Reviews (184)

IMHO, 60's Bond was the best...
I was born in the 70's and grew up in the 80's and 90's so one would think I would prefer Roger Moore or maybe Dalton or Brosnan. But when I think Bond/007, I only think of Sean Connery and the films from the 60's. I guess it's because the decade was perfect for the character(sexism/persona/fashion), the look and feel(tux/bowler hat/suave sophistication/martini in hand/cig. in mouth/exotic locales), and the music(twangy guitar theme/big brassy numbers). And GOLDFINGER was arguably the definitive representation of all this:

*Shirley Bassey's great rendition of the title song.
*the classic Aston-Martin DB5 with all the gadgets.
*the strong female lead with that name: Pussy Galore!
*one of the coolest and most beloved henchman/sidekicks in the series: Odd Job(love the grin and hat).
*one of the most ambitious, greedy, resourceful villains ever(well played by Gert Frobe-hard to believe he was dubbed in the movie as the audio commentary pointed out).
*classic scenes like Shirley Eaton covered in gold, the "laser beam" scene, the rumpus room, and the end fight.
*good plotline, and good plot to break in to Fort Knox...with a slight twist(love the scene where 007 is figuring out the plot and Goldfinger seems genuinely pleased that someone recognizes his 'genius')
*ok, so Kentucky ain't too exotic(unless you're from Switzerland I guess), but the Swiss Alps and inside a 'pretend' Fort Knox? You don't see that everyday.

All great stuff. The other guys had some good movies in their reign as Bond, but I think Connery was on a roll with From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, and Thunderball. There was so much style and a special aura that defined what Bond/spy/adventure films should be during that 3-film stint. And after all the praise I have for Goldfinger(just recently got the dvd), for the record, it's not even my all-time favorite. That belongs to THUNDERBALL: #1, Largo with the eye patch, the Spectre organization, Claudine Auger in shades on the beach, the jet pack, the underwater fight, etc....oh man. Sorry, back to Goldfinger. Buy the dvd, lots of great extras(2 commentaries, 2 documentaries, etc). If you're a fan, you're not reading this cause you own it. But to non-fans, the film alone is worth the absurdly low price and the loads of extras are what every dvd collector would want. Highly recommended for anyone.

The golden Bond film
The best Bond film? You bet. Sean Connery's Goldfinger is an awesome combination of everything a Bond film needs. Connery gives the best performance of any Bond film, and Honor Blackman is one of the best girls (and certainly the most famous) in the series. Gert Frobe is an outstanding villain, and Oddjob is the definitive henchman. Blackman is supported by two other great girls in the Masterson sisters. Q gives OO7 his best car (followed by the Lotus in TSWLM, the Mustang in Diamonds, and the BMW in TND) featuring machine guns, smokescreen, tire puncturers, and even an ejector seat. Bond also receives a tracking device from Q. The car chase is excellent, and the climax is one of the best at Fort Knox. Script is filled with witty lines, and the story is almost unmatched (Goldfinger will contaminate the gold supply in Fort Knox to greatly increase the amount of his own horde). Locations run from Flordia to Switzerland to Kentucky. Shirley Bassey's title song is great indeed, and Barry's score is in his top five for Bond films. The feel is superb, and everything cultimates together to make this the best OO7 film ever.

The great James in his best
In the the third film of this Bond series this may well be his favorite : (for me it's the best) there are enough reasons to hold this statement.
Harold Sakata is the most hated villain in any Bond picture, the maquiavelian mind and overwhelming presence of Auric Goldfinger , the unforgettable swiss landscapes , the girls Honor Blackman who is two steps behind of Daniela Bianchi (From Russia with love) and Claudine Auger (Thunderball) in what beauty concerns , the laser sequence , the poker game , the fine and suggestive dialogues , the ambush in the hall , the battle in Fort Knox and that hair raising final combat in the airplane, the dazzling direction of Guy Hamilton and the spectacular Aston Martin.
What else do you need for watching by the first time this one or remind it in case you saw before as a timeless cult movie ?
And please beware of any other hat in the head of someone like Odd Job.

