Showing posts with label guy hamilton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label guy hamilton. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

007 James Bond Marathon: The Man with the Golden Gun



Based on Ian Fleming’s novel, The Man with the Golden Gun is the story of James Bond facing off against an assassin who has created a device that can harness the power of the sun during an energy crisis around the world. Directed by Guy Hamilton and screenplay by Richard Maimbaum and Tom Mankiewicz, the film has Bond traveling to Hong Kong and Thailand as he faces a man who can kill someone with just one bullet with his golden gun as Roger Moore plays James Bond once again while Christopher Lee plays the titular character in Francisco Scaramanga. Also starring Britt Ekland, Maud Adams, Herve Villechaise, Soon-Tek Oh, Clifton James, Desmond Llewelyn, Lois Maxwell, and Bernard Lee as M. The Man with the Golden Gun is a thrilling and comical film from Guy Hamilton.

After receiving a bullet with his name, James Bond learns that renowned assassin Francisco Scaramanga is after him. After traveling to Beirut to retrieve a bullet from a belly-dancer (Carmen du Sautoy) who kept it as a souvenir from an agent killed by Scaramanga. Bond then travels to Macao to find the man (Marne Maitland) who created the bullet for Scaramanga where he sees Scaramanga’s mistress Andrea Anders (Maud Adams) taking a box back to Hong Kong where she was staying. After getting answers from her, Bond goes to a club to see if he can find Scaramanga only for another man killed who had a solar device object called the Solex stolen. After a briefing from M about retrieving the object to help solve the ongoing energy crisis, Bond teams up with Hong Kong agent Lieutenant Hip to go back to Macao for further investigation with Bond‘s aide Mary Goodnight (Britt Ekland).

Going to the home of industrialist Hai Fat (Richard Loo), Bond pretends to be Scaramanga to discuss the death of a man who has the Solex device as the plan later backfires as Scaramanga is at Fat’s home. With the help of Lt. Hip and his nieces, Bond is able to escape as he later meets Anders who reveals some information about Scaramanga and the Solex device. At a kickboxing arena, Bond gets the Solex device but gets a bigger surprise when he meets Scaramanga and his assistant Nick Nack (Herve Villechaise). After Bond secretly gives the Solex to Lt. Hip who gives it to Goodnight, Goodnight sees Nick Nack get into a car where she tries to put a homing device only to be put in the trunk by Scaramanga leading to a car chase that involves a visiting J.W. Pepper (Clifton James). After finding where Scaramanga is hiding out, Bond confronts him to learn what Scaramanga is up to as it leads to a duel between the two men.

The film is about James Bond dealing with a top assassin who plans to monopolize the solar power energy in the wake of an energy crisis as the assassin also wants to face Bond in a duel over who is the best killer. That’s pretty much it since it is typical of the schematics of what is expected in a Bond film. Yet, what makes it so interesting is the villain itself in Francisco Scaramanga. A man who is always offered a million dollars to kill someone due to his reputation and always gets the job done. The film’s opening scene establishes who he is and how good he is by knocking off a gangster (Marc Lawrence). Yet, having James Bond killed in his own hands would be the centerpiece of his killings prompting Bond to find him first before Scaramanga has him killed.

That’s the set-up of the entire story as Bond has to do whatever he can to find this assassin before he gets killed yet he would face numerous challenges as he’s also trying to finish a mission that concerns a solar device that could help bring solar power to the world. While the screenplay does manage to get that story be used as a nice subplot that eventually comes together with the Scaramanga plot. The script’s drawback is due to the fact that it’s not linear as it could’ve been while some of the comical elements involving J.W. Pepper were really unnecessary as if it was another film.

