Tag: 007

Goldfinger Pre-Title Sequence

Goldfinger – Pre-Title Sequence – This, in Goldfinger, is exciting and mysterious.   It opens with a dark, night scene of some buildings then pans to the water.  In the water we see a bird, then Bond emerges and the bird turns out to be part of his scuba headgear – in case anyone was watching.  Yet, really, by the time he emerges if anyone was watching they’d just see the bird for a second or so – then they’d see Bond   But he gets ashore, then uses a gadget to shoot a grappling hook and rope up over the wall so he can climb.  A guard up there hears something, starts to walk to see what the noise might be.   Bond is quick!  He has already climbed the rope and knocks out the guard.

Next, with great pre-knowledge as to how to get in, he sneaks into one of the silos.  Once inside, the room is furnished nicely but has nitro barrels all lined up inside to which Bond attaches plastic explosives.  Then he sets the timer for 12:20, giving him about 8 minutes to get out of there (his watch said about 12:12.  He exits, jumps over a couple of walls, and removes the wet/dry suit to reveal he is dressed in a tux.  Nice!

Goldfinger Pre Title Sequence Grounded in some Reality!

This is impossible, right?  Uh, not really.  In 1941, there was a Dutch agent, Tazelaar, who was part of the Dutch resistance, and with British help, got ashore near The Hague.  Once ashore, he removed the wet suit to reveal an evening suit!  He infiltrated a Nazi party to try to extract other Dutch resistance fighters.   Listen to our podcast, How Real-World Events Make their Way into Spy Films for more detail on Tazelaar’s efforts.

Here Bond successfully blows up a drug lab in Central America (nothing to do with the Goldfinger plot).  He has some extra-curricular activity with his “unfinished business,” is attacked, but escapes leaving the attacker electrocuted.   “Shocking.  Positively shocking.”  He then heads to Miami for a vacation.

Notice that in the gun barrel sequence, Bob Simmons is still the agent that shoots towards us.   This is the last movie that they will use Simmons.   Thunderball puts Sean Connery as Bond in the gun barrel and from that point forward, it is Bond.  James Bond.

This Goldfinger – Pre-Title Sequence is very cool and very good.

This is EON Productions 3rd James Bond 007 film, based on Fleming’s 7th Bond novel.

Goldfinger Title Sequence

Goldfinger Title Sequence – This title sequence highlights various scenes we will see in the movie (much like the Mission Impossible television series did around the same time).  Here, Shirley Bassey sings the title theme song.   The simple beauty of this title sequence carries the gold theme throughout.  Similarly, Goldfinger carries the gold theme throughout the movie,  by almost always wearing something gold.

Watch the golden hands at the beginning, where Goldfinger is introduced, on the left, then Bond on the right.  The additional main characters like Jill Masterson and Pussy Galore, the DB5, Oddjob, and Mr. Solo are also included.   There are actually a couple of flashbacks to Dr. No and From Russia With Love too in this sequence.   This is a brilliant title sequence that has captivated millions of Bond fans to this day.  Simply fantastic!

And this is one of our favorite title sequences done in any spy movie.  You will notice scenes from the previous Bond movies are projected onto the golden woman’s body – which is alone brilliant.   Actress Margaret Nolan was the golden girl in this title sequence, and she was also the golden body in the movie posters.

Goldfinger Poster in Many Ways Captures the Goldfinger Title Sequence

Robert Brownjohn designed both the title sequence and the promotional posters.   One of our favorite posters, which we own, is a simple, vertical poster, with a black background.   It has the words in white, “James Bond is Back in Action” and includes several photos of Bond.  In particular, one is with a Bond girl, and the golden girl lies horizontally across the middle of the poster.

Continuing, the golden words “Everything he touches turns to excitement” is the overwhelming message.  And this, of course,  a play on the words, “everything he touches turns to gold.”   So, the attribute of success, which goes along with the original idea of “everything he touches turns to gold”, is attributed to Bond.  Specifically, here as it refers to the excitement he creates, for us, the viewers.  Simply brilliant.

Who does not know the Goldfinger theme music?  It was one of the most successful themes of any Bond film.

Music by John Barry, as always, is marvelous and inspiring.  Guy Hamilton does another spectacular job directing the film to be one of the best Bond films ever made.  This Goldfinger Title Sequence is yummy!   One of our favorites!

Goldfinger – Fontainebleau Scene, Miami Beach

Goldfinger – Fontainebleau Scene, Miami Beach – This scene, which is shot supposedly at the Fontainebleau Resort in Miami Beach (in Florida in the US), was indeed partially shot at the Fontainebleau.

Felix Leiter is briefing Bond on Auric Goldfinger in this scene, and Bond, when hearing Auric Goldfinger’s name says, “sounds like French nail varnish.”  This shows Bond is sophisticated, but always playful with words and confident.  We saw Bond make interesting quips in the first two EON Production movies, Dr. No and From Russia With Love, and it continues.  We are growing to know the Bond character very well.

Sean Connery (as Bond) and Gert Froebe (as Goldfinger) never really made it to Miami Beach for these scenes.  And neither Harold Sakaka (Oddjob)   The second unit camera crew shot establishing shots at the real Fontainebleau Resort.  Yet, the scenes with Bond and Goldfinger were shot at Pinewood Studios in London.

You can see the main Fontainebleau building shown in the background is a bit dull and slightly washed out.  Other shots where Goldfinger is playing cards, with his pigeon sitting across from him, while  Bond walks by are very crisp and sharp.  These sets were built at Pinewood studio, where these scenes were shot.  Felix Leiter was in fact at the Fontainebleau and some of his scenes were shot on-location there.

Fontainebleau Scene is the Perfect set-Up

This is a perfect set-up scene though.  Leiter fills Bond in on Goldfinger, and we learn he is British but doesn’t sound like it.  He also has a great stud farm and is clean so far with the CIA.  Bond, as he walks by Goldfinger playing cards, notices that he has an earpiece in.  Suspecting Goldfinger is getting fed information through the earpiece, he glances around the hotel balconies.  And notice here, Goldfinger, as he does for most of the film, is wearing something gold – here a golden pool jacket.

Bond enters the hotel, finds a maid, uses her passkey, attached by a cord to her waist, to open the door.  When Bond says she is very sweet, and he starts to enter the room, she looks him over, checking out his backside – and frontside as he turns.  Watch her eyes and head.   All women love Bond, huh?   When he gets into Goldfinger’s room, he encounters Jill Masterson, played flawlessly by Shirley Eaton.   She is gorgeously lying on the balcony in a hot bikini, with binoculars and a transmitter.  Ah!     Bond makes Goldfinger lose at gin to the tune of $15,000.  And Jill says, “I’m beginning to like you, Mr. Bond.”

The adversarial relationship between Bond and Goldfinger is established.  Goldfinger likes to win.

Catching Goldfinger cheating at cards also comes from the novel by Fleming.

Scene Locations

It is ironic that here, the scenes were supposed to be in Kentucky, but actually shot, partially, in Miami Beach Florida and Miami Florida. Oddjob’s Lincoln, the iron and metal company, Felix and Simmons at the Kentucky Fried Chicken, etc. were all shot in Miami.  Then in other spy movies, like Notorious and the 2006 EON Production’s Casino Royale, scenes were supposed to be set in Miami.   Nonetheless, for Notorious were all filmed in Los Angeles and Hollywood, and for Casino Royale were in Prague in the Czech Republic!

SpyMovieNavigator visited the Fontainebleau Resort, on a recent trip to Miami Beach.  And, much has changed in the decades that followed the filming of Goldfinger.  Even though, some location shots that were done with Felix Leiter, we were able to locate!

Like him walking past the ice skating rink – there is no longer an ice skating rink there, it is a shop now, but the curved hallway he walks through is still there.   We walked through it as well – in his footsteps!  And a couple of shots outside, near the pools, can be found – and we found them – although the entire pool area has changed.  This Goldfinger – Fontainebleau Scene is a key set-up scene and must be viewed and examined!

Goldfinger – The Golden Girl

Goldfinger – The Golden Girl – While Bond has won over Jill Masterson, was he naïve enough not to think that Goldfinger would retaliate?  We assume they went out to dinner, as he had suggested, and then back to his room to make love and have fun.   This clip picks up when Bond is recovering from being knocked out by Oddjob.  When he comes to, he walks from the kitchen area where he was retrieving more champaign to the bed area.

The shot is filmed perfectly as we see Bond walk in front of a mirror and we can see Bond from both sides – shocked at what he is seeing.   Jill Masterson is covered in gold paint lying on her stomach across the bed.  A strategically placed pillow blocks us from seeing her butt, which would not have been on screen in 1964, especially for the equivalent of a PG (parental guidance) audience rating.  In the book Jill Masterton – a slight spelling difference – is painted with gold as well.

We know it’s Bond’s room because when he picks up the phone, the person at the desk says, “Yes, Mr. Bond.”  He calls Felix and tells her the girl is dead.

