is most physical Thunderball he was Glamorous YOLT thinking life beyond bond Diamond's are forever he was visually bored and in it for the money. Still the best bond by a mile.
Great discussion, guys! As you continue this series, you should also address the theory that every actor's third performance as Bond is their best, even if it's not their best movie. Keep it up!
@Randy White I think that most people feel that it was, myself included. Though even if they came to the conclusion it wasn't, they would simply be disproving the theory in that instance...But it's still a standing theory worth discussing.
Goldfinger established the template of pleasing elements for future Bond films. Connery was best Bond in my opinion. And that car. Fantastic. I own 3 Aston Martins, Corgi models on my book shelves!!!! Lucky you David, you've got the real thing. Great discussion. Hope you do more on the movies and books.
As a slightly younger Bond fan (30) I've always felt like Goldfinger is overhyped. It has all the touchstones for a Bond movie, but it feels uneven to me. And I think Connery's Bond was a bit too cavalier through the entire film. Not chipper, per se but like you guys said, too cocky.
Great film, probably my Connery favourite. It has all the ingredients that make a great Bond film. The car, the theme song, the villain and henchman are some of the series best. The only thing that lets the film down is Pussy Galour and her fly circus. It just seems really dated now. That aside, it still holds up as a great film.
I watched this video probably for the third time, since i love these, but still i don't get how you put this film down. This is one of the greatest bond films, definetly the most iconic and it is a lot of fun. To me it seems like the typical fanboy phenomenon where you don't love the one that all the casual fans love because everybody loves it and as a fan you go like ah this one is better and blablabla...
@@RighteousBrother Hi, Its my understanding that he didn't for the 1st two movies. Goldfinger onwards he did. Theres shots were it doesn't look quite natural imo. Its by no means a criticism just an observation. Compare how Connery hair is in DAF and he's other film The Anderson Tapes both 1971. The latter is the 1st movie Connery doesn't wear a hairpiece. According to the Imdb trivia section. 👍
Hi guys I have to pop to work so I'm gonna watch this tonight with some alcohol ,hope Joe does more bond trivial pursuits really enjoyed them ,just wanted to ask if you guys had seen on TH-cam license to kill as a romantic comedy whoever made this trailer is awesome ,so anyway thanks can't wait to see this review when I get home
Goldfinger features the best villain of the entire series and that is Auric Goldfinger. Unlike the other villains who want Bond dead for the sake of convenience, Auric hated Bond because the latter attracted women so easily. Auric knew he was repulsive so he overcompensated for short comings by hiring women to be seen with him. On top of that, he had grotesque fetish for gold. Simply put, everything about Goldfinger is ugly. This "ugliness" is precisely what is missing in many Bond villains. They exhibited no real human emotions and lacked the psychological make up that made a villain like Goldfinger fascinating. I'd say the only other Bond villain that had emotional baggage is Klaus Maria Brandauer as Largo. Even though Domino loved him at first, you get the feeling that he could never properly reciprocate that love. There is something quite pathetic about Largo spying on Domino when the latter was with her dance instructor and that is something you don't see in other Bond villains.
Well, here's my 2 cents.... The global monopoly called the "Cold War" was happening. The "Space Race" was started by a young President who less then twenty years earlier was fighting in W.W.2. He also happened to enjoy books by a author, Ian Fleming. The culture in our country was defining as the "Jet Set" became capable to the country. The song,Goldfinger "he,loves only gold" were lyrics all could understand. A huge movie then and now, could the franchise survive without it if it was never made? It was and is the most important, as we say now "Bond Film".
It’s impossible for anyone in the 21st Century to watch “Goldfinger” and truly appreciate what a cinematic masterpiece it was at the time. So much that was fresh and original in the movie has been copied and done to death by all the other action movies that followed. The rapid-cuts and fast pace of action movies today all started with the early Bond movies, and “Goldfinger” set the standard for the entire genre. Despite moving at a furious pace, it manages (unlike so many other action movies) to maintain a coherent and logical plot. There were so many new and innovative ideas in this movie. In 1964 most people had never heard of lasers or karate or skin suffocation or plastic explosives. No movie had ever featured a tricked-out car like the Aston, a finale with a setting like Fort Knox, a hero that made jokes after killing someone, a character with a name like Pussy Galore, a henchman like Oddjob, a megalomaniac like Goldfinger, or all the unique ways of killing people: electrocuting a villain in a bathtub, painting a woman gold, a lethal “throwing hat", nerve gas, sucking a villain out a depressurized plane window ... All new to cinematic audiences at the time; all passé now. It really had to be seen at the time it was released. Unlike so many of the movies that followed, “Goldfinger” is the perfect blend of the real and the fantastic. It isn’t dark and brooding and un-fun like the Daniel Craig movies, or ridiculous semi-comedies like some of the Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan films. “Goldfinger” is finely balanced, managing to retain a realistic feel despite the implausible plot. It delivers laughs without ever descending into comedy, and despite the light mood of much of the movie, the plot seems serious, the villains are genuinely menacing, and the viewer feels Bond is in real danger. This is not an easy balance for any movie to achieve, and “Goldfinger” does so perfectly.
That’s freaking hilarious! 😂 Dude! Not the onesie 😂 This has officially taken us into a cosplay discussion😂 I will at least give credit to your unrelenting dedication to James Bond fandom🎩
Thunderball was the most complete Bond movie because it started out as a script -book- script. OHMSS is my favourite, especsilly music. You Only Live Twice my second one.
Goldfinger's pacing is fine. Look at Spectre and how they put the "Michael Bay" quick cut shakycam epilepsy-inducing editing and action scenes into it. I'm fine with Goldfinger in that context.
I think the word Joe was looking for to describe the best Bond villains is "charming", and I agree, especially when they play the gracious host on that first meeting with Bond.