Guy Hamilton’s direction is definitely vast in terms of the locations that is set in the film such as Macao, Bangkok, and Hong Kong where it has Bond exploring another world. There, he delves into the world of martial arts where Bond is sort of an expert as he has to face up against numerous enemies while it the martial arts sequences do have a sense of humor. While the humor of the film is certainly engaging, it does go a little overboard as the presence of J.W. Pepper really bogs the film down where he may have been funny in Live and Let Die. In this film, he isn’t really needed as he’s nothing more than a distraction from the main story of the film. Despite the flaws the film has, Guy Hamilton does manage to succeed in creating a Bond film that has all of the entertaining value as well as carrying the air of suspense that is needed.

Cinematographers Ted Moore and Oswald Morris do excellent work with the photography such as the beautiful exteriors of the city locations and the large wide depth of field shots of the sea along with interior shots of the sets including the casinos in Macao. Editors Raymond Poulton and John Shirley do superb work with the editing by keeping things straightforward including some rhythmic cuts to play out the suspense and action. Production designer Peter Murton, along with art directors John Graysmark and Peter Lamont, does brilliant work with the set pieces such as M‘s office in the RMS Queen Elizabeth ship as well as the home base of Scaramanga.

The visual effects work of Derek Meddings and special effects work of John Stears do terrific work with the special effects work such as the miniatures for Scaramanga‘s islands and home base along with the solar laser. Sound recorder Gordon Everett does nice work with the sound to play up the atmosphere of the crowd scenes as well as more intimate moments in the climatic duel scene. The film’s score by John Barry is fantastic for the way the suspense is build up as well as the action that occurs. The title song co-written with lyricist Don Black and sung by Lulu is a wonderful song that plays to the bombast of the film with its orchestral flourishes and swanky rock arrangements.

The casting by Weston Drury Jr. and Maude Spector is incredible for the ensemble that is created as it includes appearances from Carmen du Sautoy as the belly dancer Bond tries to woo, James Cossins as the arms expert Colthorpe, Marne Maitland as the arms maker Lazar, Marc Lawrence as an ill-fated opponent of Scaramanga in Rodney, and Richard Loo as Scaramanga’s boss Hai Fat who tries to outwit Bond. Bond regulars such as Desmond Llewelyn as Q and Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny are excellent in their roles while Bernard Lee is great as usual as the stern but always resourceful superior M. Soon-Tek Oh is excellent as Lt. Hip who aides Bond in his assignment while Clifton James as J.W. Pepper isn’t as funny due to the fact that he’s just repeating the same schtick he did in Live and Let Die.

The late Herve Villechaize is fun to watch as Scaramanga’s assistant Nick Nack who helps Scaramanga do dastardly deeds while proving to be a challenge for Bond. Maud Adams is superb as Andrea Anders, Scaramanga’s mistress who gives Bond information about the Solex as well as revealing some revelations about Scaramanga. Britt Ekland is quite terrible as Mary Goodnight for the fact that Goodnight is a total dimwit who either puts herself in a bad situation or will accidentally do things that just causes trouble as she is definitely one of the worst Bond girls in the history of the Bond franchise.

Christopher Lee is incredible as Francisco Scaramanga where Lee displays a great sense of charm in his role as the assassin while proving to be a man who displays a big ego that only Lee can bring as he definitely creates one of the franchise’s great villains. Roger Moore is excellent as James Bond where Moore maintains his low-key sense of humor while showing more restraint when it comes to the action and suspense as he makes Bond more about getting the job done and not get killed as it’s one of Moore’s finer performances as Agent 007.

While it may not be ranked among the list of the best Bond films, The Man with the Golden Gun is still a thoroughly fun film from Guy Hamilton. Thanks to the performances of Roger Moore and Christopher Lee, the film does have enough adventure for fans to enjoy despite its flaws. In the end, The Man with the Golden Gun is a stellar film from Guy Hamilton.