Goldfinger – The Golden Girl is Dead – But Not Bond

As a viewer, we wonder again why not kill Bond too?   Oddjob got into Bond’s room, knocks out Bond, and then paints Jill Masterson from head to toe in gold paint.  Of course, we assume Oddjob or whoever painted her knew how long it would take and that Bond would be knocked out until they were finished.  Maybe they had a team in the room, painting her and watching Bond.  We don’t know.   But why not just kill Bond?

Perhaps Goldfinger does not yet know who Bond really is and just thinks he took his trophy-girl away from him.  As we know, Goldfinger likes to win.  So maybe Goldfinger was simply thinking to kill her, and Bond can’t have her anymore either.  Let Bond suffer through this loss.   But Goldfinger is connected, worldwide it seems.  How does he not know about Bond being an MI6 agent?

Of course, we will see this same type of megalomaniacal behavior in many Bond villains to come. And,  from the preceding James Bond 007 movies we see this as well, Dr. No and From Russia With Love. We will see it again in this film!

OK, our willing suspension of disbelief will get us to the next scene!

Goldfinger and Bond Golfing at Stoke Poges

Goldfinger Golf Scene

Goldfinger & Bond at Stoke Poges – This clip is about 5 ½ minutes long, but it highlights what will become the mission for the rest of the film.   It establishes Bond as a person of interest for Goldfinger since he has access to some rare gold bars.  This clip is not the sharpest in terms of quality, but it was the best we could find at this time on YouTube.  This clip reinforces the tension and adverse relationship they have.  As Bond wins the round and the 5,000 pounds that the gold bar was worth.  That’s the bet Goldfinger made with Bond after he saw the gold bar, and Goldfinger is not happy.

Once again, you will notice Goldfinger is wearing a golden sweater as he plays his round of golf with Bond.   He is almost always wearing something gold throughout the film.   Once you pay attention to it, you will look for it!

We know that Goldfinger likes to win – and here he loses to Bond.   And he must write him a check for the 5,000 pounds.   Goldfinger’s Rolls is parked in front of the main building at the club.  Here, he directs Oddjob to demonstrate the capabilities of his hat, knocking the head off a statue some distance away.   We now know that Oddjob is physically strong, but has a hat for a potent weapon, which we will see used in key scenes later in the film.

SpyMovieNavigator On Location at Stoke Poges Club,
where these scenes were filmed

ON THE FILMING LOCATION: On a recent trip to London, SpyMovieNavigator took a trek out to Stoke Park, which is where they filmed these golf scenes.  We actually had lunch at the restaurant – and it was fun – a high tea!  Then, we walked out by the 18th hole, got some great photos,  This is where Goldfinger concedes the game to Bond (after Bond replaced Goldfinger’s ball with the wrong one – “stick rules!”

After that, we walked in front of the main building where the Rolls was parked, and where Bond, Oddjob and Goldfinger met after the match.  There, Goldfinger writes the check to Bond. And here, in the film, is where Oddjob demonstrates his skills with his hat – knocking off the head of a statue.   Here are a couple of pictures including the driveway in front where Goldfinger’s Rolls is, with Bond, Oddjob and Goldfinger, Dan in front of Stoke, and Dan and Tom in front of the famous 18th hole!

Stoke Poges Club, at Stoke Park, Goldfinger, golf, james bond, spymovienavigator
Stoke Poges Club – Where Goldfinger’s Rolls in parked and where Oddjob demonstrates his skills with
Stoke Poges Club, at Stoke Park, Goldfinger, Oddjob, where the Rolls is parked, Dan in front of Stokes Park
Stoke Poges Club, at Stoke Park, North of London. Goldfinger golf scenes
Stoke Poges Club, at Stoke Park, 18th hole, Goldfinger, James Bond, 18th hole, Dan and Tom in front of 18th green
Stokes Poges- Dan and Tom in front of the 18th green, where Goldfinger concedes the game!

Again, we were really excited to be at these filming locations!  Especially for these great scenes in one of our favorite Bond movies  – we were right there!  We love going to spy movie film locations, and we encourage you to do the same.  It is just fun to be where they shot these scenes.   And when you watch the movie again, you can‘t help but say, “I was right there!”

Goldfinger Golf Scene In the Movie: Royal St. Mark’s is where they say they are playing.
In Reality: Stoke Poges Club, at Stoke Park, north of London

As a reminder, Goldfinger likes to win, and here, he lost again to Bond.  So this cannot be good for Bond.  This Goldfinger golf scene is one of the classics in spy movies.

In the movie, the golf match takes place at the Royal St. Marks’ (which was based on the Royal St. Georges).   In real life, it was filmed at Stoke Poges Club, at Stokes Park, which is about 35 minutes outside of London (Buckinghamshire) and is a luxurious resort and spa.  Fabulous grounds, building, etc., founded in 1908.  One of the most expensive clubs in the world!  Fleming was a decent golfer and played at Royal St. Georges, and was especially fond of the 19th hole!  Fleming’s handicap was 9, which coincidentally is the handicap of Bond. And in the film, Goldfinger has the same handicap, as the starter says in this clip.

In the film, we all know that Goldfinger plays a Slazenger 1, but Bond switches his ball with a Slazenger 7 when Goldfinger ends up in the rough and can’t find his ball, but Oddjob sneakily drops one.   Bond finds the real one, and also a Schlesinger 7.  Bond hides the Slazenger 1 and switches Goldfinger’s ball by tossing him the wrong one from the cup.  We can believe that Goldfinger might not notice since a 7 and a 1 might look similar at a quick glance.   But what ball does Bond Play?  A Penfold Heart!  This Goldfinger golf scene is a must-watch.

Goldfinger – DB5 Car Chase

Goldfinger – DB5 Car Chase

This clip highlights three things: the DB5 and its gadgets, and the death of Tilly Masterson at the hands (hat) of Oddjob, and an emotional Bond, as we saw in Dr. No.

It is rumored that the producers wanted to use a Jaguar, but Jaguar refused to provide cars for the film.   They then went to Aston Martin, and Aston Martin, of course, provided two cars for the movie.   What was Jaguar thinking?  This Aston Martin was also used in Thunderball and sold to a private American car collector for about $4.6 Million over 40 years later. There is another version of the story that says EON Productions had to pay for the Aston Martins.

Notice the sound effects in this clip, and remember it won an Academy Award for sound effects.   The motor sounds, road sounds, gadgets, bullets being fired, the crash of Oddjob’s hat striking Tilly are all first-rate.

More Tender Side of Bond

Here, we see another glimpse at the more tender side of Bond, as we saw in Dr. No when Quarrel was killed and Bond walks over to look at Quarrel, sadly and reflective.   Here, he does a similar thing.   When Oddjob strikes down Tilly during the gunfight between Bond and Goldfinger’s Asian henchmen, Bond gives up the fight. Doing so, he runs over to the body of  Tilly.  Bond gently rolls her over, realizing she is dead.  He glances at Oddjob’s hat and is obviously sad, maybe even emotional, as he looks at her face.  Examine Bond’s face as he looks at her – he is emotional.  And then he clenches his jaw, indicating that he is angry, and will try to avenge her death.  All in one quick shot – brilliant.

The DB5, Car Chase

Of course, we move through this scene as Bond is avoiding his pursuers with skilled driving and the DB5 gadgets – at one point, after Bond activates the smokescreen, Tilly smiles broadly, and we, the audience, are thinking they will be safe and will shake off their pursuers.

Then Bond uses the oil slick, and another car chasing them crashes off a cliff and bursts into flames, much like we saw the hearse in Dr. No plunge to a fiery grave.  In this clip, the car crashes, bursts into flames, crashes through some small trees as it rolls downhill, and the trees follow it in flames as it crashes into a wall at the bottom.   A beautiful scene, even though most cars will not burst into flames when crashing like this as we said in our Dr. No podcast!  But great drama!

We also see Bond raise the bulletproof shield during this chase.  SpyMovieNavigator always wondered why the front windshield is bullet-proof as we will see in another moment in this clip as the old lady gatekeeper fires a machine gun at Bond’s windshield.  Yet, he needs the bullet-proof shield to protect the rear window.   Maybe just extra protection by Q, thinking most dangerous scenarios would be a chase from the rear.   Or, maybe even to block out the targets inside the car.   But it’s a cool gadget nonetheless.

Tilly Dead and the Capture of Bond – Why Did They Make Him Drive His Own Car?

Lastly, after Tilly is killed, you see the bad guys carry her body off as Oddjob grunts for one of his, I think, three or four grunts in the film.   Then, they make Bond drive his own car back to Goldfinger’s headquarters.  We are thinking – well, you kind of know the car is latent with gadgets – he used a smoke screen, oil slick, read bullet-proof shield already – what next?  Well, they make Bond drive his car anyway.

Q’s forethought was right on the money again – the ejector seat!  Yes, the Goldfinger goon who is in the passenger seat with a gun on Bond gets ejected – notice the very surprised look on his face as he glances up at the roof for a second before ejection.   Bond then uses the front machine guns to try to escape, the gate lady fires a machine gun at the windshield, and eventually Bond crashes his car and they capture him.

All in all, this Goldfinger – DB5 car chase is a great chase scene, with lots of nuances.  And one that makes sense in this film.   And now Bond is captured . . .

