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Missing image Goldfingerpenguin.jpg 2002 Penguin Books paperback edition Goldfinger is the seventh novel by Ian Fleming, featuring James Bond, secret agent 007, published in 1959. In 1964 the novel was adapted into a film by EON Productions and starred Sean Connery in his third appearance as James Bond. Goldfinger was the first James Bond film to be shown on U.S. television, which occurred on September 17, 1972 on ABC. At the time, it garnered the highest Nielsen ratings of any film broadcast on television with 49% of all viewers.
The novelMissing image GoldfingerNovel.jpg 1961 edition by Pan Books. Plot summaryThe novel begins in a similar fashion to Moonraker with an aquaintance (Mr. Du Pont from Casino Royale) of Bond running into him in Miami and requesting that he sit in on a Canasta game between him and the eponymous villain of the novel, Auric Goldfinger. Du Pont suspects Goldfinger of cheating and offers to pay Bond to confirm his feeling. As it turns out Goldfinger is indeed cheating and is shortly foiled and forced to admit he is to Mr. Du Pont. After Bond returns to London he inquires into the background of Goldfinger to find that he's the world's top gold smuggler, the richest man in England, and after further investigation Bond learns Goldfinger is a communist criminal working as the treasurer for the Soviet assassination agency SMERSH. Bond learns that Goldfinger intends to finance SMERSH's schemes by stealing the gold in the U.S. bullion depository at Fort Knox, Kentucky. James Bond, along with Pussy Galore, Goldfinger's amusingly named lesbian pilot, work to prevent the villain from executing his plan, which involves killing the soldiers of Fort Knox with a water-borne toxin. In terms of gadgets, this Fleming novel is closest to the Bond films technological underpinnings. The secret agent is issued a battleship grey Aston Martin DB3 with lethal accessories, as well as a homing device similar to that seen in the movie.
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Comic strip adaptationFleming's original novel was adapted as a daily comic strip which was published in the British Daily Express newspaper and syndicated around the world. The adaptation ran from October 3, 1960 to April 1, 1961. The adaptation was written by Henry Gammidge and illustrated by John McLusky. It was reprinted by Titan Books in 2004. The filmPlot summary
The cinematic version does not follow the plot of Ian Fleming's novel. In the film, James Bond discovers "Operation Grandslam", a plot by Auric Goldfinger and his organization, sponsored by Communist China, to apparently steal the gold from the U.S. Bullion Depository at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Bond later learns that Goldfinger's intention is not to steal the gold, a completely unfeasible goal, but to destroy it by detonating a nuclear bomb within the depository and contaminating the United States's gold reserve, thereby increasing the value of his own gold. The most famous scene in the film — arguably the most famous scene in any Bond film — is Goldfinger's repartee with the recalcitrant Bond tied down in the path of a laser beam:
This scene differs from the corresponding scene in the novel: Goldfinger, using a buzz saw, spared Bond's life, not because of claimed knowledge of Goldfinger's plan, but in acceptance of Bond's offer to work for him. In the novel, Bond is issued a car with modifications such as revolving licence plates, re-inforced bumpers, etc. The film greatly expands on the idea, with the spy receiving an Aston Martin DB5 with special modifications such as forward right- and left-wing machine guns, anti pursuit devices like an oil slick dispenser and a smokescreen burner, bullet-proof windscreens, telescoping tire slashers, and, most famously, a passenger ejector seat for ejecting unwanted passengers. The popularity of this car in the film led to the increased inclusion of spectacular gadgetry, including other special vehicles. Additionally, Goldfinger set the tone for how the secret agent would be introduced before the opening credits — with a teaser showing Bond in mid-mission, which may or may not be unrelated to the main plot of the movie. A teaser was used in the previous film, From Russia with Love, but it didn't feature the real James Bond. Cast & characters
Crew
SoundtrackMissing image 007Goldfingersoundtrack.jpg Original Goldfinger soundtrack cover Goldfinger is the first of three James Bond films with a theme song sung by Shirley Bassey. Though she only performed three out of the many Bond film theme songs, her strong, brassy style became a Bond theme trademark. James Bond film series crew veteran John Barry composed, this, his second, credited James Bond film soundtrack. Track listing
Vehicles & gadgets
See alsoLocationsFilm locations
Shooting locationsAsphyxiation argumentAlthough James Bond films are not known for their technical accuracy, but rather for outlandishly plausible action, one incident in this film bears mentioning. In one scene, the villain's girlfriend, Jill Masterson, is murdered by "skin suffocation." She was painted with gold paint and died, because her skin was unable to breathe. According to urban legend, the concept was based on the death of Swiss fashion model who painted herself and asphyxiated. Though this is a plausible explanation for this unusual method of killing, it has been argued whether or not it is possible. Humans, being mammals, achieve respiration via their mouths and nostrils to fill their lungs with air. The only animals that breathe through their skin are some insects. In fact, were it true that people breathe, in auxiliary fashion, through their skin, it would, therefore, be impossible for people to engage in extended bathing, mud baths, scuba diving and, indeed, body painting - activities requiring extended covering of the skin. If one did try murder via gilding, the victim would die of heat stroke, but only after a long period and not in the manner shown in the movie. The gold paint would clog the pores and prevent perspiration, rendering the body unable to properly regulate its temperature. Dying in this fashion, however, would take several days and is a very inefficient manner of killing. Trivia
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