© thevoid99 2012
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Friday, July 20, 2012

007 James Bond Marathon: Live and Let Die



Based on Ian Fleming’s novel, Live and Let Die is the story of James Bond uncovering the deaths of three agents in the hands of a dictator who also poses as a drug lord in a small Caribbean Island. Directed by Guy Hamilton and screenplay by Tom Mankiewicz, the film marks the first of seven features to star Roger Moore as James Bond where Moore brings a bit of humor to the famed character. Also starring Yaphet Kotto, Jane Seymour, David Hedison, Lois Maxwell, Clifton James, Gloria Hendry, and Bernard Lee as M. Live and Let Die is a stylish yet thoroughly entertaining film from Guy Hamilton.

After the death of three different agents at the United Nations building, New Orleans, and the Caribbean island of San Monique, M asks James Bond to uncover the mysteries of these death as he and Bond believe the deaths are all connected to San Monique dictator Dr. Kananga (Yaphet Kotto). Bond travels to New York City where he encounters some strange occurrences in Harlem involving voodoo after his driver was assassinated. With his CIA friend Felix Leiter (David Hedison) and another agent named Strutter (Lon Satton), Bond learns about a heroin distributor named Mr. Big as he meets a mysterious tarot card expert named Solitaire (Jane Seymour) who is considered Dr. Kananga’s most treasured possession.

Traveling to San Monique, Bond meets CIA agent Rosie Carver (Gloria Hendry) to uncover what happened to the death of an agent in San Monique with the help of Quarrel Jr. (Roy Stewart) as Bond sneaks up to Solitaire’s home to find more answers. After tricking her with her tarot cards, Bond and Solitaire discover a field of poppy fields near Kananga’s home as Bond believes Kananga is in cahoots with Mr. Big. After he takes Solitaire to safety, Bond is stopped by Big’s henchmen where he eventually discovers who Mr. Big is. Realizing what Big is planning to do with the heroin, Bond realizes what he must do to stop Big as well as save Solitaire who has lost her powers as a tarot card expert.

The film is essentially the story of James Bond going to different places like New York, New Orleans, and the Caribbean to uncover the deaths of three agents that is connected to a dictator in a fictional Caribbean island. There, he encounters voodoo, heroin smuggling, and a beautiful tarot card expert who might be the key to helping him figure out what is going on. It’s a simple plot for a James Bond film but Tom Mankiewicz’s screenplay does manage to do what is expected but with a different approach to the Bond film schematics. Notably as the film bends a few genres such as 70s blaxploitation and the American Southern films to put Bond in new worlds that he previously hadn’t been in.

In these new worlds, Bond faces up against a dictator who also masquerades as a drug distributor named Kananga who is just an ambitious man that is planning to make a profit in giving away heroin to those that want it. While he isn’t as ambitious as other villains, he is certainly cunning while he treasures Solitaire more than anything as she is the one person who could reveal his fate. The character of Solitaire is just as interesting as she is the tarot card reader with a special gift yet her encounter with Bond would bring conflict as she is also a virgin. In Bond taking away her virginity, he would unknowingly take away her powers which she despairs at in an amazing monologue about her gift where she would have to use her faded powers in a crucial scene for Bond’s freedom as the aftermath is a heartbreaking one. While the script also includes some comical moments that involves a redneck state trooper in J.W. Pepper (Clifton James), the screenplay succeeds in playing out the suspense and adventure of what is expected in a Bond film.

Guy Hamilton’s direction is definitely marvelous for the way he opens the film with the three different deaths of the three agents in different locations to establish everything Bond is about to face. With some amazing shots of the locations in New York City’s Harlem district, New Orleans, and Jamaica for the scenes of San Monique. Hamilton creates a film that is very worldly while bringing a new energy that is needed for a new James Bond. Filled with dazzling chase scenes on cars and speedboats, the action is always engaging and crucial to what Bond needs to do.

The action is balanced by Bond exploring these new places where he’s in where he’s a fish out of water where a white man is in the world where the black man rule. It’s essentially Bond trying to integrate with a new world where 70s cinema is changing as Bond manages to make himself to be a worthy opponent for a man like Kananga. While the humor ranges from being low-key to more comical in the scenes involving J.W. Pepper, it works to display Bond in action and how he tries to handle the situation. Overall, Guy Hamilton succeeds in creating a Bond film that is truly enjoyable to watch from start to finish.