Goldfinger – “No Mr. Bond I expect you to die!”

Goldfinger – “No Mr. Bond I expect you to die!”

After the car crash, and after Tilly Masterson, Jill Masterson’s sister, is killed by Oddjob, Bond now is in Goldfinger’s control.   He finds himself strapped to a metal table, as Goldfinger is about to demonstrate his laser beam.  Here in the film, the laser beam is directed at the base of the table.  It then is guided to rise-up between Bond’s legs, into his crotch and eventually kill him.   In the book by Fleming, it was a table saw.

The book was published March 23, 1959, while the laser was not invented until 1960.   The first working laser was built on May 16, 1960, by Theodore H. Maiman at Hughes Research Laboratories based on the theoretical work of Charles Hard Townes and Arthur Leonard Schawlow.

Goldfinger – The LASER and “No Mr. Bond I expect you to die!”

The term laser came to be an  acronym for “Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.”   Again, EON Productions was clever at integrating a real-life happening, the invention of the laser, into this film which was being shot in 1963 for release in 1964.  And at the time, this was a very high-tech scene in Goldfinger!  We cannot think of another film using a laser before Goldfinger, so here is another first for EON Productions!

This scene is famous the world over for the laser, and for the dialogue: Bond: “ You expect me to talk?” Goldfinger – “No Mr. Bond I expect you to die!”

A couple of noteworthy facts:

  1. Notice that Goldfinger is again wearing something gold – the lapels of his jacket are gold!
  2. When they were filming this scene, of course, the laser was a post-production add-in – they weren’t really using a laser. Instead, to get the important visual of the metal being cut by the laser, one of the production staff was beneath the table with a blow-torch and was cutting through the metal, making Sean Connery genuinely nervous!
  3. Goldfinger reveals the three things he loves about gold: “All my life I’ve been in love with it’s color, its brilliance, its divine heaviness.”

It is another scene where Bond was to be killed by a more elaborate scheme than necessary.  But, it is burned into people’s memories (pun intended) as one of the best scenes from any Bond movie, even any spy movie.

And of course, Bond does survive this.  He convinces Goldfinger that he, Bond, is worth more alive than dead because of his potential knowledge of Operation Grand Slam.

This is another great Ken Adam set design and joins other spectacular sets in Goldfinger.

Goldfinger Reveals Operation Grand Slam Plan to Mob Bosses

Goldfinger reveals Operation Grand Slam to Mob Bosses

At Goldfinger’s Kentucky stud farm, Goldfinger reveals his plan to target Fort Knox to the American mobsters in attendance, who each ponied up $1 million in gold to participate in the plan.

The Set of Goldfinger’s Play Room

Ken Adam outdoes himself with this set, as it is a fabulous, richly wooded and paneled room.  There is a revolving pool table that reveals a control panel.   From it, Goldfinger controls enforced window shutters, can project a map of Fort Knox and more.  It even retracts the floor to reveal a 3D map of Fort Knox and the surrounding area.

One of our favorite James Bond sets.  As you watch this clip, notice the detail, the richness, the wealth this room reveals.   Our only gripe is the mobsters are made to look amateurish, and almost comical.  And this would not accurately represent the violent and unforgiving nature of mobsters in the United States.  They are more like Goldfinger than unlike Goldfinger and are not easily tricked or deceived.

Bond escapes from his cell in time to poke his head up from below the 3D model to overhear the Operation Grand Slam name.  Pussy Galore catches him.

Mr. Solo Wants Out of Operation Grand Slam – and the Mobsters Die

In the scene, Mr. Solo wants out of the deal, and Goldfinger excuses himself to take care of Mr. Solo, load his bricks of gold into the Lincoln so that Oddjob could drive Mr. Solo to the airport.   Of course, we wonder, was this going to be checked luggage or carry-on?!  In any event, we need not worry, as Oddjob will be driving Mr. Solo to his “pressing engagement,” as we will see a few clips from now.

In the meantime, Goldfinger’s henchmen,  gas the rest of the mob guys, killing them, so he could keep their gold as well.  As an aside, Goldfinger would have a lot of American mobsters after him after this little cross, and probably would never make it to Fort Knox!

You will notice again, here, Goldfinger is wearing a gold vest – keeping with his love of gold.

This scene also reveals how unfazed Goldfinger and his organization are with killing people.   He reveals here that there are 41,000 troops protecting Fort Knox.   Later, when Bond and Goldfinger are drinking a mint julep, the number 60,000 comes up.   Regardless, Goldfinger has no qualms about killing them all.  He loves only gold.

Goldfinger – Car Tailing Scene and Iron and Metal Yard

Car Tailing Scene and Iron and Metal Yard – In this clip, Oddjob is supposedly driving Mr. Solo to the airport somewhere in Kentucky (USA).  In the trunk of the Lincoln is Mr. Solo’s million dollars worth of gold.   As we recall, Mr. Solo did not want any part of Operation Grand Slam (the Fort Knox plan) and Goldfinger let him out.

Bond in the meantime had wrapped his homing device into a piece of paper that warned of the attack on Fort Knox, and slipped it into Mr.  Solo’s suit pocket thinking Felix Leiter would track him and discover the plan in time.  But time is pressing, and short for Mr. Solo.

This is a critical scene for several reasons:

  1. we see again how ruthless Goldfinger is;
  2. Bond’s message will not get through to the authorities, because his homing device will cease to work when the Lincoln is crushed along with Solo and the gold; and
  3.  Oddjob is a direct follower of orders – shooting Mr. Solo on order and crushing him in the Lincoln.   Oddjob is happy to kill for Goldfinger.

SpyMovieNavigator On Location!  Yes!  The Iron and Metal Yard!

SpyMovieNavigator has been to all three major locations for this scene.   Though the scenes were purportedly in Kentucky, at Goldfinger’s stud farm, and surround, they weren’t shot there. The Lincoln drive, the iron and metal crushing yard, the Kentucky Fried Chicken where Leiter and simmons were waiting – all shot in Miami.   You can see our onsite videos here of the Kentucky Fried Chicken shop, the route Oddjob takes to the metal and iron yard, and the actual real metal and iron yard as it appears today.

We will see this ruthless disregard for life in many Bond, Bourne and Mission: Impossible movies.  Drax in Moonraker, for instance, was willing to kill the entire human population, except for those selected for his ark-type space station.  That makes Goldfinger, willing to kill 41,000 – 60,000 people look like a light-weight.

Goldfinger – Real Fort Knox Plan Revealed

Fort Knox plan revealed – The scene is very comfortable, where Bond is not in immediate danger, and where Bond figures out the Fort Knox plan.    The setting is very idyllic on Goldfinger’s stud farm, with a breeze blowing, beautiful sunshine and lighting, and both Goldfinger and Bond enjoying a mint julep.

A mint julep is a drink invented in the southern United States in the 1700s, yet when asked if he wants a mint julep, Bond says, yes, “sour mash but not too sweet.”  Just a worldly spy.  Felix Leiter and Simmons observe from behind a fence with binoculars.

Bond Learns of the Real Fort Knox Plan

Goldfinger is confident in Operation Grand Slam, and let’s Bond draw his own conclusions.   Bond initially thinks Goldfinger was going to break into the world’s largest bank and steal all of the gold, removing it all from Fort Knox.

Bond works out the math to show it is impossible, and Goldfinger just smirks.   Then it dawns on Bond: Goldfinger’s plan is to explode a nuclear device within Fort Knox.  By so doing, that would radiate the gold, contaminating it for, what Goldfinger says, 58 years to be exact.  Bond now thinks the plan is brilliant.

In the book, Goldfinger does plan to remove the gold, but here in the movie, the producers and writers make it a much more realistic plan with a higher degree of success by exploding a dirty bomb within Fort Knox.   The concept of dirty bombs in the early 1960s was very real – they could be made.  It is brilliant, and the exchange between Goldfinger and Bond here is tightly written, and very believable.

Goldfinger is a Ruthless Killer

Goldfinger knows the nerve gas will kill, not just incapacitate, the people who are exposed to it.  But killing 60,000 people does not bother Goldfinger.   We also discover that Goldfinger intends to bring Bond to Fort Knox during the assault.   He will be there, but “too closely for comfort. I’m afraid.”

The scene ends, reminding us of Mr. Solo’s fate.  Oddjob pulls up in the blue 1964 Ford Ranchero, with the cube of metal from the crushed Lincoln, Mr. Solo, and his gold, in the rear.  Goldfinger says to Bond, “Forgive me., Mr. Bond, but I must arrange to separate my gold from the late Mr. Solo.”   Neither Oddjob nor Goldfinger have any qualms about killing.

So we move from an idyllic setting, with mint juleps and cool breezes to the cold-hearted reality of how evil Goldfinger really is.

Note: Goldfinger is wearing a gold vest in this scene, again, always wearing something gold.  He loves only gold!  Supposedly set at Goldfinger’s stud farm in Kentucky, this scene was shot at Pinewood Studios in London.  Now Bond knows of the real Fort Knox plan which has been revealed.  So Bond must die.  Again, we see a plan to kill Bond in an elaborate way – this time, bringing him to Fort Knox, and, as we will discover, handcuffing him to the nuclear device.  These evil geniuses are always confident in their complex methods of killing Bond!

