Goldfinger (1964)

Director:

Guy Hamilton

Writers:

Richard Maibaum (screenplay) &
Paul Dehn (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

9 January 1965 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Thriller

Tagline:

Miss Honey and Miss Galore Have James Bond Back For More!

Plot:

Investigating a gold magnate's smuggling, James Bond uncovers a plot to contaminate the Fort Knox gold reserve.

Plot Keywords:

Gold | Fort Knox | Pilot | Hat | British

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 4 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Sean Connery	...	James Bond
Honor Blackman	...	Pussy Galore
Gert Fröbe	...	Auric Goldfinger (as Gert Frobe)
Shirley Eaton	...	Jill Masterson
Tania Mallet	...	Tilly Masterson
Harold Sakata	...	Oddjob (as Harold Sakata 'Tosh Togo')
Bernard Lee	...	M
Martin Benson	...	Solo
Cec Linder	...	Felix Leiter
Austin Willis	...	Simmons
Lois Maxwell	...	Miss Moneypenny
Bill Nagy	...	Midnight
Michael Mellinger	...	Kisch
Peter Cranwell	...	Johnny
Nadja Regin	...	Bonita
Richard Vernon	...	Smithers
Burt Kwouk	...	Mr. Ling
Desmond Llewelyn	...	Q
Mai Ling	...	Mei-Lei
Varley Thomas	...	Swiss Gatekeeper
Margaret Nolan	...	Dink
John McLaren	...	Brigadier
Robert MacLeod	...	Atomic Specialist (as Robert Macleod)
Victor Brooks	...	Blacking
Alf Joint	...	Capungo
Gerry Duggan	...	Hawker
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Peter Brace	...	South American Guard (uncredited)
Terence Brook	...	Security Officer at Airport (uncredited)
Anthony Chinn	...	Servant at Stud Farm (uncredited)
Marian Collins	...	Girlfriend of Goldfinger (uncredited)
Michael Collins	...	Auric Goldfinger (voice) (uncredited)
Denis Cowles	...	Brunskill (uncredited)
Hal Galili	...	Mr. Strap (uncredited)
Caron Gardner	...	Flying Circus Pilot (uncredited)
Lesley Hill	...	Flying Circus Pilot (uncredited)
George Leech	...	Man in Bulletproof Vest at Q Branch (uncredited)
Garry Marshall	...	Hoodlum (uncredited)
Aleta Morrison	...	Flying Circus Pilot (uncredited)
Tricia Muller	...	Sydney (uncredited)
Lenny Rabin	...	American Gangster (uncredited)
Janette Rowsell	...	Chambermaid (uncredited)
Bob Simmons	...	James Bond in Gunbarrel Sequence (uncredited)
Les Tremayne	...	Radio Newsman (voice) (uncredited)
Michael G. Wilson	...	Soldier at Fort Knox (uncredited)
Maggie Wright	...	Air Squadron Leader (uncredited)
Raymond Young	...	Sierra (uncredited)

Directed by
Guy Hamilton

Writing credits
Richard Maibaum		(screenplay) &
Paul Dehn		(screenplay)
Ian Fleming		(novel) uncredited

Produced by
Albert R. Broccoli	....	producer
Harry Saltzman	....	producer
Stanley Sopel	....	associate producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
John Barry

Cinematography by
Ted Moore		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Peter R. Hunt		(as Peter Hunt)

Production Design by
Ken Adam

Art Direction by
Peter Murton

Makeup Department
Basil Newall	....	makeup artist
Paul Rabiger	....	makeup artist
Eileen Warwick	....	hairdresser