Cinematographer Ted Moore does wonderful work with the film‘s photography from the beautiful Jamaican locations to the interiors set in Harlem and New Orleans to establish the world Bond is encountering. Editors Bert Bates, Raymond Poulton, and John Shirley do excellent work with the editing by utilizing a lot of straightforward cutting to play up the film‘s suspense and action along with some of the film‘s comical manners. Art director Syd Cain does brilliant work with the set pieces such as the voodoo ceremony and the secret meeting rooms Kananga does his business at.

Costume designer Julie Harris does superb work with the costumes such as the elaborate clothes that Solitaire wears during her tarot reading. The special effects work of Rick Baker and Derek Meddings is very good for some of the moments that involves the shark bullet Bond uses for the film‘s climatic meeting with Kananga. Sound recorders Ken Barker and John W. Mitchell do terrific work with the sound to capture the atmosphere of the club Bond and Felix Leiter encounter as well as the voodoo ceremony filled with a big crowd of people. The film’s music by George Martin is certainly fun to listen to with its mix of bombastic orchestral flourishes mixed in with a bit of funk. The title sung by Paul and Linda McCartney for their band Wings is definitely one of the best songs of the Bond film franchises thanks to its sprawling orchestral and horn arrangements mixed in with rock bombast.

The casting of Weston Drury Jr. is incredible for the ensemble that is created as it includes some notable small roles from Lon Satton as CIA agent Strutter, Arnold Williams as one of Kananga’s henchmen in a corrupt cab driver, Roy Stewart as Quarrel Jr., and Madeline Smith as the Italian agent Miss Caruso that Bond romances early in the film.  Other notable small roles include Lois Maxwell as the always funny Miss Moneypenny, Bernard Lee as the always stern M, Gloria Hendry as the fearful CIA agent Rosie Carver, David Hedison as the resourceful Felix Leiter, and Clifton James as the hilarious idiotic redneck state trooper J.W. Pepper.

In the roles of Kananga’s henchmen, there’s standout performances from Tommy Lane as the brutish Adam, Julius Harris as the robotic-armed Tee Hee Johnson, Earl Jolly Brown as the raspy big man Whisper, and Geoffrey Holder as the voodoo priest Baron Samedi whose laugh is one of the most memorable. In her film debut, Jane Seymour is great as the conflicted Solitaire who falls for James Bond while dealing with her loyalty towards Kananga. Yaphet Kotto is excellent as the villainous Dr. Kananga whose ambition to run the heroin market has Kotto proving to be very dastardly while getting the chance to be upset when things don’t go his way as it’s one of Kotto’s great performances.

Finally, there’s Roger Moore in his first of seven outings as Agent 007 James Bond. While he may not have the toughness of Sean Connery, Moore is able to put his own spin into Bond by making Bond tough but also resourceful in whatever objects he can use to get out of a bad situation. There’s also a laid-back sense of charm in Moore in the way he deals with women or how he confronts a villain. Moore’s approach to the humor is also more laid-back in the way he delivers the funny one-liners as Moore definitely makes Bond his own to standout from the more iconic figure from Sean Connery.

Live and Let Die is a thrilling yet fun film from Guy Hamilton featuring Roger Moore in a phenomenal performance as James Bond. The film is definitely proof that Bond can survive without Sean Connery with Moore being the right guy to play the legendary Agent 007. With a top-notch supporting cast that includes Yaphet Kotto and Jane Seymour, it’s a film that is truly adventurous and funny while doing what James Bond films do best. In the end, Live and Let Die is a glorious film from Guy Hamilton.