It is a psychological thing with megalomaniacs – they want their victims to know who is in control, and have enough time to think about it.

Assault on Fort Knox – Goldfinger Scene Examined

Assault on Fort Knox – The John Barry music during this entire Fort Knox assault cannot be any better.   It is suspenseful, powerful and perfectly matched to what is unfolding on the screen.   Pussy Galore’s Flying Circus unleashed the deadly gas as they fly in formation over Fort Knox.  The devastating result is instantly killing thousands of soldiers and people.

When the leader gives the signal that the “baby is asleep” then Goldfinger and his team move in.   They blow the gate, use a mobile laser to cut through the steel door, and gain access to Fort Knox.

While there were some exterior shots taken in Kentucky, the entire on-the-ground assault took place at Pinewood Studios.  So don’t try getting close to Fort Knox for a film location visit!

The Deadly Gas

As we remember in the Goldfinger map room, where he unveils the Operation Grand Slam plan to the mob bosses, he unleashes the gas on them.   This is in a closed room, it took awhile for it to take effect.  On the assault on Fort Knox, the planes fly over, release the gases in the open air, and hundreds of people are falling over in each scene instantly.

OK, maybe they used more potent gas for this attack, or we just have to have a willing suspension of disbelief once again.   Regardless, it is a classic scene, that foreshadows Blofeld’s planned unleashing of a deadly virus in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. And similarly, Drax’s pods wiping out humanity in Moonraker.   Or even the deadly virus that will be unleashed in Mission: Impossible 2.   We will see similar themes in spy movies, as one influences another.

Assault on Fort Knox – the beginning of the end

Of course, Bond has somehow gotten to Pussy Galore, and she swaps out the deadly gas canisters for harmless ones.   Thousands of lives saved!  This is unknown to the audience, of course, at the time of the assault, and unknown to the Flying Circus team – and unknown to Bond.  Felix Leiter and the CIA assault team and the army can then counter-attack Goldfinger.   This clip ends before they bring in the nuclear device.  But why would the US assault team wait for them to bring in and arm the nuclear device before attacking?   Makes no sense, but creates the dramatic build-up in this assault sequence.

Goldfinger – Bond versus Oddjob at Fort Knox

Bond versus Oddjob – In this clip, we see three people left inside Fort Knox with the bomb: the guy who cuffed Bond to the device, Oddjob, and Bond.   The guy who cuffed Bond, once realizing they locked him in and he is doomed, wants to disarm the bomb.   Oddjob, totally dedicated to Goldfinger even if it means his life, stops the guard.

And he throws him over the railing to a platform below.  This is the very platform that Bond is on.  So the question here is: this guard who cuffed Bond to the nuclear device knows how to disarm the bomb?   Or was he just going to try?   In a few minutes, we see Bond sweating it out trying to figure out how to disarm it.   OK, we will believe that the guard who cuffed him has special knowledge.  Maybe.

Bond versus Oddjob

The battle between Oddjob and Bond here is a spy movie classic.   This is a captivating scene, as the timer ticks down on the device (albeit very slowly) as Oddjob and Bond fight it out.   Oddjob, knowing he will die with Bond, makes no attempt to disarm the device.  Afterall, he stopped the guard who wanted to disarm it.   You have to give Oddjob props for his dedication.

Oddjob’s hat-weapon, which has served him so well, is his downfall here.   He throws it at Bond, misses, and electrical wires are severed and fall sparking and flaming to the floor.  As we see, Bond retrieves the hat, hurls it at Oddjob, misses and it sticks in-between the metal vertical bars protecting the gold.

Oddjob goes to get it, Bond slides on the floor, gets the wires that are sparking and holds them against the metal bars and Oddjob is electrocuted.   In reality, it was reported that Harold Sakata, who played Oddjob, was badly burned in real life while filming this scene, but held onto the hat through his pain until Guy Hamilton yelled CUT!  In fact, Sean Connery, it has been reported, injured his back in the Fort Knox scene as well.

OK, we can all relax.   NO!  The counter is ticking down on the nuclear device!  And Bond is trying his hardest to figure out how to open the case and disarm the bomb.  Too bad that guard is dead who cuffed him.

The Bomb Is Disarmed!

Eventually, Felix Leiter and the US team get into Fort Knox, Goldfinger escapes removing his gold overcoat to reveal an American service uniform.   Yes.   Gold buttons of course.  But he is carrying a gold gun!  While Bond fumbles to disarm the device, and there are only 007 ticks left, a CIA agent disarms it.   Supposedly, it was going to stop at 003 seconds, but the director thought 007 would be more impactful.   Bond still says “three more ticks Goldfinger would have hit the jackpot.”

Of course, they must track down Goldfinger now, but Bond was going to get an audience with the US President for saving the day.   And he boards the plane to head to Washington, D.C., thinking all is good.  But, as we have seen in many Bond movies to come, the ending is not always the ending!  Bond gets surprised at times, like by Nick Nack in The Man With the Golden Gun, or by Tee Hee in Live and Let Die and more.  And he will get surprised here.

Goldfinger Plays His Golden Harp

Goldfinger Plays Golden Harp – A little pomp and circumstance here as Leiter briefs Bond that the President of the United States wants to thank him. Bond ascends the stairway leading to the plane.  Watch as he walks right past the cockpit, which seems open.  You can see light shining in through the cockpit windows.  He turns right and boards.

Bond is now safely aboard a private jet that will take him to Washington, D.C. to meet with the President of the United States.  Of course, as he sits comfortably, and alone he reaches up and rings for assistance.  Remember Felix told Bond that he ordered liquor for three, but when Bond asks who the other two are, Felix tells him there are no other two.  All for Bond!  But when Bond calls for a drini,  who other than Goldfinger himself emerges from the rear of the plane. And with his golden gun in hand.

Bond warns him how dangerous it is to fire a gun in a pressurized aircraft, as he warned Pussy earlier in the film.  Goldfinger’s intent was to be in Cuba in a couple of hours.

Where’s Pussy?  And Goldfinger Plays Golden Harp

When Bond asks where Pussy is, Goldfinger indicates with his pistol that she is flying the plane. Bond did not notice as he boarded the plane – just a moment of relaxation perhaps.  But why didn’t Bond see Pussy when he boarded?  The cockpit door was open.  Ah well.  That’s when Bond jumps up and wrestles with Goldfinger. A shot goes off, blows out a window,  and Goldfinger, a rather portly man, goes flying through the aircraft.   As he is flying, he gets sucked out of the window (which seems very large for a smaller plane).

In the book, Oddjob gets sucked out of the window, and Goldfinger is just beaten by Bond.

They rapidly descend,  so the danger of getting sucked out the window disappears as cabin pressure stabilizes.   Then Bond makes his way to the cockpit, and they realize they cannot control the plane.  As tower controllers at the airport look on their scope they see the plane plunging.  But wait, they see another dot on the screen pop out above – they have parachuted!   The plane plunges dramatically into the sea, yet, Bond and Pussy parachute safely to land.

Rescue Bond!

Helicopters are searching for them, Pussy tries to signal, and Bond is thinking this is no time to be rescued.  And he covers them with the parachute and the fun begins.  Goldfinger is dead, Fort Knox gold is safe, Pussy now likes men too or at least Bond – his charms are getting to her, and Bond is happy,  Uh, a happy ending for all!

Note that of all the EON Production James Bond 007 films starring Sean Connery, this is the only one that ends where he and his Bond girl are on land, and not on some boat or raft in the water somewhere.

Dr. No – he is with Honey Rider on a small watercraft escaping Dr. No’s exploding complex, when Felix recuses him from another craft.  Looking at From Russia With Love, and we find that he and Tania are on a gondola on the Venice canals.

Go to Thunderball, Bond and Domino are on a small, yellow inflatable watercraft dropped from a plane as they wait for the skyhook to swoop them up.

In You Only Live Twice, Bond and Kissy Suzuki are on a small, inflatable yellow watercraft dropped by a plane.  And then they are rescued as a submarine surfaces from right below them and the watercraft rests right on the outer deck of the sub.  (As they filmed this, they filmed it in reverse – the raft was on the sub, and the sub submerged).  And lastly, Diamonds Are Forever,  Bond and Tiffany Case are aboard a ship as Kidd and Wint try one more time to get Bond.

Goldfinger is one of our favorite Bond movies ever!

Dr. No Title Sequence

Dr. No Title Sequence  – Dr. No, EON Productions first James Bond film based on Ian Fleming’s sixth James Bond 007 novel gets a big YES from movie-goers at the time of release in 1962.  It has been a staple of Bond films ever since.   Dr. No is Dr. Yes for spy movie fans, and new spy movie fans who are focused on Bourne and Mission: Impossible and more recent Bond films with Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig, would enjoy going back to the first James Bond film, Dr. No, to which, we think, they will also say Yes!

