Top Ten Movies of the 1960s

#10

Goldfinger

1964

Directed by: Guy Hamilton
Based on a novel by: Ian Fleming
Starring: Sean Connery and Gert Fröbe

The opening scene in this movie says a lot about what makes James Bond such an enduring and lovable character.

First, he blows up a chemical plant and when asked to comment on his motivation he responds: "At least he won't be using heroin flavoured bananas to finance revolutions anymore." James Bond is the protector of the Empire and is a symbol of British prestige. At the time or course the United Kingdom was becoming a smaller player on the world stage and the Suez Canal crisis showed that it could no longer rely on military strength to get other countries to do what it wanted. The United States would see to that. With James Bond on the side of the Queen though, the UK could still be a shit disturber. He would ensure that Imperial ambition still had resonance with the population.

Second, he is then asked to get on a plane to Miami when he responds, "I'll be on it, but first I have some unfinished business to attend to." Of course, it's a hook-up he's somehow arranged while under cover working for her majesty. He enters her flat and she's already in the bath. But what happens? It's a trap. While he's holding her he catches a reflection of an attacker in her eyes. He swiftly pulls her in the way of the attacker's mighty fist. Take that bitch, nobody two-times James Bond!

Finally, after throwing the attacker into the bath and tossing in an electric fan for good measure to electrocute him comes the best remark of the opening sequence: "shocking." He's still got a sense of humour after going through all this trouble. What a great guy.

James Bond is the longest running franchise in Hollywood. While since 1962 he series has gone through ups and downs and tinkering with the formula, its popularity cannot be denied. Goldfinger is my personal favourite. It has everything that defines a James Bond film. In addition to the brilliance of the opening scene it also has:

• A villain with a heavy German accent and an erotic obsession with all things gold and thus turning people around him to gold as well. His dream is to melt down and steal all of the gold in Fort Knox. As if there's any gold there anyway! His death is equally fantastic.
  

• His Korean henchman 'Oddjob' whose specialty is to throw his hat and cut off one's head.

• A female character without a personality but with a dreadfully obvious double entendre name: Pussy Galore. She's also in charge of an all girl team of fighter pilots called the 'Flying Circus'.
  

• A great car chase in Bond's Aston Martin through the hills of Lower Germany.

• A now famous scene of Bond strapped to a table and being threatened with a laser: "Do you expect me to talk?" "No Mr. Bond, I expect you to die."

• An opening song sung by pop-star Shirley Bassey. Everybody knows the 'Goldfinger' song.

For being the best of the great spy series that is James Bond, Goldfinger is in my opinion the 10th greatest movie of the 1960s!