Goldfinger Review- By Michael J. Carlisle

Title Goldfinger
Year: 1964
Director: Guy Hamilton
Country: UK
Language: English

Created by Ian Fleming in 1953, The James Bond series revolves around a fictional British Secret Service agent. Fleming originally featured him in twelve novels, but since inception the character has also been adapted for television, radio, comic strip, video games and film. The films are the longest continually running and the third-highest grossing film series to date. They started in 1962 with Dr.No starring Sean Connery and as of 2015 are still remaining strong. Twenty three pictures have been made, the greatest universally considered as being 1964's Goldfinger. 

In Bond's third outing, his  mission takes him to Fort Knox, where Auric Goldfinger (Gert Frobe) and his henchman are planning to raid Fort Knox and obliterate the world economy. To save the world once again, Bond will need to become friends with Goldfinger, dodge killer hats and avoid Goldfinger's personal pilot, the sexy Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman) 

James Bond has remained a durable character mainly because he has not swayed too far from Fleming's original conception. While Dr. Who gets rebooted time and time again, Bond remains the suave mysterious figure we've known since the 60's, even when he is played by a variety of actors. The series is known for its dazzling opening title sequences, which consists alluring and sexual images in Goldfinger and is combined with Shirley Bassey's haunting vocals. 

Only a 60's Bond flick can get away with naming a female character "Pussy Galore". As you can guess, Goldfinger is ripe with sexual innuendo and visual teasing. There are no extended sex scenes in the Bond pictures, only preludes and epilogues. The sex is hinted at with cute puns and sexual innuendo, but never discussed explicitly. All the Bond movies have featured stunning women, but they are never nude (at least in the movies). Even 21st Century Bond, which has less restrictions regarding censorship, isn't as overtly sexual as it is allowed to be. 

The seemingly primitive 60's special effects are still quite breathtaking. The script is well written, containing a perfect blend of wit and drama. "Do you expect me to talk?", "No, I expect you to die!" Perhaps Bond is a greater character in this film because he at his most vulnerable. He doesn't easily beat the bad guy and he isn't able to save the people he loves. I was relieved by how short the running time was. It kept Goldfinger at a tight, pulse pounding pace that left me wanting more from this series. Praise it! 4/5