Best Bond movie ever. To say there was a lull is ridiculous. I dunno...I suppose people who rate a Bond movie based upon how many action sequences there are would not rate this movie highly. This movie runs with mood, characterization and plot...much like the two previous outings, the flow of the plot is extremely Hitchcockian. It starts small then builds and builds and builds. It begins with cheating at cards, gold smuggling and we are more than 2/3 of the way through before we find out what is really going on. I think the golf game alone did more for this movie than any other altercation between Bond and a villain in terms of making the villain come alive as an individual. And the use of the background music is near operatic. Consider Oddjob's pressing engagement...it begins with the Bond theme in action but is immediately dominated by a hugely triumphant sequence of Goldfinger...the two motifs spar and Goldfinger's theme unquestionably wins just as Bond's one effort with the homer in Solo'spocket is casually destroyed by Goldfinegr's machinations. This arguably has the least action of any Bond movie, but for me that is a blessing more than a flaw. For me TWINE would have profited immensely from this approach...TWINE had a great core plot (a Goldfinger derivative in its way much like AVTAK), two great conceptual villains...but both plot and villains are hedged away into a corner to make room for over the top unbelievable action sequences which logically make no sense within the greater context of the plot. What should have been Bronan'senst movie for me is his worst...I rate it in the bottom 3...because guaranteed one-every-15-minutes-action-sequences take over the movie. If you watch how slowly paced Dr. No and Goldfinger are in terms of Bond unveiling what is going on and how clearly the plots of the villains are revealed to the audience through suspense and characterization...again Hitchcockian in execution, then compare these films on the same terms to TWINE. For me to rely on action to keep the audience interested is far more of a confession of weakness than a strength. I could go on...I could probably write a thesis on this point, but I hope you take my point...though action free...Goldfinger flows smoothly and without a single dull moment....each scene is there for a reason...no filler action, and the masterful use of both dialogue and suspense for me at least are unrivaled by any other Bond movie. I am old enough that I saw all of the Bond films in the theater...most of the Connery's were not first run, but I did see all of them on the big screen before any of them hit the TV. I was maybe 12 or 13 when I saw Goldfinger in the Hempstead theater with Dr. No. I went back 2 more times that week. I had no problems understanding who was who and what was going on. . I was in my early forties when I saw TWINE and if I blinked at the wrong moment I would not know what was going on. This was a trend that began I think in the Moore years in which Bond finding out what was going on was given the shortest of moments of screen time just to jump back into another over-the-top action sequence. Moonraker is especially egregious in this..Bond jumps from California to Italy to Rio...supposedly each stop a link to the path to Drax's Mayan temple rocket base...yet look how little time is spent on each discovery as opposed to action sequences in each location. Another great aspect of Goldfinger is that Bond had not yet become super Bond in this movie...he could be helpless...he could be wrong he could &^%$ up...in other words, he was still human. Super Bond would begin to emerge with Thunderball...to understand what I mean consider Bond being dressed down by M early in the movie for clearly screwing the pooch with GF with Jill paying the price. Now look at Thunderball..Bond gets his assignment and he respectfully requests it be changed...because he is Bond and only he knows the real right thing to do in all cases. They actually had to alter Fleming's plot no less than three times for the worse to make this perception of Band as Super-Bond to happen Firstly in the novel Bond had no idea Shrublands was related to Spectre and the theft of the bombs. No...because in the novel it actually was Domino's brother who stole the bomber...there was no plastic surgery sub-plot...Lippe was only there to send the ransom note...his hospitalization delayed the actual theft until a night of a full moon which allowed faint echoes of the bomber heading south upon nearing the America's which made M himself after much consideration zoom in on the Bahamas as the destination to send Bond. Secondly, it was actually Felix Leiter and not Bond...although Bond did have all the facts...who actually figured out Lippe's role in the plot. Lastly, when Bond saw the Tong sign on Lippe's hand, he did not recognize it...he called Moneypenny and she identified it for him as opposed to his calling her to confirm it was a tong sign and her brushing him off. In short in the novels Bond was fallible and his supporting cast was there for a reason and not just as a cheering section. This aspect of the Bond formula would only grow through the decades to the extent that Bond now typically has to go rogue in each movie because only HE knows the real right thing that is going on and only HE, Super Bond, can do the real right thing to prevent it. When you think about it only once in all Fleming'snovel did he come close to going rogue, and that was in OHMSS when he and Draco's men stormed Piz Gloria...and in the novel, it was with M's full blessing, but of course even as early as the movie OHMSS, Bond knew better than M because...well by now he was Super Bond although I will admit this aspect was mostly toned down for this movie which was otherwise one of if not the most faithful adaptation fo a Fleming plot. Now would I say Fleming must never be altered as I agree that the film Goldfinger significantly improved upon Auric's purpose for his Fort Knox strike. But at the same time this instance totally justifies, I think, my position that the concept of Super Bond does not help the franchise. Without Pussy Galore and the FDR looking guy in the end who came in and prevented Bond from detonating the Bomb, Goldfinger would have won. For me Goldfinger is the best fo the Bonds in large parts because of time spent establishing characterization, making the plot engaging, not relying on action sequences to hold the attention of the audience but rather on dialogue and character development and because James is not 100% in control at all times...he is a person...a highly skilled one to be sure, but not a superhuman. And I really really am so very tired of Bond going rogue every single movie now because only HE...Super Bond...well you get the idea by now I hope.
Well regarding Thunderballs climax, a battle underwater should be slow. It fits the environment. I love every second of it and I like the contrast between the underwater battle and the high pace showdown at Disco Volante just a few minutes later.
Great discussion guys. I think it's fair to say that the franchise and Connery hit their stride here; but it's not the best film and not Connery's best performance. If that makes any sense. I enjoy it and it just makes my Top Ten. From Russia is my favorite Connery Bond film.
Dr No is the starter FRWL is the main course Goldfinger is the dessert Thunderball is the coffee and brandy YOLT is the box of chocolates you shouldn't have but do to finish the evening
The beauty of Goldfinger is it has all of the ingredients of a great Bond film and was the first to do it. The glam, the sets, the plot, gadgets and the camera work. It just oozes class. The time spent on the development between Bond and Goldfinger is what catches you. It isnt just a villain you find about at the end, there is a chase all of the way through. The final scene with Bond, the bomb and Oddjob is iconic. Not my favourite Connery film as that is FRWL, but my go to if I want to watch a good all round Bond movie.
I will always have a soft spot for Goldfinger as it was the first Bond film I can remember watching as a child. It was on UK TV one Christmas day back in the 1970s. The word iconic seemed be have been invented for this movie. Everything about this film is so memorable. The plot. The Villain. The Bond Girls. The gadgets. Every scene plays out almost as a blueprint for future Bond films to come. I feel this movie is the pinnacle of the Bond franchise. If the Bond movies were a mountain range then in my opinion Live and Let Die and Casino Royale would stand alongside Goldfinger as the highest peaks. I could watch you guys all day discussing Bond. Thank you for brightening up a rainy day in England...
Great seeing you two together in this one David and Joe! I saw Goldfinger at the London Pavilion when it first came out and was already gripped by 007 since Dr No. pure escapism and it really hit you when you came out in the cold London night after the film and into reality. No videos no DVD and no picking the scenes to bits in trailers which they do even before the film comes out showing you how the stunts were done. We now know that Connery never left England for any of the scenes - Miami was a set at Pinewood - the car chase was woodland area around Pinewood and the studios themselves was the set for the lead up to when he crashes. I do believe the “ Kentucky scenes” were also England. Nevertheless it set up all the templates for future films and nothing can diminish the pulverising adrenaline rush I got when the gun barrel blasted across the screen. How disrespectful EON have been interfering with the gun barrel recently in my view in order to massage the egos of directors who want to break the mould. I also wish David Arnold would return. Keep on doing what you do the chemistry between you is wonderful!