A Quick Dr. No Movie Summary:

  • There’s a disappearance of a British agent and his secretary in Jamaica
  • Bond is sent to investigate
  • Discovers Dr. No and plan to interfere with American missile launches
  • We learn of SPECTRE for the first time and of the ensuing events

When released in 1962, the US and Soviet Union were in the cold war.   Each country suspicious and in fear that the other might develop more nuclear weapons than the other, attain nuclear superiority and strike first.

So this is what was really happening in the world,  and selecting Dr. No as the first Fleming novel to turn into a film – dealing with American missile launches, was topical.   Fear of inter-continental ballistic missile raining down on your hometown was a real fear.  The US was behind in the space race, as the Soviets continued to be steps ahead.

But great distances between the countries offered some solace.   Ian Fleming’s “Dr. No” novel was written in 1958 (a year after the Soviet Union launched the first satellite into space, Sputnik).   The movie began shooting in January 1962 –a mere 10 months before The Cuban Missile Crisis (October 16 – 28 1962).  That crisis was about bringing Soviet missiles with warheads to Cuba – just 90 miles from the US coast.   Keep in mind, Dr. No was released in the UK on October 5, 1962 – less than two weeks before the Cuban Missile Crisis, and in the US in May 1963.

So the real world served as a backdrop to fuel the interest in the film, Dr. No, because nuclear war, missile development and deployment, and the ability to attack with missiles were top-of-mind.

The Title Sequence Clip

The title sequence, created by Maurice Binder, who passed away in 1991, is one of the staples of James Bond 007 EON Production movies.   This brilliant title sequence is known and recognized throughout the world.

In the first several Bond films, the man in the gun barrel whop turns and faces the audiences and fires is not the actor who plays James Bond, but a stunt guy, Bob Simmons.  We also hear the iconic Monty Norman James Bond music for the first time here, in Dr. No.

As you watch the title sequence, you will also see the double dots or circles appear for the first time.  We look at those as either bullet holes, which they will be in future movies like EON Production’s Casino Royale, or look at them as the 00 in 007.

This sequence also shows the almost psychedelic nature of the presentation, with flashing circles and flashing Dr. No in many colors – very 1960s, but still very cool.  We hear some odd opening music screeches, then the iconic Bond music, then we move to the colorful silhouettes as the music moves to island music, to get us ready for Jamaica.  As it transitions into the three blind men walking down a Kingston Jamaica street, the well-known music of “Three Blind Mice” is playing.  The roots of this tune go back to King Henry VIII and Queen Mary I, who became known as “Bloody Mary,” and the persecution of protestants.  The three main leaders of the Church of England,  Latimer, Ridley and Cranmer – the architects of the movement under Henry VIII – were burned at the stake by Bloody Mary.   So, the history of violence in the tune foreshadows the role these three blind mice will play in Dr. No, and their flaming end when the hearse they are in chasing Bond crashes off a cliff and burns.   Three Blind Mice.    Wow.

Great start in this Dr. No Title Sequence to James Bond brought to the big screen!

Dr. No Intro Poster and Theme Song

Dr. No Intro Poster  – For Dr. No, this is one of the publicity posters used to promote the movie.  Also, you will hear the theme song music first associated with the EON Production James Bond films! EON created a masterpiece and a James Bond franchise that has thrived for decade.   And Dr. No is the first film they produced.

Our Dr. No Poster Analysis

By 1962 when the film version of Dr. No is released, Ian Fleming’s books featuring the cold war secret agent and Bon Vivant, James Bond were all the rage. The public was hot for a no holds barred film that would introduce a real flesh and blood Bond.

The film poster for Dr. No features Bond as the dominant figure slightly off-center with a smoking gun in one hand and the signature sixties symbol of cool, a cigarette in the other, signifying a controlled relaxed man of action.

The bright yellow background is like intense sunshine referring not only to the movie’s exotic tropical Jamaican locale, which is further depicted by the simple inset line drawing of palm trees, but also to the heat of passion promised by the four sexy female figures each in various stages of undress and striking provocative poses.

The presumed title character of Dr. No is mysteriously cut in half and barely makes it on to the poster’s left edge. It is clear that he is not the hero of this film in spite of the name. Interestingly the evil Dr. No is dressed in white while Bond is in a very dark blue suit which belies the standard code of cinema that the good guy always wears white while the villain is traditionally in black.

As such, this signals the upside down and unpredictable world of espionage where things are not always what they seem.  Therefore,  it is impossible to rely on your previous experiences. The bright red text shouts out what is possibly one the shortest movie titles of all time and announcing the all-important fact that this is THE FIRST JAMES BOND FILM!

Ian Fleming on the Poster

Note Ian Fleming’s name is also in red making the point that this is based on his already well-known books and setting the stage for his branding empire. There are few films particularly up to this time that feature the book author’s name.

In most cases, you will be lucky to find a short line in the credits that says something like “Based on a book by…”  Saying that a movie is based on a book is a signal that this film has an added level of sophistication and worthiness. It might be action-adventure and it might be sexy but it is based on literature. This is an important distinction in this time of changing morality of the 1960s and the changing morality in film.

It might also be argued in this case that it is based on what many considered a book in the realm of pulp fiction.   And so,  in that way promised to be a little edgier or forbidden. Men wanted to see sexy women on the big screen.   And women wanted to be the desired liberated and strong women Fleming portrayed.

The Women On the Poster

It’s important to note the women in this poster are not victims or being controlled in any way. The posture of the second figure from the right is a classic power pose.   She is using her sexuality to lure you towards her but she is not cowering or submissive.

The next figure almost dead center is barely nude with her back toward you but very much aware of who is behind her and again is drawing you toward her and very much in control.

The sexy two-piece white bikini worn by Ursula Andress will become the iconic symbol of the sexual revolution.  And was quite scandalous at this time. But again notice her hip thrust out indicates that she is in charge of her body and the situation.

The poster designer Mitchell Hooks manages to give the budding film star, Sean Connery, prominence though he is still dominated by the author Fleming. Note he is billed as playing the part of “007” a man referred to as a number which was a symbol of the nascent computer age.

Is the number seven lucky? Maybe so. It is important to keep in mind that for many theatergoers this was their first introduction to this man, James Bond.  And he will become an icon and a symbol of cold war espionage, as well as the symbol of the post-WWII “modern” male .  And, soon to be movie icon.

Thanks to our Colleague Reno Lovison

SpyMovieNavigator would like to thank our colleague, Reno Lovison, for this comprehensive poster analysis.   Reno does video production and podcasts on a variety of topics and can be found at renoweb.net.

And we’d like to add a couple more notes:

  • Ian Fleming’s novels in 1962 were experiencing huge growth in popularity in the United States.  Why?  Because President Kennedy at that time included From Russia With Love as one of his favorite Top 10 novels! So interest in James Bond was high, and now, here comes No!
  • On another note, 1962 was just before the large explosion of the sexual revolution in the US and world.   Countries like Ireland had problems with this poster and required changes to be made – like putting a black dress on Honey Rider, and covering up the other Bond Girls on the poster one way or another.   There is a nice book entitled: James Bond Movie Posters – The Official 007 Collection by Tony Nourmand.   The edition we have goes from No to Die Another Day.

Three Blind Mice and the Death of Strangways

Three Blind Mice and the Death of Strangways – In the title sequence, with the exotic setting in Jamaica,  we are immediately intrigued with the opening scene, with the words Dr. No flashing on and off the screen in green, purple, red, blue, and the transition to the colorful silhouettes of dancing women with island music playing.  It’s very 60s but at the time was very cool!

Then we see three blind men walking the streets in Jamaica, and we don’t know what to make of them.  The tune “Three Blind Mice” is playing while we see them walking, which makes us think we should pay attention because maybe these three blind men are important.   We just assume they are part of the scene, background figures, but yet there they are.  And the camera spends a lot of time on them, following them as they “blindly” make their way down streets and finally to the Queen’s Club (Private Members Only).

Perhaps they are members of this private club?   Ah, can’t be as they are all carrying their tin cups for people to drop coins into for them.   This is the club where Strangways plays cards each evening, then leaves at about 6 pm so he can do his reporting into MI6 with his secretary at his place.   Then he could return to cards.   Strangways is dressed is a white, linen suit, and the surroundings are peaceful, tranquil, elegant and high-society.  Makes us wish we had lives like that.  So nice!

Three Blind Mice Not So Blind – The Death of Strangways

These three blind men play a critical role in the entire Dr. No story, as they are responsible for two very key deaths in the plotline and are the reason James Bond ends up in Jamaica.  Here is the set-up for the death of Strangways, the MI6 operative in Jamaica.

So in the film, we see Strangways excusing himself, as he always does at 6 PM, and exiting.  So this is routine, but we don’t know if the three blind men outside the club are routine.  Strangways is walking towards his car and must pass the three blind men.

He takes some coins out and throws them in the cup of the first blind mice with the red hat on, then proceeds to open the door of his car.   When he turns and opens his car door, we find out a great deal about these three men.   All three of them turn and shoot Strangways with pistols equipped with silencers.  No one else is around to see them.   Then they grab his body and throw it in a hearse which speeds around the corner driven by an accomplice.

We will see this hearse again!

Mary Trueblood, Strangways Secretary

In the next scene of this clip, you see the Strangways mailbox.  Then the same three men break in, kill Strangways’ secretary, rummage through his files and take the folders entitled, “Crab Key” and “Dr. No.”

