For all its excellence, the film has its share of groaners, although in a picture of this quality they are more easily overlooked:

• The miscasting of Felix Leiter, and the aforementioned ill-usage of him in the screenplay. As good as the Maibum-Dehn screenplay is, this is one aspect in which it-and indeed nearly every other film involving Felix-falls woefully short.
• Bond's blue terrycloth whatever-it-was, worn at the Miami hotel. It was a testament to Connery's greatness that his screen presence carried that scene. Do you think Lazenby, Moore, Dalton, or Brosnan would have got away with wearing that thing? No way. The only article of clothing in the film that looks sillier is Leiter's porkpie hat.
• This is the first film in which Sean Connery wears a hairpiece to conceal his receding hairline in front, and on close examination it's not a good one, even though it probably was the current state of the art. In some scenes it's so obvious that a lesser actor wouldn't get away with it. With Sean, though, most people don't notice or care.
• The hoods convention. None of the actors playing the crime lords is credible in his role. The whole scene, of course, has no justification in the film except for making Bond (and us) a present of the villain's plan, and to remind us that Delta Nine is fatal. Fröbe does shine in the briefing scene, however.
• Speaking of unjustified scenes, there must have been a dozen different ways for Goldfinger to do away with Mr. Solo and keep his gold. Squashing a brand new Continental did look great onscreen, however. This appears to have been the first instance of a standard plot-dictating device in future Bond films; namely, the producers spot a spectacular gimmick, and shoehorn it into the screenplay. Future instances would be much more blatant, and some would not work nearly as well.
• The cringingly bad model work on Goldfinger s Lockheed Jetstar, especially at the end of the film.

Things to look for and remember:

• The precredit sequence; again, arguably the best one in the series.
• The golf game between Bond and Goldfinger-an enjoyable adaptation of Fleming s writing.
• This was the first major motion picture to accurately depict a laser beam onscreen; and the first time we see it with 007 strapped to the golden table is nearly as indelible an image as Shirley Eaton's glittering corpse. A classic moment from a film loaded with them.
• The sign at Fort Knox- "Welcome General Russhon." This inside joke is an homage to retired USAF Lt. Col. Charles Russhon, who was instrumental in securing cooperation from various U.S. armed services on this and four other James Bond films. Russhon also appears in uniform at the 00 briefing in Thunderball.
• Keep reminding yourself that the Fort Knox you see is NOT real-it was built on Pinewood's backlot (some exteriors were shot in and around the town and barracks, but none at the depository). No big deal in 1997, but an awesome achievement 33 years ago.
• Mr. Ling is played by Burt Kwouk, who would return as a control room technician in You Only Live Twice, but whose most enduring fame was gained in another film series-as Cato, manservant and martial arts partner to Inspector Clouseau in the Pink Panther films.

This film would ensure forever James Bond s place as a cultural phenomenon, and shattered box-office records worldwide. Thanks to Goldfinger and its two predecessors, the spy craze of the 60 s was in full swing, but Ian Fleming never lived to see the phenomenon he had spawned. He died August 12, 1964 (aged 56), shortly before Goldfinger s release.

Works consulted in the preparation of this article:

• Fleming, Ian. Goldfinger. Jonathan Cape Publishers, 1959.
• Pfeiffer, Lee and Lisa, Philip. The Incredible World of 007-An Authorized Celebration of James Bond. Citadel Press, 1992.
• Benson, Raymond. The James Bond Bedside Companion. Dodd, Mead, & Co. 1988.
• Rubin, Steven Jay. The James Bond Films. Arlington House, 1981.
• Rubin, Steven Jay. The James Bond Movie Encyclopedia. Contemporary Books, 1990.
• Schenkman, Richard. The Terence Young Interview. Published in Bondage Magazine, 1981, by the James Bond 007 Fan Club (USA).

James Bond returned in