In Goldfinger I've always wondered what the deal was with the guy attacking Bond while he's necking on with the woman. Was he a spectre footsoldier who knew Bond was in town? Was he the girl's bf/husband (in which case Bond probably shouldn't be shocked)? Was he just a mugger who wanted to nick Bond's stuff and this is their hustle? Does anyone know? Did Bond simply kill some little two-bit criminal?
Goldfinger talks to the mobsters because he’s bragging and he wants an audience. Even if he’s going to kill them after. That’s why he says he quite enjoyed it too. Now why he removed solo, I don’t know
I always assumed Goldfinger's talk to the mobsters was him doing a "sanity test" of the plan to see if the gangsters raised any issues. Fresh pairs of eyes and all that, before he killed them.
If you dont take it too seriously its a lot of fun. I think the first hour is flawless it goes off the rails a bit after that. I used to think this was overrated and didnt watch it often but its grew on me quite a bit on this rewatch.
Great discussion, guys. I like Goldfinger but I dont love it. I think Dr No, FRWL and Thunderball are better movies overall and have better performances from Connery. However, Goldfinger himself is my favourite Bond villain. Gert Frobe was just such a magnificent, evil and very human villain. Goldfinger fir me is definitely an overrated Bond entry but it most certainly has amazing and fantastic elements. Barry's Bond back in action again is gloriously captures that suspenseful spy sound, Bassey's belting of the title song is the benchmark of all Bond theme songs and the women were very progressive given the time. All that being sud, Goldfinger is the film that took Bond more into a commercial direction and started introducing more outlandish and cartoony elements. From the moment we see Bond emerging from the water with a duck on his head is the moment they said goodbye to the more straight, hardboiled approach of Dr No and FRWL. In any case Goldfinger is definitely amongst the most iconic films in cinema history and is definitely the most iconic Bond film of all time.
As a movie and Bond fan, I find Goldfinger to be a very well made movie. It is just a good movie and aged better than the other Conerry movie. I grew up in the 70s and 80s and Goldfinger was always fun and exciting compared to the other 60s Bond films. It was a movie that was ahead of its time and is still one of the Bond movie I enjoy the most.
Don’t think the third movie theory works with Brosnan as Goldneye was easily his best one, and his best performance . I can see why people think it for the other actors (even though I prefer Casino Royale to Skyfall, think Craig’s best performance was in CR too)
GOLDFINGER is a classic. I have a friend who was friends with honor blackman and have her autograph. But its my personal favourite, along with dr no. From Russia With Love, i first found boring as a child, but ive grown to like it more over the years. But its not my favourite. I know its Connery's favourite.
I saw this film in 1964 when i was 8 with my dad,there was nothing better on tv or the cinema thats why it was so great .It's alright compairing it to Casino Royale or Goldeneye 40 years later, even at 10 years old i thought Thunderball was to long, and the underwater scenes boring and we got the man from u.n.c.l.e. thanks to Goldfinger in 1964
Somebody made a wise comment once saying... "Sean Connery wasn't playing Bond, he was just playing as himself." This is most valid in Goldfinger, where his casualness overshadows an even bigger problem... he's a RUBBISH agent in this film. He fails to protect two females under his protection, crashes his expensive government car in a enemy base, and gets captured TWICE.
Goldfinger is certainly iconic but it put the franchise on the wrong trend of treating things more casually and the material missing the edge of the first two, which I think are superior.
You Only Live Twice is the Second Best Bond film after Dr. No. The opening scene in Hong Kong, the burial at sea, the whole Japan thing...it's got far more going for it. Goldfinger has great Connery moments but seems to be trying too hard...
@@greatwuta Solid comment. Connery is epic in YOLT. The use of the theme in Mad Men...genius. I rate the Bond films as to how they were lampooned in the Austin Powers series. YOLT stands out.
Yes it's Connerys best , he has never looked better, or been more comfortable in the roll ...the story has all the elements and key points , direction and cast are bang on the nail ... Killer movie from start to end yes it mixes up the pace ... But ... Love it ...From Russia with Love is damn close and a straighter character portrayal from the book ( my favourite ) but Goldfinger pushes the bar higher ... As it should have done ...I met Guy Hamilton , amazing man .... The character and longevity of the series is down to a few Key directors ... Terence Young was the key , Mr Hamilton and Lewis Gilbert and later Martin Campbell, Sam Mendes (x1) ...Massive responsibility ... To reach the heights of the Connery era ... That's what they all are measured against . Great work and discussion chaps. Thanks CN
Sadly, this IS considered the quintessential Bond film. From Russia With Love is the far superior film, but it’s the “boring” one. When outsiders think of Bond, this is the kind of thing they think of. Cheesy, over the top silliness and campiness. I wish the series had gone in the other direction, but on a Saturday afternoon with a glass of wine when you’re feeling no pain, this is good.
I’ve recently started watching all the films again, with one each day. I’ve actually found that out of the first 3 movies, Goldfinger is my least favorite (apart from the soundtrack as it’s just beautiful).
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Goldfinger is probably Connery's best performance, but that much is up for debate. The more important consideration is that Goldfinger is THE quintessential "Bond film". It's the film that defined "Bond film." It was the first in the franchise to truly deliver all of the elements. The style is timeless. The plot is unique and inventive. The music is incredibly iconic. The car is unforgettable. The gadgets are fun but never distracting. The sets are memorable. The villain's clever and nefarious. Bond is overwhelmingly charming, playful, witty, and full of class. In fact, the whole film just exudes class. It gives us all of the elements in such a perfect ratio. In addition to being the most "Bond" of all Bond films, it's also hugely important in the history of cinema. That's an important point to remember. It was a genre-defining film. We're taking too myopic a view as Bond fans by ranking Goldfinger anywhere other than the top of the heap. We'll all inevitably have our own favourite films for sentimental or subjective reasons; but, Goldfinger is, objectively, one of the most iconic films of all time.
Jonathan Snowden
No doubt about it.As hardcore fans we will have our personal favorites,of course, but if you look at the big picture-Goldfinger is really the only Bond film that will be forever entrenched in the larger scope of the entire history of Cinema.
It is almost always on every list of the greatest films of all time.
Well said!
@@johnrigs6540 So it's not Octopussy as Joe thinks? ;)
I think Goldeneye hits all of those marks other than maybe the music. The lineup of characters/villains, better action and pacing push it even higher imo.
The first half - perfection
The second half - decent
Overall, I still love the movie but I much prefer the Terrence Young films.
8:40 "Why tell them the plot?" It's developing the character of Goldfinger. He's very intelligent but you can tell he desperately wants to brag about his operations, yet conversely too smart to fully reveal his plan. Even when he tells the mobsters the plan, he still gives them disinformation, but you can tell he still wants the recognition for his ambitions, for however short it lasts. That's why he's so smug when Bond finally figures out the genius of Goldfinger's plan, it's his character weakness. The moment Goldfinger's plan encountered problems, he was ready to escape instantly with his disguise, that's the sort of foresight few villains ever have and he never revealed that contingency plan to anyone.
