One of the most iconic James Bond films of all time is returning to television screens today – and fans of 007 won’t want to miss it.
Goldfinger (1964), the third film in the James Bond franchise, stars Sean Connery in his third outing as the suave MI6 agent – widely credited with setting the template for what would become the classic Bond formula.
Directed by Guy Hamilton, Goldfinger sees Bond facing off against the wealthy and villainous Auric Goldfinger, played by German actor Gert Frobe.
The story begins with Bond investigating Goldfinger’s gold smuggling operation, but the plot thickens when he uncovers a plan to contaminate the United States’ gold reserves at Fort Knox.
The scheme, codenamed “Operation Grand Slam”, is among the most memorable in Bond history.
The film also introduced audiences to some of the franchise’s most enduring elements. It was the first Bond film to feature a pre-title sequence with its own mini-adventure, and it marked the first appearance of the gadget-laden Aston Martin DB5 – complete with ejector seat, oil slicks, and machine guns – which would go on to become one of the most beloved Bond cars.
Honor Blackman starred as the film’s female lead, playing the tough and confident pilot Pussy Galore. Her character helped consolidate Goldfinger’s reputation as one of the boldest entries in the series.
Harold Sakata also made a lasting impression as Oddjob, Goldfinger’s silent henchman.
The movie’s title song, performed by Shirley Bassey, is a powerful rendition of ‘Goldfinger’ and was the first in a long line of memorable Bond themes – helping launch Bassey’s international career.
Upon release, Goldfinger was a major box office success and has since been frequently cited as one of the greatest spy films of all time. It won the Academy Award for Best Sound Editing in 1965 and was added to the United States National Film Registry in 1999.
Watch Goldfinger today, Sunday June 1st, on ITV1 at 3.25pm.