The best achievement of the Bond series
This film is a winner in all the sense of the word. May be you won't find the advanced special effects of this age. But who really cares?
Watch for the admirable lot of golden situations; the suggestive sequence in which we laugh when James compare the champaign with the Beatles, for instance in a double sense joke, the unforgettable swiss landscapes, the eternally beauty of Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore, the presence of Harold Sakata the most hated villain in any Bond film, the powerful balance given by Grett Frobe as Auric Goldfinger the maquiavelian and perverse mind of Spectre, the notorius ambush in the hall , the final battle in Fort Knox and that unforgettable in the airplane make from this film, at least for me, the most complete film of any other Bond series.
Dazzling direction and the bitterness of Bond,James Bond.
After you watch,please beware on the next hat you see.
A cult movie.

My favorite movie from Bond series
I still can remember the first time I watched this film. I was in a old hall cinema and I watched three times that day . I just was eight years old but what histamine.
Harold Sakata as Odd Jobb has been the most hated villain in any Bond series and Grett Frobe as Goldfinger is one of the coldest and smart Spectre agents. Honor Blackman with her incandescent beauty as Pussy Galore is a perfect balance.
The film has a lot of smart and suggestive situations. Do you remember the sequence of the champaign bottle?
The ambush in the hall made by Goldfinger is a first rate, so the girl painted with gold, the chases and the unforgettable swiss landscapes, and the hair raising end in Fort Knox and in the airplane made of this one my eternal favorite among others.
Dazzling direction by Guy Hamilton and delightful action sequences.
Watch it and please, be careful with the next hat you see. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In 1957's The Naked Truth, Terry-Thomas plays a peer of the realm being blackmailed in the company of Peter Sellers, Peggy Mount, and Shirley Eaton by a gutter-press journalist, Dennis Price ("Don't try to appeal to my better nature, because I haven't one"). One fascinating element in this picture is the portrayal of those relationships that could be only suggested in a period of tighter censorship, such as Peter Sellers's TV personality and Kenneth Griffith as his dresser, whose gay relationship is only faintly etched in here. More overt is the characterization of a masculine-looking authoress, known only by her initials, but sporting Agatha Christie's hairdo. The moments of slapstick are brought off to a tee, as when the larger-than-life Peggy Mount attempts a suicide drop from her window to be saved by an awning on a shop front. --Adrian Edwards ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Stoic British Humor at its Best!
Terry Thomas soaked to the brow protruding nonchalance in his wifes presents is worth a dozen Peter sellers. If you haven't seen the naked truth you haven't ever really laughed. After you have seen this one you will want to see it again.

Name change of film
This film was released in the US in the 1950s with a different name: "Your Past Is Showing." I remember it as a very funny film, but I was a teenager then. Sellers is priceless, though, and a number of his bits here presage his turn as Clouseau starting a decade later. ... Read more

Amazon.com

To own Goldfinger (1964) on digital video disc is to have at your fingertips the proof that Sean Connery is the definitive James Bond. Dry as ice, dripping with deadpan witticisms, only Connery's Bond would dare disparage the Beatles, that other 1964 phenomenon. No one but Connery can believably seduce women so effortlessly, kill with almost as much ease, and then pull another bottle of Dom Perignon '53 out of the fridge. Goldfinger contains many of the most memorable scenes in the Bond series: gorgeous Shirley Eaton (as Jill Masterson) coated in gold paint by evil Auric Goldfinger and deposited in Bond's bed; silent Oddjob, flipping a razor-sharp derby like a Frisbee to sever heads; our hero spread-eagle on a table while a laser beam moves threateningly toward his crotch. Honor Blackman's Pussy Galore is the prototype for the series' rash of man-hating supermodels. And Desmond Llewelyn makes his first appearance as Q, giving Bond what is still his most impressive car, a snazzy little number that fires off smoke screens, punctures the tires of vehicles on the chase, and boasts a handy ejector seat. Goldfinger's two climaxes, inside Fort Knox and aboard a private plane, have to be seen to be believed. --Raphael Shargel ... Read more

Reviews (184)

IMHO, 60's Bond was the best...
I was born in the 70's and grew up in the 80's and 90's so one would think I would prefer Roger Moore or maybe Dalton or Brosnan. But when I think Bond/007, I only think of Sean Connery and the films from the 60's. I guess it's because the decade was perfect for the character(sexism/persona/fashion), the look and feel(tux/bowler hat/suave sophistication/martini in hand/cig. in mouth/exotic locales), and the music(twangy guitar theme/big brassy numbers). And GOLDFINGER was arguably the definitive representation of all this:

*Shirley Bassey's great rendition of the title song.
*the classic Aston-Martin DB5 with all the gadgets.
*the strong female lead with that name: Pussy Galore!
*one of the coolest and most beloved henchman/sidekicks in the series: Odd Job(love the grin and hat).
*one of the most ambitious, greedy, resourceful villains ever(well played by Gert Frobe-hard to believe he was dubbed in the movie as the audio commentary pointed out).
*classic scenes like Shirley Eaton covered in gold, the "laser beam" scene, the rumpus room, and the end fight.
*good plotline, and good plot to break in to Fort Knox...with a slight twist(love the scene where 007 is figuring out the plot and Goldfinger seems genuinely pleased that someone recognizes his 'genius')
*ok, so Kentucky ain't too exotic(unless you're from Switzerland I guess), but the Swiss Alps and inside a 'pretend' Fort Knox? You don't see that everyday.

All great stuff. The other guys had some good movies in their reign as Bond, but I think Connery was on a roll with From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, and Thunderball. There was so much style and a special aura that defined what Bond/spy/adventure films should be during that 3-film stint. And after all the praise I have for Goldfinger(just recently got the dvd), for the record, it's not even my all-time favorite. That belongs to THUNDERBALL: #1, Largo with the eye patch, the Spectre organization, Claudine Auger in shades on the beach, the jet pack, the underwater fight, etc....oh man. Sorry, back to Goldfinger. Buy the dvd, lots of great extras(2 commentaries, 2 documentaries, etc). If you're a fan, you're not reading this cause you own it. But to non-fans, the film alone is worth the absurdly low price and the loads of extras are what every dvd collector would want. Highly recommended for anyone.

The golden Bond film
The best Bond film? You bet. Sean Connery's Goldfinger is an awesome combination of everything a Bond film needs. Connery gives the best performance of any Bond film, and Honor Blackman is one of the best girls (and certainly the most famous) in the series. Gert Frobe is an outstanding villain, and Oddjob is the definitive henchman. Blackman is supported by two other great girls in the Masterson sisters. Q gives OO7 his best car (followed by the Lotus in TSWLM, the Mustang in Diamonds, and the BMW in TND) featuring machine guns, smokescreen, tire puncturers, and even an ejector seat. Bond also receives a tracking device from Q. The car chase is excellent, and the climax is one of the best at Fort Knox. Script is filled with witty lines, and the story is almost unmatched (Goldfinger will contaminate the gold supply in Fort Knox to greatly increase the amount of his own horde). Locations run from Flordia to Switzerland to Kentucky. Shirley Bassey's title song is great indeed, and Barry's score is in his top five for Bond films. The feel is superb, and everything cultimates together to make this the best OO7 film ever.

The great James in his best
In the the third film of this Bond series this may well be his favorite : (for me it's the best) there are enough reasons to hold this statement.
Harold Sakata is the most hated villain in any Bond picture, the maquiavelian mind and overwhelming presence of Auric Goldfinger , the unforgettable swiss landscapes , the girls Honor Blackman who is two steps behind of Daniela Bianchi (From Russia with love) and Claudine Auger (Thunderball) in what beauty concerns , the laser sequence , the poker game , the fine and suggestive dialogues , the ambush in the hall , the battle in Fort Knox and that hair raising final combat in the airplane, the dazzling direction of Guy Hamilton and the spectacular Aston Martin.
What else do you need for watching by the first time this one or remind it in case you saw before as a timeless cult movie ?
And please beware of any other hat in the head of someone like Odd Job.

The best achievement of the Bond series
This film is a winner in all the sense of the word. May be you won't find the advanced special effects of this age. But who really cares?
Watch for the admirable lot of golden situations; the suggestive sequence in which we laugh when James compare the champaign with the Beatles, for instance in a double sense joke, the unforgettable swiss landscapes, the eternally beauty of Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore, the presence of Harold Sakata the most hated villain in any Bond film, the powerful balance given by Grett Frobe as Auric Goldfinger the maquiavelian and perverse mind of Spectre, the notorius ambush in the hall , the final battle in Fort Knox and that unforgettable in the airplane make from this film, at least for me, the most complete film of any other Bond series.
Dazzling direction and the bitterness of Bond,James Bond.
After you watch,please beware on the next hat you see.
A cult movie.

