Questions about the Goldfinger and OHMSS Plots...

Thomas Crown

I recently viewed Goldfinger and was left wondering why exactly Goldfinger solicited the support of the mobsters in Operation Grand Slam? Does he not already have the supplies he needed from them? Why explain a plan to people you no longer need?

Regarding OHMSS, I was wondering who Bond attacks on the beach during the pre-titles sequence? Are they Draco's men following Tracy (as she seems to often by followed by her father's men given the casino sequence)? Or were they SPECTRE agents?

Thanks!

Hardyboy

The Goldfinger question is one of those great "howcomes?" My answer has always been that it's explained by Bond's saying he enjoyed Goldfinger's speech and the G-man's response of, "So did I." Goldfinger is a monstrous egotist who simply wanted to hear himself talk and impress others with the brilliance of his scheme.

As for OHMSS, the script sort of mucks things up a bit. Like the film, the novel begins with the events on the beach, but Draco's men simply capture 007. All the events in the casino, detailing Bond's meeting with Tracy, are flashbacks Bond has while he's being taken to Draco. In the movie, however, the casino sequences follow chronologically from the incident on the beach, necessitating a later kidnapping. The thugs who kidnap Bond outside the hotel are clearly the same ones who tried to KILL him on the beach, so they are indeed Draco's men. I guess the first time they figured Bond was someone out to harm the Union Corse operation; later they realize he's someone who can help Tracy, so they don't kill him. Or something like that. . .

Sir Miles

Hardyboy wrote:

The Goldfinger question is one of those great "howcomes?" My answer has always been that it's explained by Bond's saying he enjoyed Goldfinger's speech and the G-man's response of, "So did I." Goldfinger is a monstrous egotist who simply wanted to hear himself talk and impress others with the brilliance of his scheme.

As for OHMSS, the script sort of mucks things up a bit. Like the film, the novel begins with the events on the beach, but Draco's men simply capture 007. All the events in the casino, detailing Bond's meeting with Tracy, are flashbacks Bond has while he's being taken to Draco. In the movie, however, the casino sequences follow chronologically from the incident on the beach, necessitating a later kidnapping. The thugs who kidnap Bond outside the hotel are clearly the same ones who tried to KILL him on the beach, so they are indeed Draco's men. I guess the first time they figured Bond was someone out to harm the Union Corse operation; later they realize he's someone who can help Tracy, so they don't kill him. Or something like that. . .

I think you're spot on with the Goldfinger explanation, HB.

As for OHMSS....they are Draco's men...and I think they were sent there to watch over Tracy...to stop her self-harming - as she seemed to want to drown herself - ...Bond just 'got in the way'...and the men made a decision..their own decision...to kill Bond...instead of 'ask questions'.

Thomas Crown

Thanks to both of you! I enjoy both films immensely, so neither of these questions detract from my feelings about the movie, but getting some clarification certainly improves them!

DrMaybe

It's an expository scene, meant to reveal Goldfinger's plans to Bond(without taking the obvious route of explaining them before the villain attempts to dispatch Bond). Also to reveal to Bond(and the audience) the ruthless nature of his foe. Gassing the gangsters also implied that Goldfinger may have had a Nazi past.

The gangsters did arrange for certain amenities in the plan- trucks, logistics, etc. And since most of Goldfinger's army seemed to be Chinese, it would have been tough to explain them all being in close proximity to a very well-guarded gold depository. So they were in the story for a reason.

Dan Same

What a brilliant topic on which to join the oo7000 club. That's right, I have now posted 7000 times, and has only had one or two posts deleted. ) (Ah, yes, the early days when I wasn't nearly as well behaved as I am now. :v)

Hardyboy wrote:

The Goldfinger question is one of those great "howcomes?" My answer has always been that it's explained by Bond's saying he enjoyed Goldfinger's speech and the G-man's response of, "So did I." Goldfinger is a monstrous egotist who simply wanted to hear himself talk and impress others with the brilliance of his scheme.

{[] Exactly. You know, there is much about the Bond films that I adore, but if I had to pick one scene as my favourite, it would almost certainly be the conversation between Bond and Goldfinger in which Goldfinger revealed his plan.

There are scenes which are sexier, there are scenes which are more exciting and more electrifying, but few IMO have the sheer and complete pleasure of this scene. For not only does Goldfinger reveal perhaps the finest of all plans, but he does so in a respectful and proud manner, knowing full well that Bond respects such brilliance since he himself is also a master. For that is what they both are; they are masters in their fields. One could argue that this is a forerunner of the coffee shop scene in Heat with De Niro and Pacino. Just as Pacino and De Niro were fellow professionals admiring each other's work, so too with Bond and Goldfinger.

HB noted how Goldfinger was an egotist; the look on Goldfinger's face when Bond complimented him on the plan shows just how much of an egotist he truly was. So to answer the original question, I would say that Goldfinger explained his plans to the mobsters because he could and because his ego wouldn't allow him to turn down such a delicious opportunity.

Thomas, as I mentioned at the start; this is a great topic. I wasn't planning on posting during this point in time until I saw this topic. So if I can be a little egotistical myself, :v, I hope that others have enjoyed sone of my 7000 posts almost as much as I have enjoyed making them and the interaction with fellow Bondaphiles that followed. {[]

Barbel

Dan Same wrote:

There are scenes which are sexier, there are scenes which are more exciting and more electrifying, but few IMO have the sheer and complete pleasure of this scene. For not only does Goldfinger reveal perhaps the finest of all plans, but he does so in a respectful and proud manner, knowing full well that Bond respects such brilliance since he himself is also a master. For that is what they both are; they are masters in their fields. One could argue that this is a forerunner of the coffee shop scene in Heat with De Niro and Pacino. Just as De Niro were fellow professionals admiring each other's work, so too with Bond and Goldfinger.

Nice 7000th post, Dan. Richard Maibaum said that he saw GF as a duel between two supermen, and this scene is the highpoint of that duel.