Code Redd Net is reviewing every MGM Bond film before the November 9 release of Skyfall. Today Chicken Man reviews Goldfinger.
As Thrasher stated in his review of
Dr. No, James Bond 007 really became an icon after the release of
Goldfinger. All of the 007 trademark elements are present: the eccentric villain, the not-so-subtly named Bond girl, Bond's survival ensured by Q Branch's gadgetry, the Aston Martin, the high-stakes plot, the Walther, the womanizing, the puns, etc. This really leaves the impossibility for one to be a fan of Bond and not be a fan of
Goldfinger; it shows Bond qua Bond in his essence. And it does it well. One of the very enjoyable scenes is Bond playing a golf match against Goldfinger. The event of Bond interacting incognito (though he never seems to fool his enemies into believing he's not a spy) is not at all unique among the movies of the series, but
Goldfinger seems to do it best. As well, it demonstrates Bond's ability to use his wit to survive. Contrary to misconceptions partially due to parodies such as
Austin Powers, often Bond's enemies will not simply leave him to die in one of their elaborate death traps. In this case, he is able to convince Goldfinger that it would be wiser to keep him alive. In addition, he later escapes his jail cell through innovative trickery. Bond is also a master manipulator: he is able to save the day by bringing Pussy Galore to his aid (don't you know that he only seduces women in order to protect queen and country?). It is partly for these reasons that we find James Bond so appealing; any action star can shoot guns and drive fast cars. Yes, Bond can do these things, as well as those mentioned above. But nobody does them better.
As a parenthetical note, the greatest drawback for me regarding this film is the premise behind which Auric Goldfinger is being investigated by intelligence agencies. He is a gold smuggler. Does smuggling gold actually hurt anyone? No. The reason that governments and central banks frown upon such is because of using precious metals as alternatives to paper currency undermines the currency's value and acceptance, and therefore their ability to print it (at this time in U.S. history it was illegal for private citizens to own
gold bullion. FDR made this the case by executive order so that he could
inflate the U.S. dollar). Goldfinger is actually providing people a service by allowing them to own a hedge against inflation by holding gold rather than being at the mercy of their central banks, which continue to inflate their currencies . In this way, he is heroic. But blowing up existing stocks of other peoples' gold to increase the value of your own (or dipping chicks in gold paint) is obviously not so heroic, and he is justly punished.
Previous Entries in this Series:
Dr. No (1962) by Thrasher
From Russia With Love (1963) by Chicken Man
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