The second clip we selected here goes into more detail of the secretary murder.   Keep in mind, Strangways is the MI6 operative in Jamaica and has been investigating Dr. No.  Bond now is being called in to investigate the Strangways and secretary murders, and to see if there is some connection between these, Dr. No, and the interference with American missile launches.

Here you get a better view of Strangways place and more details of the secretary, Mary Trueblood, murder.   We will see Strangways house again as Bond investigates this location later in the film.   Here, his secretary is setting up his call, by saying “W6N  W6N calling G7W.”    G7W is in London.

Then the three blind men strike again and murder her, carrying her body off after retrieving the Crab Key and Dr. No files.   At the 55 second mark, you will see a framed photograph behind one of the three blind men in the background, on a shelf.   This will prove to be an invaluable lead when Bond investigates this location.  One that will lead  him to Quarrel, who plays a major role in the film.

As an aside, the secretary, Mary Trueblood, is played by a local Jamaican, Delores Keator, who actually owned the building they used to shoot these scenes.

The Three Blind Mice Set the Table for Rest of Movie

Three Blind Mice and the Death of Strangways sets us up nicely.  As we see instantly, Dr. No is going to be a captivating film, with murder, intrigue and mystery.

These clips set up the rest of the movie, as now Bond must investigate.  Strangways, though dead, will play an important roll in the film as Bond tries to put the pieces together.  We will see similar scenarios in Live and Let Die, where Bond must investigate the murder of three agents.  And again, we see agents killed in The Living Daylights in Gibraltar, View to A Kill,  Octopussy, and in more Bond movies to come.  We will see similar scenarios in Mission: Impossible, and even the Bourne series.

Three Blind Mice and the Death of Strangways is well shot, well acted and is intriguing to the viewer.

This opening scene with the three blind mice walking was shot on Harbour Street in downtown Kingston, Jamaica.  Where Strangways is killed at Queen’s Club is now Liguanea Club at 80 Knutsford Blvd in Kingston, Jamaica.

Bond. James Bond

Bond.  James Bond

This Dr. No clip is one of the most critical and important scenes in the entire James Bond 007 franchise  The interaction between Sylvia Trench, in red, and James Bond at the baccarat table at Le Cercle at Les Ambassadeurs in London sets up the entire Bond.  James Bond scenario in the films.   For the very first time in film history, Bond says his name like this. And Sylvia Trench is truly the first Bond Girl.   So this clip is one of the most important clips in any James Bond 007 film.  Bond, in this the scene,  receives word that he must leave and head to Jamaica to investigate deaths of J branch MI6 members.

Les Ambassadeurs

Here, Bond is in Le Cercle at Les Ambassadeurs in London.    We visited Les Ambassadeurs in London – we could not get in as it is private, but we were at the doorway,  awning, and sign, which is the establishing shot for this scene in Dr. No.  Very cool building and the security guys were nice to let us take some pictures.  We were on the steps of Les Ambassadeurs, knowing what an important role this place played in the Bond films!  We were there on a pleasant day, and the the entryway was elegant.  It was Bond, and we were standing right there!  And guess what?  So was Fleming once!

As an aside, Cubby Broccoli, who along with Harry Saltzman were the original producers of the Bond films, set up a meeting once at Les Ambassadeurs for Fleming and Irving Allen to talk about maybe turning the Fleming Bond novels into movies.   Allen was not impressed and told Fleming the stories were not even good enough for television.   So, we were standing at the door where Fleming walked through for this meeting!

We see Bond here as cool and elegant.  In the “Dr. No Documentary” by John Cork, it comes out that a stylistic decision was made by Terrence Young and the writers: to take the elegance, wit, and sophistication of Fleming’s writing and infuse James Bond with those characteristics.  And forever, Bond is cool, elegant, witty and sophisticated.

SpyMovieNavigator On Location – London

Les Ambassadeurs, London Bonb. James Bond
Dan in front of Les Ambassadeurs in London. Scene where Bond first says: “Bond. James Bond.”
Les Ambassadeurs in London Dr.No. Bond. James Bond
Les Ambassadeurs in London – awning, and entrance. We were able to get some pics at the doorway and more!

This scene is exceptional.  We see this fancy club, we see people sitting at the chemin de fer table, meticulously dressed.  A lady in red, and several others sitting around the table, are enjoying this aspect of their lives.   And there is a gentleman across the table from the lady in red, in a tux.  You see only his sleeves, hands, chest.  She is losing and he is winning.  Who are they?  Will their lives entwine?

“I admire your luck, Mr. . . .”

Miss Trench loses more money, then asks the house to cover, and then writes a check out for more money.  At which point the gentleman in the tux says, “I admire your courage, Miss. . .”  To which she replies, “Trench.  Sylvia Trench.  I admire your luck, Mr…?”   To which the gentleman in the tux replies coolly, while lighting a cigarette: “Bond.   James Bond.”  This is the first time in Bond movies we see Bond and hear the famous line, “Bond.  James Bond” and we are now set up to hearing this for all of time.   Who in this world does not know this line?

From this scene, we know absolutely Sylvia Trench will be the first Bond Girl.

Clues as to why Sylvia Trench Was to Become the First Bond Girl

How do we know that Sylvia Trench will become the first Bond girl?   Because of several overlooked clues that she gives us in this scene.  Want to know what to look for?  Well, let’s look into this together right here and right now.

  • First, when she is shown losing for the first time, she raises both eyebrows, which is often a sign of surprise – which could be pleasant or not, or a sign of acceptance – like when you see a friend and they smile – their eyebrows go up. But watch her face closely the entire scene!  She just lost to Bond, so raising her eyebrows is certainly acknowledging the other person, drawing attention to herself – as your eyes are in full view and opened wider – it’s almost like saying hello – a signal – from a distance directed at your target.  And she parts her lips while doing this –  a sign of sexual submissiveness – which is very important here.
  • And when she loses again, and again she raises both eyebrows, as she says
    “I need another 1000” Again, opening up to Bond, almost surrendering to him.
  • Wait!   Here is the big clue – we have been watching her eyebrows closely: when Bond says to her, “I admire your courage, Miss…?” And she says, “Trench.  Sylvia Trench.”  She has her head downwards, and her eyes upwards – which is a submissive eye expression.  She then says to him, “I admire your luck, Mr…?”  Right here is the secret clue!  She raises only her right eyebrow!  That is often a sign of interest in the person you are talking to, maybe even submissiveness as you are looking for attention and it is a sign of less aggressiveness – but it can also be a sign of power – as in “I want your name, now.”  – but definitely a sign of opening up to that person.  Here she tells us, she will be the first Bond.  James Bond. Girl.
  • And you will notice later in the film, on Crab Key, when Honey Rider walks out of the ocean and Bond sees her for the first time, he raises his left eyebrow – so yes, she will be THE bond girl!

Its movie origin is right here in Dr. No – and now forever, he is Bond.   James Bond.

James Bond Lifestyle

And now, we get a good glimpse into James Bond’s lifestyle – he is at a private club casino, playing chemin de fer in a tuxedo.   What a lifestyle that we all look at and admire, wish for, long for – can we be, in some small way, Bond.   James Bond?

We will see a further glimpse into Bond’s lifestyle when he says to Miss Trench a bit later,
“You’re out to get me” and she replies, “that’s an idea.”  Bond gets interrupted by a message that he must leave (to go back to MI6, to discover his next mission).  Miss Trench gets up as well and they stroll out together.  They will meet again, as Bond hands her his card and says, “My number’s on the card.”  Very cool.

And in fact, we do see Miss Trench later in Dr. No and again in From Russia With Love.   Sylvia Trench was played by Eunice Gayson, who passed away in 2018 – the first Bond girl to pass away.  She played it well.

Bond Arrives in Jamaica

Bond Arrives in Jamaica

Listen to our Podcast!

Bond arrives in Jamaica via Pan American airlines.  He is still flying Pan American airlines in Licence to Kill when he goes to Key West Florida in the US.   Remember when he is leaving after Felix Leiter’s wedding to Della, he is at the Key West airport and walks up to the Pan American counter.

Well, when Bond lands in Jamaica, we gain insight into his thinking, questioning the situation, being suspicious.   We notice a woman photographer licking her flashbulb, a character watching from the balcony, and the driver who has come to get Bond.  –

Now the photographer in this scene is Marguerite Lewars, who was Miss Jamaica – so licking the flashbulb, although a useful thing to do to make better contact with the socket – is also a sexual thing here – this beautiful woman, in 1962, is licking a flashbulb in a major motion picture.

The Driver in Jamaica Who Picks Up Bond

Back to the driver:  The driver approaches Bond outside only after Bond gives up a taxi to two women who were trying to get a taxi – was this a bit late?   Bond’s instincts tell him not to trust this driver and he makes a call, while, unbeknownst to him,  Felix Leiter watches.   Bond discovers his Government House contact did not send a driver.  So Bond figures maybe he can get some info from this driver.

