12 replies to this topic

[DLibrasnow]

A couple of things have always bugged me about Goldfinger.
Firstly the gold bar at the golf game. Surely a man like Goldfinger would want to figure out where the rest of the stash was hidden. Sure he loses out in the golf wager, but I just don

[Vauxhall]

Also, just why does Goldfinger go through the elaborate explanation of his plan for Fort Knox, only to kill his audience. Sure, he probably wanted to test the gas on the gangsters, but killing people he just went at great lengths to explain his plan. Why not gas the hoods as soon as they arrived? It makes no sense.

Yeah, I've always wondered this too... The only reason he could possibly have gone to such lengths to explain the plan is clearly so that he could run the risk of being overheard, and thus reduce his chances of success But yes - it makes no sense to me either.

[00Twelve]

Bond did have to overhear the plans so the story could go forward...

As far as actual reasoning for the briefing->slaying, there isn't a logical explanation. Fleming's story showed us both the necessity of the criminals' involvement and their briefing. The film wanted the operation to be bigger, more "blockbuster," and to increase Goldfinger's malice and efficiency. There was no way to get both into the story without some logistic headaches. At least, if there were, then that road was obviously not taken.

About the gold, I can only assume that with what happened at the final hole, GF immediately became suspicious of Bond and presumably no longer believed that he'd get all that Gold from the nazi horde. Besides, he didn't even earn the first bar, so discusions about him getting more were rendered obsolete.

[Righty007]

Also, just why does Goldfinger go through the elaborate explanation of his plan for Fort Knox, only to kill his audience. Sure, he probably wanted to test the gas on the gangsters, but killing people he just went at great lengths to explain his plan. Why not gas the hoods as soon as they arrived? It makes no sense.

Goldfinger and Bond villains in general have very large egos and like hearing themselves talk.

[Scottlee]

1a - Goldfinger figures out by the end of the golf match that Bond is not who he says he is. It makes sense he would then want nothing to do with Bond's story about owning hoardes of gold. Goldfinger would have smelled a trap, and it's well known that smugglers are generally very cautious types.

b - By the time we reach the laser table, Goldfinger either forgets about Bond's stash or has by now completely ceased to believe there ever was one. Even if there was, how would Goldfinger hope to get his hands on it without disrupting the progress of Operation Grandslam? Bond sure wouldn't have brought the stash with him!

2 - Goldfinger is simply showing off by telling the hoods about his plan. Because the future success of Operation Grand Slam requires the entire world to never know what really happened, this is the first and only chance he will ever get to stand up in front of an audience and tell someone about the finer details of his brilliant plan. It really staggers me how many people have a problem with the scene.

[dinovelvet]

2 - Goldfinger is simply showing off by telling the hoods about his plan. Because the future success of Operation Grand Slam requires the entire world to never know what really happened, this is the first and only chance he will ever get to stand up in front of an audience and tell someone about the finer details of his brilliant plan. It really staggers me how many people have a problem with the scene.

Yes that sounds spot on. The key is later on when Bond says "I did enjoy your little briefing". Goldfinger's response? "So did I!" Not only did he want to show off, but his audience was made up of criminals, so he particularly wanted THEM to see his plan, and out-do them all. Of course, he gets irritated when they don't appreciate his "genius"!

As for the gold bar, GF knows Bond is up to something; he knows it was Bond who put an end to his cards scam in Miami. Maybe he doesn't know he is a spy at that point, perhaps he sees Bond as some kind of con artist. Either way, he has Operation Grandslam coming up in, let's say, two weeks from then, he's got bigger concerns than nickel and diming for some gold bars with someone he can't trust.

The real question about Goldfinger is why go to the bizarre, elaborate length of crushing his car with Mr.Solo and the gold in it, only to have to extract the gold later?

[triviachamp]

The real question about Goldfinger is why go to the bizarre, elaborate length of crushing his car with Mr.Solo and the gold in it, only to have to extract the gold later?

It looked cool. Also I recall the car was very expensive so him crushing it shows how evil and rich he is. And to destroy the bug.

As for killing the gangsters after the briefing, well we need exposition, simple as that! Goldfinger also wants to show off and killing everyone makes him look evil. I also recall reading that they thought having them alive for the rest of the movie was too complicated and unnecessary so they eliminated them.

This is the screenwriters logic, not real world logic unfortunately!

[Turn]

On the first issue, I always just figured Goldfinger knew Bond was a spy and therefore was sponsored by his government, which is the source he spoke of earlier and naturally he couldn't extract any of that.

We've had several discussions here on Goldfinger's murder of the gangsters. If leads me to further questions: first, most high-ranking mobsters usually travel with bodyguards, yet I don't think any have them in GF. Even a few hours after their murder, they would wonder what happened to them. GF wanted to keep things low key and that wasn't the way of keeping attention off of him.

Secondly, by murdering all these guys, wouldn't most of their organizations be seeking some serious revenge on Goldfinger? Even if Operation Grand Slam would have succeeded, would he have been able to keep that low of a profile and could he have kept the heat off him even if he had retreated to Cuba?

[MarcAngeDraco]

The real question about Goldfinger is why go to the bizarre, elaborate length of crushing his car with Mr.Solo and the gold in it, only to have to extract the gold later?

It would have been far too simple to just kill him with the others...

[The Richmond Spy]

Goldfinger and Bond villains in general have very large egos and like hearing themselves talk.

I've always thought that was why.

[Cruiserweight]

Goldfinger wanted to brag to an audience so they could see how much of a genius he was first before he killed them.

[Major Tallon]

Three very interesting questions have been asked here:

1) Why doesn't Goldfinger, after the golf game, try to find out more about Bond's gold bar?

2) Why does Goldfinger make a major speech to the gangsters, only to kill them?

3) Why does Goldfinger go to the trouble of having the car, with Solo inside, dropped into the crusher?

Question 2 has been much discussed, and the most common answer, "because he's a meglomaniac," has got to be the right one.

Question 3 is sometimes asked, and this was certainly just the filmmakers' way of adding a striking scene to the film (and for those of you who were around in those ancient times, you'll recall that it was a very striking scene). Otherwise, it really doesn't make sense. Why not just shoot Solo outside the conference room? Why, in fact, offer the mobsters the choice to opt out at all? After giving his speech, Goldfinger could merely have excused himself "for a moment" and stepped out, leaving all the mobsters to be gassed. What if half the group had opted out? They'd have had a regular convoy down to the scrap yard.

I don't know if I've heard Question 1 discussed before, and it's another good one. Goldfinger was obsessed with gold, and here was his chance to own a rare gold bar. He could have offered to buy Bond's sample, even at an inflated price. He almost certainly would have asked about obtaining more. Was he suspicious of Bond at that point, and therefore willing to see the back of him? Well, maybe, but while he'd had a first meeting (happenstance) and a second meeting (coincidence), the third meeting (enemy action) hadn't yet occurred. I conclude that this was, inexplicably, well out of character for Goldfinger.

[LadySylvia]

Also, just why does Goldfinger go through the elaborate explanation of his plan for Fort Knox, only to kill his audience. Sure, he probably wanted to test the gas on the gangsters, but killing people he just went at great lengths to explain his plan. Why not gas the hoods as soon as they arrived? It makes no sense.

It certainly made no sense to me. Many use the excuse that Goldfinger was indulging in his ego and had a desire to tell someone of his plans. Frankly, I found that excuse weak.