Certainly not to one of his lackeys. Silenced him in double quick time
I’m 25 and Goldfinger is still my favorite Bond film.
Regarding versions of the Goldfinger theme, my favorite is the instrumental version played while Bond is following Goldfinger through the mountains. My favorite music to play when driving.
That's an excellent one!
Everything David said is spot on. I loved Goldfinger as a child but rewatching it now, its a bit lackluster particularly the Operation Grand slam part. JB feels more like a passenger in the 2nd half of the film than the protagonist.
I'd agree the pacing is looser than it should be - but it was those days when movies gave people a larger way to see the world from their hometown. I tend to feel many of the Bond movies could use tighter editing.
Twas in the day! Good point.
@@TheBondExperience I admit, I like the looser pacing. Just seeing parts of Kentucky in the 60's is fascinating to me because it's a time period long before I was born. More modern films will show spectacular locals but never hang on them and you don't get a sense of what life is like there. If anything, I would criticize the pacing with the bomb in the gold vault, because the bomb timer is inconsistent, the drama feel fake.
Sunday,Black tea and David.I don't need nothing else.
Too kind....thank you!
Goldfinger if you watch it too many times you can tire of it..it's like your favourite artists greatest hits. Once you tire of the films that made you a fan you start to see merit in lesser works. I keep it fresh by not repeat viewing too many times. The first few times watching the Bond films Goldfinger was the standout for me it was the first film where they got it all together. If the third film is where it all comes together then maybe it's a shame that Tim Dalton didn't do a third.
Paul Andrew
Great great point.I have definitely seen this movie more than any of the others so I tend to go to it a little bit less now simply because I know it too well!
Maybes thats it....too many repeat viewings.
First, that onesie is the bomb, and second, I would agree that Goldfinger is one of Connery's best, but it is not my personal favorite. You Only Live Twice is my favorite Connery flick.
Mine too. You Only Live Twice is my favorite Bond film from Sean Connery and 5th all time 007 film.
Interesting how best and personal favorites are not always the same....so true.
It's great to see Dan Haggarty still getting work!
Grizzly Adams jokes aside, great to see you and Joe back together. Really enjoyed this.
OK, epic jab of the day!
"Slowness' creates a a feel of the place and time, it's immersive - something lost to us now... Michael , South Africa
From Russia with Love and Goldfinger are both great, but as I've grown older, I've appreciated From Russia with Love more. But you can argue that the 3rd film is really when the actor and the audience really find a groove and a phenomenon takes place in the franchise. For example, Goldfinger, The Spy Who Loved me, The World Is Not Enough (debatable), and Skyfall.
More to come!
From Russia With Love may be entertaining if you watch all of Moore's goofier Bonds in a row and want something different. Other than that, FRLW have major pacing issues in which I found the first and last 20 minutes far more entertaining than the dreadful middle.
For me, I believe Connery's best film was From Russia With Love, his best performance was Thunderball (a very close 2nd as his best film), and IMHO Goldfinger hasn't aged as well as, say, FRWL. The look of it is great, and it's undeniably where the franchise became the global runaway train that we know now. It doesn't have the same feel as the Terrance Young films - especially Thunderball, but it's still high entertainment and one of the best of the series.
I disagree I think it's FRWL that seems extremely old fashioned now, while Goldfinger still seems stylish and cool. I'm glad Terence Young didn't direct it, although he is very good his style lacks a certain polish that this film needed.
Goldeneye, Goldfinger, OHMSS, Living Daylights are my favorite four films. Love Goldfinger. Goldfinger, Silva, Telly Savalas Blofeld are my favorite villians right behind Alec Trevelyan. Oddjob is tied with Onnatop as my favorite henchman. Goldfinger has such a great scheme. One of my favorite villian schemes in the series.I like how Bond is captured, and uses that to his advantage to get intell on Aurics plot, and get out word to Leiter. I enjoy the slower pace of this film. Its a different way for Bond to get to the villian. For me the slower pace works great here. I love the dialogue between Bond and Goldfinger.
Like Octopussy, Bond does what is needed to complete his mission. He dresses as 009 did to infiltrate the circus. Here in Goldfinger Bond gets captured, and uses that to his advantage, to get a full guist of Goldfingers scheme. Plus he realises, after the laser, Goldfinger is nasty, and dangerous. I feel Auric Goldfinger is one of the top Bond villians. As i said Trevelyan, Go.dfinger, Silva, telly Blofeld are my favorites.
Goldfinger has the gangsters get him materials, and promises them a share of gold. But he gets rid of them, as he is not stealing the gold. He is vane, and of course he will explain what he is doing. He takes great pride when Bond realises, that, he is not stealing the gold, he is radiating it, therefore boosting the value of his gold. And tbereby recking the US economy and boosting China, his partners. And Auric taking out his head partner at Knox, shows his nastiness. Yes, he is rolly polly, average Joe, but that is what makes him so great.
Much like David doesnt watch Goldfinger, i dont rewatch Casino. Its great, But i just dont feel like watching it much. I have watched OHMSS, Goldeneye, Goldfinger, LD, Octopusy, Skyfall at least a half dozen times each since march. Casino i have watched 4 times since 2006. Goldfinger is in my top films. It was my fathers favorite with Majesties.
Some great points...thanks for sharing!
Of all the Bond movies, only Goldfinger and You Only Live Twice were outrageous in their day. Everybody was talking and there were so many elements that had never been imagined before - the Golden Girl and how well it melded with the title song, the incredible title sequences, the amazing car, "I don't want you to live Mr. Bond..."
You criticise it for being slow but Thunderball is not only much slower, it also gives away the whole plot at the start. An advantage of the film's speed is that you gradually colour in the character of Goldfinger.
I used to think Goldfinger was the best Bond movie... but as I’ve grown older... I’ve actually developed more of an appreciation of From Russia With Love... he’s less reliant on gadgets and it’s more story driven
Fir me as well!
For me it will always be "Dr. No". Not so much because of Ursula Andress, who certainly set the bar very high, or Joseph Wiseman, who I loved years later as a Mafia don in Michael Mann's "Crime Story", or Jack Lord, who is still my favorite Felix Lighter. It's Connery's cold performance that makes this first foray stick so hard. He aged so quickly that he never looked better than in "Dr. No", and I also love him in "Diamonds are Forever", by the way, where he is just SO charming, but "Dr No" remains my favorite 007 film. It's the only one of the whole series that feels like a genuine B-movie matinee, but I still like it a bit better than "Goldfinger"!
Great video guys
Love when you and Joe do a project
together
Goldfinger is my number one!!
Have loved it since I first saw it !!