My favorite movie from Bond series
I still can remember the first time I watched this film. I was in a old hall cinema and I watched three times that day . I just was eight years old but what histamine.
Harold Sakata as Odd Jobb has been the most hated villain in any Bond series and Grett Frobe as Goldfinger is one of the coldest and smart Spectre agents. Honor Blackman with her incandescent beauty as Pussy Galore is a perfect balance.
The film has a lot of smart and suggestive situations. Do you remember the sequence of the champaign bottle?
The ambush in the hall made by Goldfinger is a first rate, so the girl painted with gold, the chases and the unforgettable swiss landscapes, and the hair raising end in Fort Knox and in the airplane made of this one my eternal favorite among others.
Dazzling direction by Guy Hamilton and delightful action sequences.
Watch it and please, be careful with the next hat you see. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Mickey Spillane plays his own creation, street-thug-turned-PI Mike Hammer, in this 1963 adaptation of his novel. The film opens with Hammer on the downside of a years-long bender, scooped out of the gutter by a bitter cop intent on prying information from a dying man. Inspired to clean up his act by the secrets he hears, Hammer hits the streets on a personal crusade to find the love of his life. Future Bond girl Shirley Earton costars as a glamorous society widow who goes slumming with Hammer. Spillane, who brings the grace of a trained monkey and the sex appeal of a Bronx cheer to the role, is less a stoic, tarnished street knight than a street bum at a cocktail party, but it works for the working-class pug. The low-budget production is a rare black-and-white CinemaScope picture, rough and messy butlacking the raw edge and gritty look of more accomplished crime pictures. B-movie veteran Roy Rowland directs with a lazy pace and a prosaic style that drags until he takes his camera to streets of New York City. The definitive Hammer remains Ralph Meeker in Robert Aldrich's Kiss Me Deadly, but Spillane makes a respectable runner-up. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Beast movie eber made I agree!
I aagree with teh peopl who say this is the greatess mobie from HAMMER studio ever made. SO I think it should be shown in teatres acros the countrie of american and canadas and also oversea and all of the world. Maybi they say, in 200 years from the movie creation he will arise from teh pot of carmalloop. So i tink everyone chould see tihs one it has my granpop in it the grate FU Manchu, I love amazon for selling this amasing products, tank you amason, you make my dream come true. Keep reeching for teh skies!

Yummy but Silly
Any film with Christopher Lee is worth watching and this one also has naked girls, snakes, bandits, posion kisses and the lovely Brazilian countryside. Sure it is inferior to the first three Fu Manchu movies (which have yet to achieve DVD immortality) but it is a beautifully produced edition by Blue Underground of a less than good movie with excellent technical quality and a fun documentary.
Now let's get the first three on DVD - quick!!

Not quite the pit of despair, but close...
The entry of Jess Franco to Harry Alan Towers' Fu Manchu series signalled the beginning of the end. Fast, cheap and amazingly bad, Franco is one of the few directors who could make Michael Winner look like Stanley Kubrick by comparison. After all, it takes denial on an Olympian scale to have David De Keyser dub two separate characters IN THE SAME SCENE or to include black and white stock footage from 'A Night to Remember' in a colour film and think that if you tint it blue no-one will notice...

'The Blood of Fu Manchu' is marginally the better of his two Fus, but its still a major step down for the Christopher Lee series. Fully restored, but really no better for it, the presentation is enough reason for disappointed Fu Fans to consider adding it to their collection. The print is the best you're likely to see (the film is marginally better shot than most of Franco's efforts) and the extras package is more entertaining than the film (although the same can be said of mending a faulty waste-disposal). The first of a two-part documentary gives a brief background to the series with some candid observations from Tsai Chin and Shirley Eaton, as well as a somewhat more relaxed than usual Christopher Lee, countering Franco's unwarranted enthusiasm; one of the two trailers actually makes the film look good (quite an achievement); and the notes on the Fu Manchu novels are enlightening.

If only we could get this kind of presentation on the highly enjoyable initial entry 'The Face of Fu Manchu' or its two immediate sequels 'The Brides of Fu Manchu' and 'The Vengeance of Fu Manchu' - they may not be masterpieces, but they're a lot more fun than this FuBar film. ... Read more