Production Management
L.C. Rudkin	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frank Ernst	....	assistant director
Richard Jenkins	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Michael G. Wilson	....	third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Freda Pearson	....	set dresser
Maurice Pelling	....	assistant art director
Michael White	....	assistant art director
John Chisholm	....	prop man (uncredited)
Peter Lamont	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
Ron Quelch	....	production buyer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gordon K. McCallum	....	sound recordist (as Gordon McCallum)
Dudley Messenger	....	sound recordist
Harry Miller	....	dubbing editor
Norman Wanstall	....	dubbing editor
Charlie McFadden	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Otto Snel	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Frank George	....	special effects assistant
John Stears	....	special effects
Wally Armitage	....	special effects (uncredited)
Joe Fitt	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Fred Heather	....	special effects (uncredited)
Garth Inns	....	special effects (uncredited)
Bert Luxford	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Jimmy Ward	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
William Creighton	....	carpenter: Fort Knox model (uncredited)
Cliff Culley	....	optical effects supervisor (uncredited)
Roy Field	....	visual effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Bob Simmons	....	action sequences by
Peter Brace	....	stunts (uncredited)
Peter Brayham	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ken Buckle	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tim Condren	....	stunts (uncredited)
Phyllis Cornell	....	stunt double: Tania Mallet (uncredited)
Gerry Crampton	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Cummings	....	stunts (uncredited)
Cliff Diggins	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Eddon	....	stunts (uncredited)
Richard Graydon	....	stunts (uncredited)
Arthur Howell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Alf Joint	....	stunt double: Sean Connery (uncredited)
George Leech	....	stunt double: Sean Connery (uncredited)
George Leech	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
George Leech	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jimmy Lodge	....	stunts (uncredited)
Peter Munt	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terence Plummer	....	stunts (uncredited)
Nosher Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terry Richards	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Sawyer	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Simmons	....	stunt double: Michael Mellinger (uncredited)
Bob Simmons	....	stunts (uncredited)
Roy Street	....	stunts (uncredited)
Rocky Taylor	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
John Winbolt	....	camera operator
David Watkin	....	cinematographer: title sequence (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Elsa Fennell	....	wardrobe supervisor
John Hilling	....	wardrobe master
Eileen Sullivan	....	wardrobe mistress

Editorial Department
Ben Rayner	....	assembly editor

Music Department
John Barry	....	conductor
Shirley Bassey	....	singer: title song
Leslie Bricusse	....	lyrics: title song
Anthony Newley	....	lyrics: title song
Monty Norman	....	composer: The "James Bond" theme
Vic Flick	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)
Bobby Graham	....	musician: drums (uncredited)
Sidney Margo	....	music contractor (uncredited)

Other crew
Albert R. Broccoli	....	presenter
Robert Brownjohn	....	title designer
Charles Russhon	....	technical adviser
Harry Saltzman	....	presenter
Constance Willis	....	continuity girl
Charles Russhon	....	government liaison: USA (uncredited)
Charles Russhon	....	military liaison: Kentucky (uncredited)
Pierre Salinger	....	liaison: USA (uncredited)
Bob Simmons	....	body double: James Bond, in opening sequence (uncredited)
Terence Young	....	director: pre-production (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Eon Productions (as An Eon Production)

Distributors

• United Artists Corporation (1964) (UK) (theatrical) (released by) (as United Artists Corp.)
• United Artists (1964) (USA) (theatrical)
• Les Artistes Associés S.A.B. (1964) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1964) (Australia) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1964) (Italy) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1965) (France) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1965) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• C.B. Films (1965) (Spain) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1972) (USA) (TV)
• Park Circus (2007) (UK) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1964) (Norway) (theatrical)
• Tuschinski Film Distribution (1964) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (as Nova)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2000) (Australia) (DVD) (Special Edition)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (Brazil) (DVD) (Special Edition)
• 20th Century Fox Video (1982) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (Greece)
• CBS/Fox Home Video (1983) (USA) (video)
• CBS/Fox (USA) (laserdisc)
• Criterion Collection, The (USA) (laserdisc)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (1981) (USA) (TV) (cable television)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2000) (UK) (DVD) (Special Edition)
• MGM Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• RCA (1981) (USA) (video) (Selectavision videodisc)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (2006) (worldwide) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Australia) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (UK) (DVD) (Ultimate Edition)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (West Germany)
• Warner Home Video (1983) (Australia) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (Germany) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• C.T.S. Studios  music recorded by (as C.T.S. Studios, London)
• Capitol Records  soundtrack (CD only) (uncredited)
• United Artists Records  soundtrack (LP only) (uncredited)