Thank you!
David, you made me smile, Dr No and Thunderball tend to be my go to films too. 🍸
Nice choices!
Thunderball is effective cure for insomnia !
Dr. No is one of top favourites
These videos with Joe are my favorites. Alongside traveling to Bond locations👌
Thank you...they are super fun for us as well!
Another great talk 👍
Have you thought about talking about why Connery felt “Never Say Never Again” would be good enough to rival Thunderball (my personal favorite Connery Bond).
Random: can you put me in touch with Marcus Mills? I may have some projects for him in the near future.
Marcus can be messaged on IG directly...enjoy!
Love this Review!!! Goldfinger is Iconic to Many Bond Fans it may not be a Favorite to Some But it set the Standard of all Bond Films To Follow!!!!
Indeed!
Goldfinger may not be my favorite film in the canon but it’s the film where ALL of the classic 007 ingredients came together to create the benchmark by which future entries were compared. Connery ‘s performance was so good that this was the film you could never imagine any other actor portraying 007. For the record, my favorite film is Thunderball, a film with arguably many aesthetic flaws but undeniably very entertaining and also my “go to” film when I need a good shot of Bond. Great job, guys!
Love the thumbnail. Fantastic!
Marcus is the man!
Thunderball is easily my favourite Connery film, but Goldfinger has Pussy and OddJob (both amazing) to make it iconic.
Some great insights. I must admit I also tend towards Dr. No and even From Russia with Love. Though that does not lessen my love for Goldfinger. I still remember the first viewing, part of a double feature with Dr. No.
Double features are da bomb!
It makes me wonder if it's us as a audience accepting a actor as James bond by the time they make their 3rd movie. I know there was resistance to Dalton when he took over the role from Moore, and Roger Moore had his difficulties after Connery until the spy who loved me.
Enjoyed this! I do like seeing Bond on the other side of the coin in this film. Yes he is captured for a good portion of the movie but I feel like it shows his ability to still complete his mission on the “back foot.” He isn’t free with all of the resources at his disposal but stuck with certain circumstances and manages to do what he needs to finish the job. Also Joe looks like he is doing his best impression of Brosnan in Die Another Day after he was traded for Zao lol
I'm one of those old guys who saw Goldfinger in the theater when it first came out. I had read all the books previously. I am with David in thinking the film fell apart when they got to Fort Knox. It all felt fake from that point. The Army guys falling down, Bond supposedly seducing a lesbian, come on! Actually, my favorite thing from the movie is the Rolex 6538 Submariner he wears when timing the bomb in the first part of the film.
Can I ask you something? When you saw Goldfinger the first time, What was your reaction and the audience reaction when James Bond took a shot at the Beetles? Thanks to my music teacher decades ago I know why James Bond insulted the Beetles in Goldfinger and I laughed hard.
@@greatwuta I honestly don't remember that part and it is probably because I was really into jazz at that time. If he had insulted Thelonious Monk I would have remembered.
@@highdesertforester Here is the scene. m.th-cam.com/video/HeJ03t89wJE/w-d-xo.html
That Rolex is da bomb...pun intended!
They are back!!👏🏻👏🏻🍸🍸🍾🍾
Live and in person-not a Zoom chat-a great sign of life getting back to normal!
And this time we have the EPIC beard and the Onesie to add to the excitement!!
This theory of the 007 actors third film being a great one is going to be proven to be right on the money.
This was my first Bond film ever so it will always have a special place for me-sure, it has dated just a bit but it is still the single most influential Bond movie ever-and features Connery’s coolest and most polished performance as 007.
I agree, I probably watch Thunderball or even YOLT more often -but this one remains the absolute gold standard for the series and will forever be remembered as an iconic part of Cinema History!
Gold standard....now why didn't I use that???
From Russia With Love is my favourite Connery
It's amazing!
Interesting argument. Certainly generally is the rule except for Brosnan's third. Don't mean to offend anyone but 'The World is Not Enough' was not Brosnan's stride film..... Was it?
I'm with you on that, although many people love TWINE, it's just not for me.
Brosnan was totally at east in the role much like Connery in Goldfinger it's also my fave Brosnan after Goldeneye.
TWINE is my personal favorite Brosnan movie! Does it have some massive issues? YES! but It has such an interesting villain.
We have a hearty discussion on TWINE coming up!
TWINE is not one of the best Bond movie imho but it has one of best PTS of all Bond movies for sure.
After watching this I realized I watch this movie the least of the Connery’s 🤣 you guys open the minds of us Bond fans 🤣🤣🤣
I don't know if anyone has already made this point in the comments here. Guy Hamilton was very deliberate about Bond being captive for so long. Both to emphasize how formidable Goldfinger and his organization were and because Hamilton felt Bond was in danger of becoming a 'superhero'.
I always put it on for the theme song, and stay for the film!
LOL! Perfect!
Looking forward to this review guys. 👍
I'm saying ahead of watching this video....yes 3rd movie is their best. Certainly most settled, in the role.
What's up my bud. Goldfinger is good but I enjoyed You Only Live Twice and Thunderball and I recently have to add From Russia With Love as better than Goldfinger.
@@greatwuta Hey!👋 Yep, all the Bond movies have their merits...& minus points, thats why we're fans. I'll see ya in the next live chat mate.
Yes, they are comfortable it seems...
Goldfinger is awesome, Barry's music really sets the jaunty mood
Great description of the sisters Joe.
Yeah, he nailed it!
Id say this is very possibly true.
Connery- Goldfinger is great(not my favorite), Bond was at the top and Connery looked his best during this movie. Id say this is very true for this movie
he did look good!
Agree that this is further down my list of Connery films, still good but not one I come back to. You both summed up how I feel about this one pretty perfectly
Cool!
Connery has never looked better then in Goldfinger.
To summarise Connery's bond film carreer.
Dr No he was hungry
FRWL he was at is most physical
Thunderball he was Glamorous
YOLT thinking life beyond bond
Diamond's are forever he was visually bored and in it for the money.
Still the best bond by a mile.
WOW, great breakdown!
He donated his entire fee for Diamonds to an acting school in Scotland
Great discussion, guys! As you continue this series, you should also address the theory that every actor's third performance as Bond is their best, even if it's not their best movie. Keep it up!
@Randy White I think that most people feel that it was, myself included. Though even if they came to the conclusion it wasn't, they would simply be disproving the theory in that instance...But it's still a standing theory worth discussing.
Goldfinger established the template of pleasing elements for future Bond films. Connery was best Bond in my opinion. And that car. Fantastic. I own 3 Aston Martins, Corgi models on my book shelves!!!! Lucky you David, you've got the real thing. Great discussion. Hope you do more on the movies and books.
More to come for sure...!
It's Connery's 4th best after FRWL, Thunderball and Dr. No.