© thevoid99 2012
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Sunday, July 15, 2012

007 James Bond Marathon: Diamonds are Forever



Based on Ian Fleming’s novel, Diamonds are Forever is the story of James Bond infiltrating a diamond smuggling operation by Ernst Stavros Blofeld who plans to use the diamonds to build a giant laser. Directed by Guy Hamilton with a screenplay by Richard Maimbaum and Tom Mankiewicz from a screen story by Ian Fleming, the film marks Sean Connery’s return to play James Bond after being absent from the predecessor as the film will mark the last time he plays Bond in its official franchise features. Also starring Jill St. John, Charles Gray, Lana Wood, Jimmy Dean, Bruce Glover, Putter Smith, Desmond Llewelyn, Lois Maxwell, and Bernard Lee as M. Diamonds are Forever is dazzling yet entertaining film from Guy Hamilton.

After trying to find Ernst Stavros Blofeld (Charles Gray) and getting rid of him, James Bond receives a briefing from M about a diamond smuggling operation that is happening all over the world where many smugglers are mysteriously killed. Bond travels to Amsterdam posing as professional smuggler Peter Franks (Joe Robinson) where he meets a contact named Tiffany Case (Jill St. John) who is also a smuggler herself. After a tussle with the real Franks, Bond gets rid of him and has Franks be a dead James Bond where Bond smuggles fake diamonds into Franks’ body as he and Case arrive in Las Vegas to handle a deal. Bond seems to have the deal made only to be nearly killed by a couple of men in Mr. Wint (Bruce Glover) and Mr. Kidd (Putter Smith).

Bond goes to the prestigious Whyte House hotel and casino where the reclusive Mr. Whyte (Jimmy Dean) supposedly lives at where Bond meets a vivacious woman named Plenty O’Toole (Lana Wood) as he tries to deal with other smugglers over the fake diamonds where Tiffany arrives for Bond to make a plan for her to retrieve the real diamonds. Instead, she gets the diamonds and goes out on her own where Bond finds out that she’s working for someone else whom she admits doesn’t know except for his voice. Bond and Case travel to Whyte’s mining plants where Bond makes a discovery about what Whyte’s scientist Metz (Joseph Furst) is doing with the diamonds as Bond wants to confront Whyte.

After a chase involving Whyte’s men and some police, Bond sneaks into Whyte’s secret suite where he makes a far more chilling discovery of who really lives at the suite. Learning what is really going on and the whereabouts of the real Mr. Whyte, Bond realizes what he must do to save the world from a giant laser blowing up all of the nuclear weapons where it’s next target is some of the world’s major cities.

The film is about James Bond delving into the world of diamond smuggling where he has to save the world once again from a giant laser made by a mysterious villain who plans to hold the world hostage unless he gets some money. That’s the plot of the film although there’s a lot in the screenplay by Richard Maimbaum and Tom Mankiewicz that’s all over the place as the script’s main drawbacks is that there’s a lot that happens that makes the screenplay a bit of a mess. Notably as it aimed to be a Bond film with some humor where the result is a bit mixed as it’s the screenplay isn’t as straightforward as it should’ve been. Plus, the characters such as Tiffany Case aren’t as developed though she does remain interesting while the reveal of the main villain is pretty obvious as it’s a script has an air of familiarity that does make it a bit frustrating. Despite these flaws, the screenplay does what is needed to be done for the Bond story where it at least makes it fun to watch.

Guy Hamilton’s direction is definitely stylish for its array of big sequences such as the climatic helicopter attack on the oil rig as well as a few chase scenes around the desert and in the city of Las Vegas. Yet, it does open with a bang where it sort of picks up where the last film left off as Bond attacks a few characters to find out where Blofeld is leading to a big confrontation between Bond and Blofeld. The rest of the film then goes on as business as usual with gorgeous compositions of the scenes in Amsterdam and Las Vegas as Hamilton does take his time to set up the action and suspense. He also injects a few bits of campy humor such as Bond facing off a couple of Amazonian, bikini-clad women in a scene where even Bond can be overwhelmed. Despite some of the flaws in the screenplay, Hamilton does manage to create a film that is solid and features enough moments to make it a fun James Bond film.