Bond gets in the back seat of this Chevy convertible, and they drive off, Leiter is trailing, but Bond does not know Leiter yet, they try to lose Leiter, pull over to the side, and then Bond gets the better of the driver, who takes cyanide instead of talking. Although this is a car chase, Bond is not driving, so it is not really considered Bond’s first car chase.  The scene is important because we do not know Bond well yet.  Nor do we who know who Leiter is yet either, and or if the driver of the Chevy convertible may have led Bond to the info he needs for this mission.  We are learning about Bond’s character, toughness and focus for the first time in this scene.

The death of the driver does not bother Bond at all, as he loads him into the back seat of the convertible.  Then he proceeds to drive himself to the Government House, quipping to the Government House personnel, “Sergeant, make sure he doesn’t get away.”  This is the first time we see this characteristic of Bond’s film personality – making a casual, amusing quip which he will become famous for in the films.

The Government House shown here is actually King’s House on Hope Road in Kingston, Jamaica.

Check out our Dr. No podcast!

Meeting Felix Leiter for the First Time

Meeting Felix Leiter for the First Time – Felix Leiter plays a major role in many Bond films to come (played by 6 different actors so far), but Dr. No is his first appearance and his first meeting with Bond.   First played by Jack Lord, then Cec Linder in Goldfinger, then Rick Van Nutter in Thunderball, Norman Burton in Diamonds are Forever, David Hedison in Live and Let Die,  John Terry in The Living Daylights,  David Hedison again in License to Kill, then a great one Jeffrey Wright in Casino Royale and again in Quantum of Solace.

Jack Lord, David Hedison and Jeffrey Wright were the hands-down best Felix Leiters.  We own Hedison’s autograph.   And it is confirmed that Jeffrey Wright will return for Bond 25!    He is excellent.

Bond – in A Tussle With Quarrel, Puss Feller

In this scene, we learn more about Bond’s dexterity and his ability to fight.    Cornered by Quarrel (played by John Kitzmiller) held in check by Puss Feller (played by Lester Prendergast), the alligator wrestler who owns the club, Bond fights his way out and gets the better of them both.  In so doing, he throws them into cases of Red Stripe beer – of which we have had many in Jamaica – until Felix Leiter walks in behind Bond with a gun trained on him.   For a moment, Bond thinks he has been out-maneuvered, but Felix introduces himself as an ally from the CIA.  Because Bond went with the driver at the airport, Leiter and Quarrel were not sure of Bond’s allegiances – now they understand who he is.

Meeting Felix Leiter for the first time for Bond and the viewers is exciting.   Leiter will play key roles in future Bond movies, and Quarrel, Junior will make an appearance in Live and Let Die, and is played by Roy Steward.  We also learn more about Bond.  Well done!

Bond’s First Car Chase

Bond’s First Car Chase

We have come to expect car chases and virtually any other kind of chase in spy movies now, and especially in Bond movies.  And, here, we see Bond’s first car chase

Now, in real like this does not happen very much!   We have reached out to the International Spy Museum in Washington DC in the US.  We plan on doing a podcast with them on the very subject of the differences between what happens in spy movies versus what happens in the real world of real spies!   So look for our podcast on that.   In the meantime, there was a great article on July 31 2015 in the online Vanity Fair on this subject.  It’s entitled, “14 Ways Spy Movies Are Nothing Like Real Life” by Julie Miller.  In this piece, the curator of the museum said: “High-speed car chases only happen when the mission goes very, very bad.”    He suggested that it is always better to blend in.

Despite real life, in movies we now expect it.  Here is James Bond’s first real car chase, where he is driving and eluding pursuers.  Here he is driving a lake-blue, English  Sunbeam Alpine Series II.   He is on his way to Miss Taro’s place (played by Zena Marshall) for some fun, but she is in on the plot to eliminate Bond.   So, on the exact way Taro told him to go, he is pursued by another vehicle whose occupants are determined to kill Bond.

Another Chase, and More Chases

This is the hearse that the three blind men loaded Strangways into after they killed him.   So, we assume this is the three blind men once again, and for the last time.   For spy movies, we will see this same concept, of course, repeated over and over again – car chase scenes, and other vehicle chase scenes – trains, helicopters, running.  And it did not begin here, in Dr. No.

Chases are now expected and anticipated in spy movies and will make an appearance in many more Bond films, Bourne, e.g., and more. And there have been chase scenes in spy movies in the more distant past.  Here is a great example:  Brit planes chasing a train with German spies in the 1936 movie Secret Agent and other movies (like Bullit, 1968).   But they are nevertheless still exciting, and somehow the stunts are more and more dramatic.  It is now part of the formula.  In the 2006, Casino Royale by EON Productions, when Bond rolls his Aston Martin DBS V12 while pursuing Vesper Lynd, they achieved a world record of 7 rolls.   It it is a spectacular roll, and this pursuit is believable and contextually made sense.

Fortunately, Bond eludes the pursuers and they crash off a cliff with the what has become the fiery crash scene in many spy movies to come.    Of course, in real life, in general, cars don’t explode and catch fire in a crash.  Even the American TV show, Mythbusters at one time fired bullets directly into the fuel tank of a car.  And . . . nothing happened.   It is possible but unlikely!

Anyway, Miss Taro is surprised when Bond shows up, and she gets a call, they have some fun. Bond fakes car trouble and calls a taxi for them to go out, and she gets her into what she thinks is a taxi, and is taken off by a Bond ally.  After she is out, Bond is cooly awaiting whoever it may be to show up and try to dispose of him   So here it is!

The Professor Dies – And You’ve Had Your Six

The Professor Dies – And You’ve Had Your Six

The Professor Dies – And You’ve Had Your Six  – In this important clip, we see the very tough and dark nature of James Bond – here, he is a cold-hearted killer as he tricks Professor Dent into thinking he, Bond, is asleep in the bed.  Or what does Dent think?   He doesn’t know Miss Taro has been extracted from the premises.  So does he care if he kills Bond and Taro?  We don’t know.

But we must remember, Dent has already failed to kill Bond with the tarantula and Dr. No wants Bond dead.   With Miss Taro out of the picture, but unknown to Professor Dent, Professor Dent is coming to Taro’s house to kill Bond.  While Bond is waiting for Professor Dent’s arrival, he coolly waits, playing cards.   The scene is set – the bamboo room accents add to that exotic island feeling, Bond pours two drinks and removes his coat to put on the sofa with the drinks on the cocktail table – as if he and Miss Taro had been drinking together.   The lighting is just perfect as you see the cards, and the shadow of the ceiling fan rotating over the cards.

He tosses the bedclothes on the floor, then assembles the pillows and sheets to make it appear someone was sleeping.  “Underneath the Mango Tree” is playing and “underneath the moonlit sky” is playing as he walks past the shutters with the moonlight beaming outside.  Again, Terence Young, the director, is keenly aware of the song’s lyrics and uses them to his advantage

“Underneath the moonlit sky
Me honey and I
Come sit hand in hand
Underneath the moonlit sky
Me honey and I
Come make fairyland”

(By Monty Norman, sung by Diana Coupland)

And Bond is sitting hand in hand with his first love – his weapon and silencer, making “fairyland” – a whole different world than what most ordinary people are used to.  Here, we see Bond in HIS world – him as an assassin.

The Professor Arrives

Then he hears someone coming.   The Professor unloads his pistol into the figure in the bed and Bond yells, “Drop it, Professor.  And behind you.”  He drops the weapon onto the bedclothes on the floor.  Then we see Bond coolly waiting, confronting him, talking calmly.  He even sets his gun down and lights a cigarette  – while Dent tries to pull his gun back over to him by dragging his foot on the bedclothes.  He succeeds, picks up the gun and shoots Bond – but the pistol just clicks.

Then Bond says coolly, “That’s a Smith and Wesson and you’ve had your six” and shoots Dent – unarmed Dent – then when he falls to the floor, Bond shoots him again,  killing him.  For Bond fans, this is the first EON Production Bond movie – and this is the first kill we see Bond make.  Bond as an assassin.   Fleming said once about the character of Bond, he is a blunt instrument of the government.

Of course, we will hear “Underneath the Mango Tree” again!

Miss Taro’s house in the mountains in the film is in a fictitious place.   In real life, it was filmed at what is now the Couples Sans Souci resort in Ocho Rios (which used to be the Grand Lido Sans Souci Hotel, reportedly where the crew stayed while filming.

Honey Ryder and “No. I’m Just Looking”

Honey Ryder and “No. I’m Just Looking”

Honey Ryder and “No. I’m Just Looking” – OK, Sylvia Trench was the first real Bond Girl.  Then, you had Miss Taro.  But, come on.   Honey Rider is remembered as the first WOW Bond Girl as she walks out of the waters at Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica in Dr. No.  Ursula Andres, who played Honey Rider, set the standard and a very high bar for all Bond Girls to come.   This is a classic must-see scene.  It reveals a lot more to us about Bond’s character.    Remember – most people are being introduced to James Bond in this film – and hadn’t read the Ian Fleming stories.

When Bond wakes up to Honey Rider singing “Underneath the Mango Tree” as she steps out of the ocean – which has become of the most famous scenes in any movie – he starts singing the song too, and she then notices him.  She asks him what he is doing here, and asks if he is looking for shells, to which Bond quips, “No, I’m just looking!”