As a slightly younger Bond fan (30) I've always felt like Goldfinger is overhyped. It has all the touchstones for a Bond movie, but it feels uneven to me. And I think Connery's Bond was a bit too cavalier through the entire film. Not chipper, per se but like you guys said, too cocky.
Interesting to get the 30s point of view...thanks!
Goldfinger is pretty good, it was my favorite for a long time, but From Russia with Love is better and is the best Connery Bond film for me.
Great film, probably my Connery favourite. It has all the ingredients that make a great Bond film. The car, the theme song, the villain and henchman are some of the series best.
The only thing that lets the film down is Pussy Galour and her fly circus. It just seems really dated now.
That aside, it still holds up as a great film.
Great points!
I watched this video probably for the third time, since i love these, but still i don't get how you put this film down. This is one of the greatest bond films, definetly the most iconic and it is a lot of fun. To me it seems like the typical fanboy phenomenon where you don't love the one that all the casual fans love because everybody loves it and as a fan you go like ah this one is better and blablabla...
Most notably its the 1st time Connery wore a hair piece. Look carefully you can see it.
I thought he wore a hair piece ever since Dr No?
@@RighteousBrother Hi, Its my understanding that he didn't for the 1st two movies. Goldfinger onwards he did. Theres shots were it doesn't look quite natural imo. Its by no means a criticism just an observation. Compare how Connery hair is in DAF and he's other film The Anderson Tapes both 1971. The latter is the 1st movie Connery doesn't wear a hairpiece. According to the Imdb trivia section. 👍
I kind of did notice that...
very nice video. i like the discussion of movies with joe and david.
Thanks!
Hi guys I have to pop to work so I'm gonna watch this tonight with some alcohol ,hope Joe does more bond trivial pursuits really enjoyed them ,just wanted to ask if you guys had seen on TH-cam license to kill as a romantic comedy whoever made this trailer is awesome ,so anyway thanks can't wait to see this review when I get home
I haven't seen that but I will now!
Agree with Joe - Kamal Khan is hugely underrated and (possibly also with Scaramanga) the only time Moore is out-classed and out-smoothed.
Goldfinger features the best villain of the entire series and that is Auric Goldfinger. Unlike the other villains who want Bond dead for the sake of convenience, Auric hated Bond because the latter attracted women so easily. Auric knew he was repulsive so he overcompensated for short comings by hiring women to be seen with him. On top of that, he had grotesque fetish for gold. Simply put, everything about Goldfinger is ugly. This "ugliness" is precisely what is missing in many Bond villains. They exhibited no real human emotions and lacked the psychological make up that made a villain like Goldfinger fascinating. I'd say the only other Bond villain that had emotional baggage is Klaus Maria Brandauer as Largo. Even though Domino loved him at first, you get the feeling that he could never properly reciprocate that love. There is something quite pathetic about Largo spying on Domino when the latter was with her dance instructor and that is something you don't see in other Bond villains.
What shoes is Sean wearing on the Laser table? Black, ankle, elastic, no laces?
Well, here's my 2 cents....
The global monopoly called the "Cold War" was happening.
The "Space Race" was started by a young President who less then twenty years earlier was fighting in W.W.2.
He also happened to enjoy books by a author, Ian Fleming.
The culture in our country was defining
as the "Jet Set" became capable to the country.
The song,Goldfinger "he,loves only gold"
were lyrics all could understand.
A huge movie then and now, could the franchise survive without it
if it was never made?
It was and is the most important, as we say now "Bond Film".
It’s impossible for anyone in the 21st Century to watch “Goldfinger” and truly appreciate what a cinematic masterpiece it was at the time. So much that was fresh and original in the movie has been copied and done to death by all the other action movies that followed. The rapid-cuts and fast pace of action movies today all started with the early Bond movies, and “Goldfinger” set the standard for the entire genre. Despite moving at a furious pace, it manages (unlike so many other action movies) to maintain a coherent and logical plot.
There were so many new and innovative ideas in this movie. In 1964 most people had never heard of lasers or karate or skin suffocation or plastic explosives. No movie had ever featured a tricked-out car like the Aston, a finale with a setting like Fort Knox, a hero that made jokes after killing someone, a character with a name like Pussy Galore, a henchman like Oddjob, a megalomaniac like Goldfinger, or all the unique ways of killing people: electrocuting a villain in a bathtub, painting a woman gold, a lethal “throwing hat", nerve gas, sucking a villain out a depressurized plane window ... All new to cinematic audiences at the time; all passé now. It really had to be seen at the time it was released.
Unlike so many of the movies that followed, “Goldfinger” is the perfect blend of the real and the fantastic. It isn’t dark and brooding and un-fun like the Daniel Craig movies, or ridiculous semi-comedies like some of the Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan films. “Goldfinger” is finely balanced, managing to retain a realistic feel despite the implausible plot. It delivers laughs without ever descending into comedy, and despite the light mood of much of the movie, the plot seems serious, the villains are genuinely menacing, and the viewer feels Bond is in real danger. This is not an easy balance for any movie to achieve, and “Goldfinger” does so perfectly.
That’s freaking hilarious! 😂 Dude! Not the onesie 😂 This has officially taken us into a cosplay discussion😂
I will at least give credit to your unrelenting dedication to James Bond fandom🎩
Thunderball was the most complete Bond movie because it started out as a script -book- script. OHMSS is my favourite, especsilly music. You Only Live Twice my second one.
Goldfinger's pacing is fine. Look at Spectre and how they put the "Michael Bay" quick cut shakycam epilepsy-inducing editing and action scenes into it. I'm fine with Goldfinger in that context.
I think the word Joe was looking for to describe the best Bond villains is "charming", and I agree, especially when they play the gracious host on that first meeting with Bond.
Love Goldfinger but Dr. No is my favorite Connery film.
Dr. No is a good film but it's plain.
Classic!