Cinematographer Ted Moore does excellent work with the photography such as the exterior settings of Amsterdam and Las Vegas along with the interior looks of the suites that Bond and Mr. Whyte stays in. Editors Bert Bates and John Holmes do wonderful work with the editing by creating a montage of Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd‘s killings during M‘s briefing of what Bond must doe. Production designer Ken Adam, along with set decorators John P. Austin and Peter Lamont and art directors Bill Kenney and Jack Maxsted, does amazing work with the look of the Whyte suite as well as his secret penthouse and the bases where his scientists are conducting experiments to destroy the world.

Costume designer Don Feld does nice work with the designs of the bikinis and clothes that Tiffany Case wears. Sound recorders John W. Mitchell and Al Overton do terrific work with the sound to capture the sound of car chases and gun fire for some of the film‘s action scenes. The film’s score by John Barry is brilliant for its intensely suspenseful score including a playful theme on the duo of Wint and Kidd to establish their appearances. The title song written by Barry and lyricist Don Black is a bombastic song with some funky guitar riffs as it’s sung with great power by Shirley Bassey.

The casting by Weston Drury Jr. is superb for the ensemble that is created as if features some notable small performances from Lola Larson and Trina Parks as Whyte’s respective Amazonian bodyguards Bambi and Thumper, Leonard Barr as a smuggler/comedian named Shady Tree, Joe Robinson as the smuggler Peter Franks, Bruce Cabot as Whyte’s casino manager Saxby, and Joseph Furst as the scientist Metz. Other noteworthy performances include the regulars Lois Maxwell in her one-scene appearance as Miss Moneypenny, Desmond Llewelyn as the very witty inventor Q, Norman Burton as Bond’s CIA friend Felix Leiter, and Bernard Lee as the always exquisite M. Lana Wood is pretty good in her small role as Plenty O’Toole while the duo of Bruce Glover and Putter Smith are quite funny as the mischievous villains Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd, respectively.

Jimmy Dean is excellent in his small role as the reclusive millionaire Mr. Willard Whyte who finally appears late in the film as a man unaware of what he’s done as he aids Bond in fighting the mysterious villain. Charles Gray is great in the role of Blofeld where he brings a lot of charm to his role in his early appearance while proving to be a far more formidable foe that is focused on destroying the world and Bond. Jill St. John is terrific as the smuggler Tiffany Case who isn’t sure what Bond is trying to do only to aid him when she realizes who she’s really helping as it’s a fine part that doesn’t have much development other than look great in skimpy clothing.

Finally there’s Sean Connery as Agent 007 where Connery brings the same swagger and charm that audiences know and love while there’s also a bit of aggression as he is determined to destroy Blofeld. It’s also a chance for Connery to show that he is aware that James Bond isn’t invincible and is willing to take hits as it’s Connery at his most physical in playing Bond as he gives him more to do when fighting someone. It’s a fitting farewell of sorts for Connery to play the character he made famous as Connery goes out with a bang for the franchise’s official series.

Diamonds are Forever is an excellent film from Guy Hamilton that features Sean Connery in another top-notch performance as James Bond. While it may be the weakest film of the Blofeld trilogy that was preceded by You Only Live Twice and On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. It is still a film that does enough for what audiences want in a Bond film where it entertains and thrills while having the time for the audience to laugh a bit. In the end, Diamonds are Forever is a fun film from Guy Hamilton.



