Tag: John Barry

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.

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