Best Bond movie ever. To say there was a lull is ridiculous. I dunno...I suppose people who rate a Bond movie based upon how many action sequences there are would not rate this movie highly. This movie runs with mood, characterization and plot...much like the two previous outings, the flow of the plot is extremely Hitchcockian. It starts small then builds and builds and builds. It begins with cheating at cards, gold smuggling and we are more than 2/3 of the way through before we find out what is really going on. I think the golf game alone did more for this movie than any other altercation between Bond and a villain in terms of making the villain come alive as an individual. And the use of the background music is near operatic. Consider Oddjob's pressing engagement...it begins with the Bond theme in action but is immediately dominated by a hugely triumphant sequence of Goldfinger...the two motifs spar and Goldfinger's theme unquestionably wins just as Bond's one effort with the homer in Solo'spocket is casually destroyed by Goldfinegr's machinations. This arguably has the least action of any Bond movie, but for me that is a blessing more than a flaw. For me TWINE would have profited immensely from this approach...TWINE had a great core plot (a Goldfinger derivative in its way much like AVTAK), two great conceptual villains...but both plot and villains are hedged away into a corner to make room for over the top unbelievable action sequences which logically make no sense within the greater context of the plot. What should have been Bronan'senst movie for me is his worst...I rate it in the bottom 3...because guaranteed one-every-15-minutes-action-sequences take over the movie. If you watch how slowly paced Dr. No and Goldfinger are in terms of Bond unveiling what is going on and how clearly the plots of the villains are revealed to the audience through suspense and characterization...again Hitchcockian in execution, then compare these films on the same terms to TWINE. For me to rely on action to keep the audience interested is far more of a confession of weakness than a strength. I could go on...I could probably write a thesis on this point, but I hope you take my point...though action free...Goldfinger flows smoothly and without a single dull moment....each scene is there for a reason...no filler action, and the masterful use of both dialogue and suspense for me at least are unrivaled by any other Bond movie. I am old enough that I saw all of the Bond films in the theater...most of the Connery's were not first run, but I did see all of them on the big screen before any of them hit the TV. I was maybe 12 or 13 when I saw Goldfinger in the Hempstead theater with Dr. No. I went back 2 more times that week. I had no problems understanding who was who and what was going on. . I was in my early forties when I saw TWINE and if I blinked at the wrong moment I would not know what was going on. This was a trend that began I think in the Moore years in which Bond finding out what was going on was given the shortest of moments of screen time just to jump back into another over-the-top action sequence. Moonraker is especially egregious in this..Bond jumps from California to Italy to Rio...supposedly each stop a link to the path to Drax's Mayan temple rocket base...yet look how little time is spent on each discovery as opposed to action sequences in each location. Another great aspect of Goldfinger is that Bond had not yet become super Bond in this movie...he could be helpless...he could be wrong he could &^%$ up...in other words, he was still human. Super Bond would begin to emerge with Thunderball...to understand what I mean consider Bond being dressed down by M early in the movie for clearly screwing the pooch with GF with Jill paying the price. Now look at Thunderball..Bond gets his assignment and he respectfully requests it be changed...because he is Bond and only he knows the real right thing to do in all cases. They actually had to alter Fleming's plot no less than three times for the worse to make this perception of Band as Super-Bond to happen Firstly in the novel Bond had no idea Shrublands was related to Spectre and the theft of the bombs. No...because in the novel it actually was Domino's brother who stole the bomber...there was no plastic surgery sub-plot...Lippe was only there to send the ransom note...his hospitalization delayed the actual theft until a night of a full moon which allowed faint echoes of the bomber heading south upon nearing the America's which made M himself after much consideration zoom in on the Bahamas as the destination to send Bond. Secondly, it was actually Felix Leiter and not Bond...although Bond did have all the facts...who actually figured out Lippe's role in the plot. Lastly, when Bond saw the Tong sign on Lippe's hand, he did not recognize it...he called Moneypenny and she identified it for him as opposed to his calling her to confirm it was a tong sign and her brushing him off. In short in the novels Bond was fallible and his supporting cast was there for a reason and not just as a cheering section. This aspect of the Bond formula would only grow through the decades to the extent that Bond now typically has to go rogue in each movie because only HE knows the real right thing that is going on and only HE, Super Bond, can do the real right thing to prevent it. When you think about it only once in all Fleming'snovel did he come close to going rogue, and that was in OHMSS when he and Draco's men stormed Piz Gloria...and in the novel, it was with M's full blessing, but of course even as early as the movie OHMSS, Bond knew better than M because...well by now he was Super Bond although I will admit this aspect was mostly toned down for this movie which was otherwise one of if not the most faithful adaptation fo a Fleming plot. Now would I say Fleming must never be altered as I agree that the film Goldfinger significantly improved upon Auric's purpose for his Fort Knox strike. But at the same time this instance totally justifies, I think, my position that the concept of Super Bond does not help the franchise. Without Pussy Galore and the FDR looking guy in the end who came in and prevented Bond from detonating the Bomb, Goldfinger would have won. For me Goldfinger is the best fo the Bonds in large parts because of time spent establishing characterization, making the plot engaging, not relying on action sequences to hold the attention of the audience but rather on dialogue and character development and because James is not 100% in control at all times...he is a person...a highly skilled one to be sure, but not a superhuman. And I really really am so very tired of Bond going rogue every single movie now because only HE...Super Bond...well you get the idea by now I hope.
Well regarding Thunderballs climax, a battle underwater should be slow. It fits the environment. I love every second of it and I like the contrast between the underwater battle and the high pace showdown at Disco Volante just a few minutes later.
Good point...!
IIRC, Drax also cheated at cards at M’s club.
Great discussion!
Thanks!
Goldfinger is a bit more low key, thus more realistic. 👍
Good sit down discussion of the film
Thanks!
And I learned a new word: schlub. Growing up in the PNW with Scandinavians that word never came up. I had to Google it.
Use it well, my friend!
I bet David’s wife demands him to wear that “onesie” on occasion.
Lol
If only!
You know they role play 😉
I think You Only Live Twice is Connery‘s best!
Great discussion guys. I think it's fair to say that the franchise and Connery hit their stride here; but it's not the best film and not Connery's best performance. If that makes any sense. I enjoy it and it just makes my Top Ten. From Russia is my favorite Connery Bond film.
Dr No is the starter
FRWL is the main course
Goldfinger is the dessert
Thunderball is the coffee and brandy
YOLT is the box of chocolates you shouldn't have but do to finish the evening
The beauty of Goldfinger is it has all of the ingredients of a great Bond film and was the first to do it. The glam, the sets, the plot, gadgets and the camera work. It just oozes class. The time spent on the development between Bond and Goldfinger is what catches you. It isnt just a villain you find about at the end, there is a chase all of the way through. The final scene with Bond, the bomb and Oddjob is iconic. Not my favourite Connery film as that is FRWL, but my go to if I want to watch a good all round Bond movie.
Exactly!
I will always have a soft spot for Goldfinger as it was the first Bond film I can remember watching as a child. It was on UK TV one Christmas day back in the 1970s. The word iconic seemed be have been invented for this movie. Everything about this film is so memorable. The plot. The Villain. The Bond Girls. The gadgets. Every scene plays out almost as a blueprint for future Bond films to come. I feel this movie is the pinnacle of the Bond franchise. If the Bond movies were a mountain range then in my opinion Live and Let Die and Casino Royale would stand alongside Goldfinger as the highest peaks. I could watch you guys all day discussing Bond. Thank you for brightening up a rainy day in England...
Happy to brighten up the day!