Dunn’s River Falls

We have been to Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica, and have climbed the falls.   It is a tourist attraction now and very crowded and busy – but still worth the visit.   Climbing the falls (maybe 180 feet from shore to top) is tricky and requires your guide and the help of people in your group to hold you and pull you up.   It is slippery and can be dangerous – but was fun to do.   And to think, this was in Dr. No adds to the thrill knowing Ursula Andres and Sean Connery were just steps away!  They filmed here and on Laughing Waters beach, which used to be a private section of Roaring Falls.

Here we see Honey Ryder as a very strong woman.   When Bond says I promise not to steal your shells, she quips, “I promise you, you won’t either” as she wields her knife that was held on her side by a wide belt.   In the original manuscript, which we examined,  Honey Ryder walks out of the ocean to the shore wearing just the belt and knife!

As a side note, Ursula Andres sold this bikini at auction on February 14, 2001, for the equivalent of about $60,500!  Belt was included!  Honey Rider and “No. I’m Just Looking”    Yes!  We’d be looking too!

The Dragon – Runs On Diesel Engines!

The Dragon  – Runs On Diesel Engines!  Quarrel has talked about the island legend of a fire-breathing dragon on Crab Key and that is why no locals want to venture to this island.  After Bond and Quarrel arrive at Crab Key, after meeting Honey Rider, they find that they must do battle with this fire-breathing dragon.  It is a dark scene, in all respects: a night scene, and a battle with the dragon operated by merciless killers.   A tough scene for Quarrel, to be sure.

The Dragon is of course, is some type of specially equipped vehicle outfitted with a flamethrower and run by some of Dr. No’s henchmen.   It’s the intro of technology to do things you need to do –here, to scare people away from Crab Key.   Of course, later we see Dr. No’s real technology – interfering with the USA Missile launches with a sophisticated nuclear facility and radio beam (in the movie version of course).

Beyond the Dragon – Gadgets in Spy Movies

In future Bond films and in virtually all spy movies after, we will see all kinds of technological gadgets – some to aid the spies on the good side, some to aid the evil villains they combat.  But in Dr. No, there are not a lot of gadgets for Bond to use.  He is pretty much on his own, finding himself in certain situations and trying to figure his way out, MacGyver-like.   Yes, he got his new Walther PPK with a silencer.  Yes, he uses a Geiger-counter sent from MI6.  But what else?  Just his wits and abilities and training as a good spy.   So in our first glimpse of Bond stepping off the pages of Fleming’s novels and into the movies, we see a man who is well-trained, is suspicious of much in his surroundings and is ready to deal with whatever might come his way.

The Dragon Smokes Quarrel

Quarrel, who had believed in the dragon, is consumed in its flames, and Honey Rider and Bond are captured.   Notice, Bond goes back to look at Quarrel after he is handcuffed, and the henchman says, “sorry we ain’t got any flowers.”   When Bond walks over to look at Quarrel, it is a revealing moment where we see Bond’s more human side – where he feels bad that the guy who became his buddy in Jamaica has been killed so violently.

We learn again, that this spy business is a brutal business.     Quarrel was a very likable character in this film.  While The Dragon – Runs On Diesel Engines, this scene runs on adrenalin.

I did some research on the name Quarrel and could not find it as a first name.  It is a surname, meaning your family probably originally lived near a quarry.  Of course, in the dictionary, it is an argument, etc.   If anyone of our listeners knows, shoot us an email! Dan@SpyMovieNavigator.com or Tom@SpyMovieNavigator.com

The swamp where they filmed this scene is at Falmouth, about 40 miles west of Ochos Rio.

Meet Dr. No and SPECTRE

Meet Dr. No and SPECTRE

In Dr. No’s lair, Dr. No confronts Bond.  His lair is exquisitely detailed and furnished with the finest things.  A huge aquarium, artwork everywhere, rich, ornate carved wooden furnishings, silver candelabra, crystal goblets – the best of the best.   And we learn of SPECTRE for the first time – and we will hear about this evil organization in many EON Production Bond films to come.   Special Executive for Counter-Intelligence  Terrorism, Revenge, Extortion.  so here, we meet Dr. No and SPECTRE and understand a lot more of their background.

The West and East refused his services . . .  so he is out to show them how short-sighted they were.   He lost both hands in a radiation accident (in the film). In the book, the Tongs who he stole gold from cut off his hands.  In either case, he has metal hands that are very powerful.  There is a great dialogue between Bond and Dr. No in this clip – pay attention to all the words – they have all been carefully crafted to deliver Dr. No’s message –  the West and East will pay for not taking his services.   And Dr. No never fails . . . Joseph Wiseman plays Dr. No magnificently and convincingly.

The Duke of Wellington is Dr. No’s “Guest”

As Dr. No walks away from Bond after telling his henchmen to “soften him up” he walks past the back of a portrait on an easel – to his left as he walks past.   In a previous scene, when Bond is walking up those same steps to sit at the dining table, he stops for a moment to look at the portrait.   It is the Duke of Wellington.   Simple right?

No.  In actuality, this portrait was stolen from the National Gallery in London in August of 1961, before filming began in January 1962 for Dr. No, and was still missing when they filmed this scene.  Brilliantly, EON Productions worked this real fact into the movie – here, Dr. No has the portrait!  In real life,  it was recovered in 1965, as the culprit who was in possession of the stolen portrait had been sending letters demanding that $140,000 pounds be donated to charities and that the person who stole it should not be prosecuted.

Eventually, the culprit gave up and sent a letter to the newspaper, the Daily Mirror, along with a left-luggage ticket from New Station in Birmingham.  When police when to there, they found the missing portrait, but unframed.  The portrait was brought to London and returned to the National Gallery.

On Location

And in a recent visit to London,  we saw Goya’s portrait of the Duke of Wellington safely hanging on the wall, in full view of all,  at the National Gallery!   So, when you head to the National Gallery in London, go see the Duke – but also visit Room 34, where Daniel Craig as Bond meets his new, young Quartermaster in Skyfall, sitting on a bench in the gallery room, facing Turners “Fighting Temeraire” painting on the wall.  We sat in the same location (but they used different benches in the movie) that Bond and Q sat in Skyfall!  Cool.  Again, fun to be at the actual filming locations and in the same space as the actors!  And the National Gallery is fabulous.  Go there!

The Downfall of Dr. No: No and Bond Go At It

The Downfall of Dr. No: No and Bond Go At It – After escaping capture, and overtaking one of Dr. No’s workers and taking his Hazmat suit, amazingly, Bond disrupts the interference with the American missile launch (a Mercury capsule launch, which in 1962 was really going on – Mercury was the first astronaut program in the US, before Gemini and Apollo – remember Apollo 11 was the first to land on the moon) .

Dr. No opens the secret radio beam antenna and then, after increasing the radioactive danger level, in this scene, he battles with Dr. No himself.  As a Dr. No film fan, you must see this turning-point clip that pits the wits and strengths of Dr. No versus James Bond.  The villain must go down – literally!

The set is believable (Ken Adam, set designer), Dr. No played by Wisemen excellent, and the doomed end of Dr. No tense.   After Dr. No goes down, Bond tries to find Honey Rider – he wants to save her – another revealing characteristic that we have come to see and know in many more Bond films –  and finds her shackled to a ramp with water rising quickly to drown her.   He gets her free, and the beginning of the end is in sight!

Of course, this being the first Bond film, we wonder, why not just kill Honey Rider?  Why the slow death that might allow for escape?  Why not just kill Bond with a gunshot?   We will ask this forever, but we think these ego-maniac, diabolical villains must think they are invincible (remember Boris Grishenko in Goldeneye: “I AM INVINCIBLE”).

And as invincible, they believe they will get away with doing whatever they want to do – having an elaborate scheme to kill their arch-villains (Bond, Rider whoever) is no big deal.   And it pounds into the minds of the intended victim just who is in charge – and gives them time to think about it.

Dr. No – The Beginning of the End

The Beginning of the End

The finale is grand of course, and Bond somehow manages to escape and with Honey Ryder.  And Dr. No is, well, No-More.  Bond and Honey commandeer a small powerboat, throwing overboard the two men on the boat, and stopping one again from getting back on the boat – just in the nick of time, as the entire Dr. No complex explodes in glorious fashion, assuming all of Dr. No’s workers are lost or will be captured and dealt with later.  As Bond and Honey are motoring away, after a short while, Bond says they are out of fuel.   When Honey wonders what they do next, Bond says something like we can swim or. . . . “come here,” and she does.

To the rescue, Felix Leiter with a small powerboat and an armed crew sees Bond and Honey’s boat adrift.   They throw them a tow rope, and this begins a scene we will see in many more Bond films – Bond and the Bond-girl stranded somewhere, only to be rescued and discovered that they are um having some fun.    When Bond releases the tow rope, look at Honey’s eyes – she is approving.

So we see for the first time the ending of a Bond movie that we will become familiar with over the next decades.  Enjoy as we close out our first Bond film podcast.

Dr. No is a big YES for all spy movie fans! 

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