Also Known As:

Gold Finger (International: English title) (alternative spelling)
Ian Fleming's Goldfinger (UK) (complete title)

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Singapore:PG | Canada:13+ (Quebec) (original rating) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) (re-rating) (2003) | Iceland:12 | Ireland:PG | West Germany:16 (nf) | South Korea:15 | New Zealand:M | Spain:18 | Portugal:M/12 | Canada:PG (video rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Netherlands:12 (video rating) | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (original rating) | Peru:14 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG (video rating) | USA:Approved (certificate #20808) | USA:GP (re-rating) (1971) | USA:PG (re-rating) (1994) | UK:A (original rating) (cut) | Brazil:14

Filming Locations:

Andermatt, Uri, Switzerland

Company:

Eon Productions

Trivia:

Equipment and gadgetry was developed for the Aston Martin car which was not used in the finished movie. This included: Front and back over-riders for jamming other vehicles; a weapon's tray under the driver's seat; a headlights chamber containing triple-spiked nail clusters for firing at enemies, a radio telephone inside the driver's door paneling, and a thermos with a built-in hand grenade.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: As the Lincoln Continental supposedly containing Martin Solo's body is being crushed, we can clearly see that the back seat (where Solo was sitting when he was shot) is empty.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Sierra: Congratulations.
James Bond: Thank you.
Sierra: Mr. Ramirez and his friends will be out of business.
James Bond: At least they won't be using heroin flavored bananas to finance revolutions.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "House M.D.: Here Kitty (#5.18)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Goldfinger

The superlative James Bond film

First of all, I must state for the record, Sean Connery is THE James Bond. Even though the first Bond film I ever saw was "For Your Eyes Only" with Roger Moore. I was very young and very much drawn in. I have seen every one of the Bond films and without a doubt, "Goldfinger" is the finest the 007 saga has to offer.

Before I had begun an appreciation of the Connery films, i.e. before I'd seen them, a good friend and cartooning mentor, Ross Paperman, sorted me out. He helped me see how Connery's Bond was suave and sophisticated but also demonstrated a quality the other Bonds do not portray: fear. Not a panicky soil-your-pants kind of fear, mind you. But Connery's Bond actually has a few anxious, sweat-soaked-brow moments. A perfect example is when Bond is strapped to a table as Goldfinger's captive with a laser beam primed to cut him in half. 007 has to think fast. "Do you expect me to talk?" "No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!" A famous scene and line from Bond's most enjoyable film.

Perhaps what makes the earlier films more enjoyable is that they had fresh, innovative elements that have now become cliché and gimmicky. The new films are often stale and already covered ground and they don't even appear to be trying anymore.

But it's more than that. Even watching "Goldfinger" today, having seen all the latest in special effects and technology that Hollywood has to offer, it still is riveting and thoroughly entertaining. That is also without the added advantage of being overly nostalgic about "Goldfinger". How could I? I hadn't even been born when it first hit theaters, and it was far from my first 007 experience. The story, the characters and the fun of "Goldfinger" is timeless and if given a chance could probably rope in a whole new generation of fans. It just doesn't seem likely to happen.

Much of the satire from the Austin Powers films is directly derived from the Connery films, especially "Goldfinger" and "Dr. No", proving their lasting effect on popular culture. As well, John Barry's scores from the Connery films are finding their way into the ears of a new generation through pop music as snippets from his soundtracks are sampled by such artists as Robbie Williams, Mono and Curve, to name a few.

But if by some fluke you read this and you haven't seen "Goldfinger" yet, do yourself right and acquaint yourself with the real James Bond. You'll probably be hooked by the time you hear Shirley Bassey's voice in the famous opening theme.