Great seeing you two together in this one David and Joe! I saw Goldfinger at the London Pavilion when it first came out and was already gripped by 007 since Dr No. pure escapism and it really hit you when you came out in the cold London night after the film and into reality. No videos no DVD and no picking the scenes to bits in trailers which they do even before the film comes out showing you how the stunts were done. We now know that Connery never left England for any of the scenes - Miami was a set at Pinewood - the car chase was woodland area around Pinewood and the studios themselves was the set for the lead up to when he crashes. I do believe the “ Kentucky scenes” were also England. Nevertheless it set up all the templates for future films and nothing can diminish the pulverising adrenaline rush I got when the gun barrel blasted across the screen. How disrespectful EON have been interfering with the gun barrel recently in my view in order to massage the egos of directors who want to break the mould. I also wish David Arnold would return. Keep on doing what you do the chemistry between you is wonderful!
Thank you so much...these are truly a pleasure for us.
In Goldfinger I've always wondered what the deal was with the guy attacking Bond while he's necking on with the woman. Was he a spectre footsoldier who knew Bond was in town? Was he the girl's bf/husband (in which case Bond probably shouldn't be shocked)? Was he just a mugger who wanted to nick Bond's stuff and this is their hustle?
Does anyone know? Did Bond simply kill some little two-bit criminal?
I think the only reason Thunderball did so well was because of how good Goldfinger was. It is an absolute shell of a film compared to the first 3!
Goldfinger talks to the mobsters because he’s bragging and he wants an audience. Even if he’s going to kill them after. That’s why he says he quite enjoyed it too.
Now why he removed solo, I don’t know
Good point!
I always assumed Goldfinger's talk to the mobsters was him doing a "sanity test" of the plan to see if the gangsters raised any issues. Fresh pairs of eyes and all that, before he killed them.
If you dont take it too seriously its a lot of fun. I think the first hour is flawless it goes off the rails a bit after that. I used to think this was overrated and didnt watch it often but its grew on me quite a bit on this rewatch.
Great discussion, guys. I like Goldfinger but I dont love it. I think Dr No, FRWL and Thunderball are better movies overall and have better performances from Connery. However, Goldfinger himself is my favourite Bond villain. Gert Frobe was just such a magnificent, evil and very human villain. Goldfinger fir me is definitely an overrated Bond entry but it most certainly has amazing and fantastic elements. Barry's Bond back in action again is gloriously captures that suspenseful spy sound, Bassey's belting of the title song is the benchmark of all Bond theme songs and the women were very progressive given the time.
All that being sud, Goldfinger is the film that took Bond more into a commercial direction and started introducing more outlandish and cartoony elements. From the moment we see Bond emerging from the water with a duck on his head is the moment they said goodbye to the more straight, hardboiled approach of Dr No and FRWL. In any case Goldfinger is definitely amongst the most iconic films in cinema history and is definitely the most iconic Bond film of all time.
Really great summation!
As a movie and Bond fan, I find Goldfinger to be a very well made movie. It is just a good movie and aged better than the other Conerry movie. I grew up in the 70s and 80s and Goldfinger was always fun and exciting compared to the other 60s Bond films. It was a movie that was ahead of its time and is still one of the Bond movie I enjoy the most.
The fort knox battle was the worst. Btw Connery wore the suit from golfinger in the movie - finding Forester, in my opinion his best role.
Don’t think the third movie theory works with Brosnan as Goldneye was easily his best one, and his best performance . I can see why people think it for the other actors (even though I prefer Casino Royale to Skyfall, think Craig’s best performance was in CR too)
That discussion is a coming! :)
YES ! Connery is the BEST !
GOLDFINGER is a classic. I have a friend who was friends with honor blackman and have her autograph. But its my personal favourite, along with dr no. From Russia With Love, i first found boring as a child, but ive grown to like it more over the years. But its not my favourite. I know its Connery's favourite.
It's a good one!
I saw this film in 1964 when i was 8 with my dad,there was nothing better on tv or the cinema thats why it was so great .It's alright compairing it to Casino Royale or Goldeneye 40 years later, even at 10 years old i thought Thunderball was to long, and the underwater scenes boring and we got the man from u.n.c.l.e. thanks to Goldfinger in 1964
Goldfinger is "slow"? Then From Russia With Love must be like a Time Stop spell from Dungeons & Dragons.
Somebody made a wise comment once saying... "Sean Connery wasn't playing Bond, he was just playing as himself." This is most valid in Goldfinger, where his casualness overshadows an even bigger problem... he's a RUBBISH agent in this film. He fails to protect two females under his protection, crashes his expensive government car in a enemy base, and gets captured TWICE.
LOL....some valid points!
The weak link is Pushy Galore actress. I would've preferred the Jill Masterson actress as Pushy.
Goldfinger is certainly iconic but it put the franchise on the wrong trend of treating things more casually and the material missing the edge of the first two, which I think are superior.
You Only Live Twice is the Second Best Bond film after Dr. No. The opening scene in Hong Kong, the burial at sea, the whole Japan thing...it's got far more going for it. Goldfinger has great Connery moments but seems to be trying too hard...
You like Dr. No more than You Only Live Twice.
@@greatwuta Just the opening half, the ending just sort of peters out. You Only Live Twice is under-rated.
@@walawala888 You Only Live Twice is my favorite Connery 007 film and my 5th favorite James Bond film.
@@greatwuta Solid comment. Connery is epic in YOLT. The use of the theme in Mad Men...genius. I rate the Bond films as to how they were lampooned in the Austin Powers series. YOLT stands out.
Joe; you look a lot better with longer hair and a beard. More cooler, distinguished, relaxed. Keep it up
Yes it's Connerys best , he has never looked better, or been more comfortable in the roll ...the story has all the elements and key points , direction and cast are bang on the nail ... Killer movie from start to end yes it mixes up the pace ... But ... Love it ...From Russia with Love is damn close and a straighter character portrayal from the book ( my favourite ) but Goldfinger pushes the bar higher ... As it should have done ...I met Guy Hamilton , amazing man .... The character and longevity of the series is down to a few Key directors ... Terence Young was the key , Mr Hamilton and Lewis Gilbert and later Martin Campbell, Sam Mendes (x1) ...Massive responsibility ... To reach the heights of the Connery era ... That's what they all are measured against . Great work and discussion chaps. Thanks CN
With pleasure!
Sadly, this IS considered the quintessential Bond film. From Russia With Love is the far superior film, but it’s the “boring” one. When outsiders think of Bond, this is the kind of thing they think of. Cheesy, over the top silliness and campiness. I wish the series had gone in the other direction, but on a Saturday afternoon with a glass of wine when you’re feeling no pain, this is good.
Thunderball is the best Connery film. FRWL and Goldfinger are competing for the second and third position imo
No argument there.
I’ve recently started watching all the films again, with one each day. I’ve actually found that out of the first 3 movies, Goldfinger is my least favorite (apart from the soundtrack as it’s just beautiful).
Top 3 for me
Davie don't hide the chicken legs, they just make the arms look bigger!! :)
No discussion about one of the greatest henchmen in a Bond film?