© thevoid99 2012
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Monday, June 18, 2012

007 James Bond Marathon: Goldfinger



Based on Ian Fleming’s novel, Goldfinger is the story of James Bond tackling a gold magnate who plans to attack Fort Knox while smuggling gold. Directed by Guy Hamilton and adapted screenplay by Richard Maimbaum and Paul Dehn, the film has Bond taking on a new foe who is hell-bent on taking over the world on his own terms where he would do dastardly deeds. With Sean Connery playing the role of Agent 007 James Bond. The film also stars Gert Frobe, Honor Blackman, Shirley Eaton, Harold Sakata, Lois Maxwell, Desmond Llewelyn, Tania Mallet, and Bernard Lee as M. Goldfinger is a stylish yet truly suspenseful film from Guy Hamilton.

On holiday in Miami after an assignment, Bond meets CIA agent Felix Leiter (Cec Linder) who asks Bond to watch over a bullion dealer named Auric Goldfinger (Gert Frobe) who is suspected of smuggling gold. Bond seduces Goldfinger’s assistant Jill Masterson (Shirley Eaton) to help Goldfinger lose a game of gin where things eventually go bad when Bond finds Jill dead and covered in gold. After some briefing from M about what to do with Goldfinger, Bond travels to Switzerland to meet Goldfinger to see what he’s doing as the two play golf where Bond meets Goldfinger’s mute henchman Oddjob (Harold Sakata). While scoping out Goldfinger and his hideout, Bond meets a woman named Tally (Tania Mallet) who he sees is carrying a gun where he later learns about her identity.

After looking into his hideout to see what Goldfinger is planning, Bond is eventually captured where Bond nearly dies from a laser as he manages to lie his way to win Goldfinger over. Goldfinger decides to accompany Bond to Baltimore where Bond is on a plane flown by Goldfinger’s personal pilot Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman). At Goldfinger’s ranch, Bond is imprisoned but later escapes to learn what Goldfinger’s plans are which is to rob Fort Knox $15 billion in gold and split the money with several mob factions. Bond is later caught as he learns what Goldfinger really wants to do as Bond is forced to watch. Yet, Bond would create moves to find ways for Goldfinger’s plans to be foiled with some surprising help.

The film is the story of how James Bond meets a gold-obsessed bullion smuggler who plans to do something dastardly forcing Bond to save the world as usual and score with the ladies along the way. It’s a plot that is typical of many Bond films to follow but what makes this film so different from everything else is that Bond finally has a foe that is very powerful. Auric Goldfinger may not be a huge physical force that Bond would have to face but he is however a very cunning man whose motivation is clearly about gold and to profit from it anyway he can. Yet, Goldfinger will do things through his people that are truly disturbing forcing Bond to charm his way into Goldfinger and even outsmart him.

The screenplay that Richard Maimbaum and Paul Dehn create does a lot more in playing with the Bond formula where more good people get killed while the stakes are raised even higher. Especially for someone as professional as Bond where he would face ideas that would challenge his professionalism as it makes him more flawed. Then there’s the character of Pussy Galore who is this very talented and fearless woman who is part of Goldfinger’s gang as she heads a group of flying women who will aid in Goldfinger’s plans. Of course, Bond would find his way to charm her as it would add to a huge plot point for the film. The screenplay also would find ways for Bond to use his wit through some stylish dialogue. Even in the way he interacts with allies such as Miss Moneypenny and Q, the latter of which would start this sort of love-hate relationship over the way Bond uses Q’s equipment.

Guy Hamilton’s direction is extraordinary for the way he opens the film with a prologue to establish Bond’s sense of professionalism where he gets the job done and score with the ladies. It would then move to this main narrative where Bond is relaxed and on holiday but is interrupted where he has to be on the job and deal with Goldfinger from afar. Through the beautiful locations in Switzerland and Miami as well as other settings from Pinewood Studios in England. Hamilton’s direction is broad for the depth of field he creates in these locations while maintain an air of suspense for quieter scenes such as Bond scoping out Goldfinger’s factory.

