Brilliant Behind the Scenes Photos from the Bond Film ‘Goldfinger’

"For a golden girl knows when he's kissed her It's the kiss of death from Mister Goldfinger"

 

Shirley Eaton behind the scenes Goldfinger

It was a hard job, but someone had to do it. Shirley Eaton being painted gold.

It could be said that Goldfinger was the first proper James Bond film, the first Bond blockbuster. It had a budget that was equal to Dr No and From Russia With Love put together (it recouped its budget in just two weeks – and was the fastest grossing pictures in history when it was released). It set the template that all the subsequent 007 films followed and is considered by more than a few to be the greatest Bond film of them all.

After attending Goldfinger’s Italian premiere in Rome, Federico Fellini was asked what he thought of the movie. His answer was “Questi sono i film che fanno andare avanti il cinema!” (“This is one of those films that make cinema move forward!”)

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Shirley Bassey initially had problems recording the amazing climactic final note in Goldfinger and in the end, presumably to help with her breathing, she had to go behind a studio partition and remove her bra. During an interview with Jon Burlingame for his book ‘The Music of James Bond’ she recalled : “I was holding it and holding it. I was looking at John [Barry] and I was going blue in the face and he’s going, hold it just one more second. When it finished, I nearly passed out.”

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Sean Connery Shirley Eaton with director Guy Hamilton on set Goldfinger

Honor Blackman (Pussy Galore) meets Sean Connery (James Bond) for the first time before filming of the third Bond movie 'Goldfinger'.

Honor Blackman (Pussy Galore) meets Sean Connery (James Bond) for the first time before filming of the third Bond movie ‘Goldfinger’.

 

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Goldfinger first edition

During filming of the third Bond film 'Goldfinger' at Pinewood Studios, James Bond (Sean Connery) is thrown by Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman) before romance takes over in the hayloft.

During filming of the third Bond film ‘Goldfinger’ at Pinewood Studios, James Bond (Sean Connery) is thrown by Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman) before romance takes over in the hayloft.

 

Shirley Eaton Goldfinger publicity still.

Shirley Eaton Goldfinger publicity still.

 

French soundtrack for Goldfinger

French soundtrack for Goldfinger

 

Eaton graced the cover of Life magazine in 1964 — covered in gold, of course! Of the scene where Bond finds her dead and naked, painted gold, she says: ‘I wasn’t entirely nude and I wasn’t completely painted gold — my scalp wasn’t painted and, as I was lying on my stomach, there was an area of my front, about 18 in, that wasn’t painted gold.’ Cover photograph by Loomis Dean.

Eaton graced the cover of Life magazine in 1964 — covered in gold, of course! Of the scene where Bond finds her dead and naked, painted gold, she says: ‘I wasn’t entirely nude and I wasn’t completely painted gold — my scalp wasn’t painted and, as I was lying on my stomach, there was an area of my front, about 18 in, that wasn’t painted gold.’ Cover photograph by Loomis Dean.

 

Honor Blackman giggles Goldfinger

Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman) get’s a fit of giggles while pretending to submit to James Bond (Sean Connery) in this scene from ‘Goldfinger’, during filming at Pinewood Studios.

 

 

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Actor Sean Connery is flanked by "Bond Girls," while on the set of the latest James Bond 007 thriller "Goldfinger," at Pinewood Studios, near Iver Heath. Standing immediately next to him on the right is Shirley Easton, who plays the character Jill Masterson, others are unidentified.

Actor Sean Connery is flanked by “Bond Girls,” while on the set of the latest James Bond 007 thriller “Goldfinger,” at Pinewood Studios, near Iver Heath. Standing immediately next to him on the right is Shirley Easton, who plays the character Jill Masterson, others are unidentified.

 

Goldfinger Lobby card

Lobby card

 

Goldfinger US poster. Note the use of 'Miss Galore'

Goldfinger US poster. Note the use of ‘Miss Galore’

 

.Goldfinger poster

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Pan edition of Goldfinger published in 1961

Pan edition of Goldfinger published in 1961

 

Sean Connery and Shirley Eaton Goldfinger

Publicity still of Sean and Shirley.

Sean Connery Behind the scenes of Goldfinger

Goldfinger sheet music cover

Sean Connery during production with Honor Blackman, who plays Pussy Galore and was known as a star of the hit British TV series, THE AVENGERS.

Sean Connery Behind the scenes of Goldfinger

 

Honor Blackman, who plays Pussy Galore in the third Bond film 'Goldfinger', arrives at the world premiere in London's Odeon, Leicester Square.

Honor Blackman, who plays Pussy Galore in the third Bond film ‘Goldfinger’, arrives at the world premiere in London’s Odeon, Leicester Square.

 

 

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