Popular Culture - Goldfinger Film - Essay Example

? GoldFinger: An Analysis Goldfinger is a film based on the novel holding the same written by Ian Fleming. Goldfinger is the third film based upon the James Bond series. The movie made its fleeting entry in to the cinema, won the hearts of its audience, and is considered one of the iconic movies. The character of James Bond is seen wearing sophisticated clothes such as tie and coats; emphasizing upon the classier side of England. It will not be wrong in saying that the movie through the character of James Bond depicts the upper class with the aid of clothing and the sets that used in the movie (Bright Lights Film Journal). Nevertheless, most of the Bond series depict women as a symbol of sex and more or less facing the masculine side of Mr. Bond in the movie. Therefore, it can be said that the Bond sharp edges of the masculine side has become subtle in the movie. Furthermore, women were depicted as dependents and ones who lacked the power to make decisions; perhaps because they were seen as less mentally competent than men were. Moreover, most of the Bond movies showed that women always needed men to save them. The women audience did not appreciate such idea. Hence, the series took a turn and the character of Bond was less masculine in comparison with the other Bond movies. However in order to show that women were now equal to men and could contribute competitively to society the character of M was played in the movie by a woman.The character of M is sketched in the movie as that of a typical bond girl who is not only intelligent but is as capable as making decisions as a man. Despite the fact that she can give competition to a man she is still respected and accepted for her vibrancy in what she does (Bright Lights Film Journal). The film also covers a deeper aspect of human relations in which women has a very fundamental part to play. Honor Blackman casted as a Bond girl in the movie has shown how a woman can change bad things of the society. Jill Masterson who was casted as another agent woman “Shirley Eaton” also reflected the important role of women in the society. The cops’ appearances of women restricted the stock maker “Auric Goldfinger” in his ambitions. The plot of the movie reflects that Goldfinger was in big wicked ambitions and those were to catch the Depository of Fort Knox, which contained the world’s biggest treasure of gold. Actually, Goldfinger was to occupy world’s economy for which he as an international bullion dealer intended to hold the core of the economy “Fort Knox” (IMDB). He plays the usual Bond role of spying against enemies of the state. This time the target is Auric Goldfinger whose mission is to take over Fort Knox and wipe out the world’s economy. While Bond continues his observation task, he finds a dead naked woman on the bed. Curiously enough, the woman is covered with gold paint from toe to her head. Bond tries to penetrate the mystery of the dead girl by sniffing into Auric’s business but is soon caught and held as a hostage. Auric decides to keep Bond alive so that he could also be a witness of his great operation which he called it the operation grand slam. Bond moves around with Auric and his gang to Kentucky for the final twist in the movie It has to be kept in mind that the movie was released in 1964 when the women were encouraged to practice domesticity. They were encouraged to take care of children and be good homemakers. There were no or very few jobs for them and mostly they dedicated their life to house work. It was during this time that the movie presented The Beautiful Bond Women to the audience. Though the appearance of the Bond woman was not a very long one yet it was one of the most memorable. Shirley Eaton who portrayed the role of Jill as the Bond girl has a sexual orientation pertaining to lesbianism. Back in the sixties and seventies women were discouraged to openly talk about sex. This kind of an orientation was considered a taboo. Goldfinger brought to screen the secret sexual urges of women. It brought the desire these women had hidden within them. Through the writings of some poets like Sylvia Plath and Adrienne Rich, we come to know how dire the consequences would have been if the women of the early seventies expressed these kind of urges. They would not only be restricted to house work but could also be abandoned and left to live in isolation. Through the writings of these poets we can penetrate that women were also not too happy with their husbands. In one of poems by Sylvia Plath called “The Cut” she expresses the bitter feelings about her husband and spoke about his Phyllis as an object she wished was cut. The hatred for husbands is quite obvious in these poems mainly because they were not allowed to speak their hearts out. Restrictions put by the husbands had created a feeling and attraction for women for the same sex. Though they knew they could not practice lesbianism, they found elements of their wishes portrayed in movies like the Goldfinger (Raymond). Thus, the movie Goldfinger brought a turn in the media and the image of women in general depicting them as competent as the men. It also renovated the image of women who were only seen as a symbol of sex and for the purpose of reproduction. Moreover, Goldfinger set a trend for the women to be depicted as more than sex symbols. It is important to high light here that the sexist behavior of Bond is subtle but existent in movie. Moreover, it also depicts that the Japanese characters in the movie are usually evil; Hence, giving a racist touch to the plot of the movie (Raymond). Works Cited Bright Lights Film Journal. Unique (and Just a Little Queer). 2010. 6 March 2013. . IMDB. Plot Summary for Goldfinger. 2013. 6 March 2013. . Raymond, Claire. The Posthumous Voice in Women's Writing Form Mary Shelly to Sylvia Plath. Burlington: Ashgate Publishing Limited, 2006. Read More