Product Description

Format: DVD Jan 1997 Rated PG Recording Mode: (unknown) Sound: THX, HiFi 111 min. Color Movie Description In James Bond's third cinematic adventure, the dangerously suave spy (Sean Connery) must stop the criminal capitalist Auric Goldfinger (Gert Frobe) from contaminating Fort Knox's gold with atomic radiation. Aiding the villain is the alluring Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman) and the imposing Oddjob (Harold Sakata). Bond, on the other hand, is armed with his trademark charm and, of course, a slew of gadgets, courtesy of Q (Desmond Llewelyn). Encountering the usual bevy of beautiful women and perilous traps, 007 sets out for America to foil Goldfinger's financial fiasco. Based on Ian Fleming's 1959 novel, GOLDFINGER marks the appearance of a more carefree, wisecracking Bond and is widely considered to be one of the best films in the series. In fact, with stylized elements such as the gold-painted girl, the wince-inducing laser beam, Oddjob's razor-sharp bowler hat, and Bond's modified Aston Martin car, the film is quite possibly the most memorable Bond outing, and would be famously parodied decades later in the AUSTIN POWERS series, particularly GOLDMEMBER. Credits Cast: Sean Connery Director: Guy Hamilton Film Notes DVD Features: Region 1 Encoding Keep Case Theatrical release: December 25, 1964. Shot in Technicolor.

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Customer Reviews

The BEST James Bond Film
GOLDFINGER is a very good movie. Perhaps it is the best James Bond film of he entire series. This one film contains many definitive aspects of all the James Bond films in the series. GOLDFINGER is very different from its two predecessors. The level of sophistication is much higher. Visually it is more stunning and is lavishly produced establishing a high standard for many of the cinematic elements associated with a James Bond film. Sean Connery gives his most sophisticated and distinguished performance as James Bond in GOLDFINGER. His friendly and easygoing approach in this film combined with his look of determination and confidence, wit, charm and a physical dexterity all add to his arsenal for self-preservation in order to see the job of eliminating the opposition to fruition. Even the main villain Goldfinger, who is more menacing and cunningly diabolical than his predecessors, is given greater depth by screenwriters Richard Maibaum and Paul Dehn. Gert Frobe's performance and visual presence as Goldfinger is one of the highlights of this film and the series. He is a constant menace to Bond as they play a cat and mouse game throughout the film. The intriguing golf game is a highlight of their confrontation. Once again another distinctive element to the Bond formula is introduced during the golf game in the form of Oddjob, the main villain's henchman who kills his victims with a steal edged bowler hat. Returning to Richard Maibaum and Paul Dehn, it can be seen that the script of GOLDFINGER is perhaps the best structured and balanced giving the plot elements, action sequences and the familiar Bond gadgets integrated treatment producing a solid story. Their script is also rich with character development meticulously incorporated into the story, which is never intrusive to the film's flow but is part of the cohesiveness of all the visuals skillfully directed by Guy Hamilton and expertly edited together by Peter Hunt. Of those visuals it is Production Designer Ken Adam's distinctive set designs that also help define the film's "Bond look" where he creates a unique look of functionally modern almost futuristic sets that dominate the screen with his iconic style. Cinematographer Ted Moore did some of his best work on this film utilizing photographic techniques to produce a dynamic and lavish look to this film. John Barry composed (along with lyricists Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley) the main title to GOLDFINGER sung by Shirley Bassey, which is probably the most recognizable song from the series and immediately brings to mind images of James Bond to this day. This melody used and often referred to throughout the score integrates the James Bond Theme along with John Barry's own distinctive musical motifs and style once again lending credence that this is the definitive Bond film when combined with all the other superlative elements presented in GOLDFINGER. The "Bond Girls" and their specific role in the Bond formula are best represented yet uniquely presented in GOLDFINGER seeing that the formula in this film is tweaked a bit. Usually the formula dictates that Bond has one leading female partner who accompanies him on and off during his exploits. There is also the sacrificial lamb that becomes sexually involved with Bond but along the way pays the ultimate sacrifice, which only intensifies Bond's resolve to vanquish the villain. Also, there may be a female villain who Bond also becomes sexually involved in and her fate varies from film to film. GOLDFINGER as a film stands on its own. It is good filmmaking. As a James Bond film it could easily be considered the best of the series.

After All these Years it Remains the BEST James Bond Film
GOLDFINGER contains a well-balanced level of depth and action leaving one emotionally charged, thrilled and entertained. This is Sean Connery's finest James Bond film and perhaps the definitive James Bond film of the entire series giving the outstanding and underrated ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE serious competition in that department after much contemplation.

The golden girl, Oddjob's bowler hat, Goldfinger's lethal laser, the Astin Martin DB5 with modifications introduced by Q, and Shirley Bassey's legendary rendition of the theme song belted out over the titles immediately became an integral part of the James Bond lore and remained in the psyche of the public.

Director Guy Hamilton, screen writers Richard Maibaum and Paul Dehn and editor Peter Hunt were able to produce a solid, well balanced, entertaining film that does not rely totally on the spectacle and whimsy that would weaken the subsequent entries in the series.

Production designer Ken Adam and art director Peter Murton gave the production a stunning and lavish distinction. The Fort Knox set and Goldfinger's playroom at his stud ranch was a testament to imagination and achievement. John Barry finally honed his distinctive style to perfection with this memorable score and set a benchmark of distinct and stylistic scoring for the James Bond series.

Sean Connery's performance as James Bond is a well honed mix of determination, humor and dedication to that end of getting the job done at all costs. He brings a wry humor to the role in this film, demonstrates compassion for the opposite sex (despite what he detractors may say) and eliminates all those who present evil and malevolence to our way of life with cold detachment. He is that blunt instrument of his government but Connery does it with such aplomb.