The direction also has a way to maintain the suspense such as the scene of Bond lying on a table as a laser is getting close to him. The way Hamilton sets up the camera for the laser pointing at the table to cut with Bond’s reaction where the idea of him dying seems very evident. It’s among the many brilliant moments in the film that culminates with this amazing scene where Goldfinger goes to Fort Knox to unveil his big plan only for something to go wrong. There’s also a bit of humor that plays where Hamilton knows how to gel humor with suspense as it fits in very naturally. The overall work is truly phenomenal as Hamilton crafts a very entertaining and engrossing spy thriller that just ups the ante of what a James Bond film should be.

Cinematographer Ted Moore does superb work with the film‘s colorful Technicolor cinematography to capture the beautiful exteriors of Miami and Switzerland as well as the interiors to help set a mood for what Bond is facing. Editor Peter R. Hunt does brilliant work with the editing to create some stylish cuts to play with the film‘s suspense as well to some of the film‘s humor. Production designer Ken Adam and art director Peter Murton do amazing work with the set pieces such as Goldfinger’s huge lab to the meeting room with his huge models to display his plans.

Sound recorders Gordon K. McCallum, Dudley Messenger, and Otto Snell do terrific work with the sound to capture the humming of the planes as well as the sound of gunfire in the film‘s climatic battle scene. The film’s score by John Barry is incredible for its jazz-driven score with lush orchestral arrangements to play up the sense of drama, adventure, and suspense as it is definitely Barry coming into his own as a composer and creating a music score that stands out on its own. The title song by Barry, Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse that is sung by Shirley Bassey is among one of the best songs of the James Bond catalog thanks to her vocal delivery and the snazzy brass section that backs her up.

The film’s ensemble cast is definitely outstanding for the people chosen as it includes some memorable small roles from Burt Kwouk as Goldfinger’s scientist Mr. Ling, Michael Mellinger as Goldfinger’s secondary henchman Kisch, Austin Willis as Goldfinger’s gin rummy opponent in Miami, Margaret Nolan as the woman Bond is with in Miami, Richard Vernon as English bank official who shares Bond information about gold, and Martin Benson as a gangster who is suspicious about Goldfinger’s plans. Other noteworthy small roles include Cec Linder as Bond’s CIA friend Felix Leiter, Lois Maxwell as M’s secretary Miss Moneypenny who always have a witty remark towards Bond, and Desmond Llewelyn as the gadgets inventor Q where he gets a chance to shine in his own funny remarks towards Bond’s treatment of his work.

Tania Mallet is very good as the mysterious woman Tally whom Bond meets in Switzerland while Shirley Eaton is terrific in a very memorable performance as the ill-fated Jill Masterson. Bernard Lee is great as Bond’s superior M where Lee gets more to do in not just briefing Bond but also lecture him about his conduct over what happened in Miami. Harold Sakata is excellent as Goldfinger’s silent henchman Oddjob where he makes a truly memorable impression as a man whose weapon is his physical strength and a deadly hat. Gert Frobe is brilliant as Goldfinger where Frobe displays a sense of intelligence and charisma to a man who is truly despicable but also likeable in some weird way. Honor Blackman is wonderful as Goldfinger’s pilot who can definitely go toe-to-toe with Bond while proving to be someone who is willing to put up with Bond’s charming ways.

Finally, there’s Sean Connery in his third outing as Agent 007 James Bond. Connery shows more humility in his role as Bond by making him more engaging as a man who can mistake but is also willing to rectify it anyway he can. Even if he’s under pressure or willing to talk his way through to get out of a situation. It’s the embodiment of what James Bond should be as Connery definitely delivers in what is probably his best portrayal as Bond.

Goldfinger is a magnificent film from Guy Hamilton that features a glorious performance from Sean Connery as James Bond. The film is definitely among one of the great Bond films thanks to a great villain played by Gert Frobe, sexy Bond girls, cool gadgets, and suspense that manages to be engaging. It’s also a film where it takes its time to uncover the sinister plot while finding ways to create action sequences that is worth watching. In the end, Goldfinger is a phenomenal James Bond film from Guy Hamilton.




© thevoid99 2012
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