Auric Goldfinger

Lore & Background

In the novel Goldfinger, Auric Goldfinger is a 42-year-old from Riga, Latvia, who emigrated to Britain in 1937 at the age of 20. He is tall, has blue eyes, red hair, and a passion for his tan. Goldfinger's name was borrowed from Ian Fleming's neighbour in his Hampstead home, architect Ernő Goldfinger, and his character bears some resemblance. Ernő Goldfinger consulted his lawyers when the book was published, prompting Fleming to suggest renaming the character 'Goldprick', but Goldfinger eventually settled out of court in return for his legal costs, six copies of the novel, and an agreement that the character's first name 'Auric' would always be used. James Bond and Junius Du Pont think that, despite Goldfinger having a typically German-Jewish surname, he is not Jewish; Bond's surmise that he is a Balt proves correct when Goldfinger is revealed to be a Latvian émigré. Following naturalisation as a British citizen in Nassau, in the Bahamas, Goldfinger has become the richest man in England, although his wealth is not in English banks, nor does he pay taxes on it, as it is spread as gold bullion in many countries. Goldfinger is a member of SMERSH's executive committee, not its treasurer, and is Bond's nemesis. Goldfinger fancies himself an expert pistol shot who never misses, and always shoots his opponents through the left eye. He tells Bond at the end of the novel he has done so with four Mafia heads. Goldfinger is obsessed with gold, going so far as to keep a yellow-bound copy of an erotic novel in his nightstand and have his lovers painted head to toe in gold so that he can make love to gold. (He leaves an area near the spine unpainted, but painting this area also is what kills Jill Masterton, as in the film.) He is also a jeweller, a metallurgist, and a smuggler. When Goldfinger first meets Bond in Miami, he claims that he is agoraphobic; a ploy to allow him to cheat Junius du Pont at a game of two-handed Canasta. Bond figures out how Goldfinger is managing this and blackmails him by forcing him to admit his deception. Goldfinger is also an avid golfer, but is known at his club for being a smooth cheater there. When Bond contrives to play against Goldfinger with $10,000 at stake, he out-cheats Goldfinger by switching the latter's Dunlop 1 golf ball with a Dunlop 7 he had found while playing. Goldfinger loses the final hole and the match for playing a ba

In Their Own Story

The corridor aboard the satellite smells of ozone and cold metal. Bond rounds the last bulkhead and stops. Goldfinger stands at the far end of the chamber, hands clasped behind his back, watching a slow rotation of the Earth through a viewport. He does not turn. "You always were punctual, Mr. Bond." His voice is low, almost conversational, as though they are discussing the weather. Behind him, the GoldenEye array hums to life, its lens catching the sunlight in a blade of white. Goldfinger finally glances over his shoulder, and the expression on his face is not anger. It is the patient smile of a man who has already calculated every move you will make. "Shall we begin?"

Reader's Guide

Auric Goldfinger was played by German actor Gert Fröbe. Fröbe, who did not speak English well, was dubbed in the film by Michael Collins, an English actor. In the German version, Fröbe dubbed himself back again. Goldfinger was banned in Israel after it was revealed that Fröbe had been a member of the Nazi Party. However, he left the party before the outbreak of World War II. After several years, the ban was lifted, as it was found that Fröbe saved the lives of two Jews by hiding them in his basement during the war.

Did You Know?

• In 2003, the American Film Institute declared Auric Goldfinger the 49th-greatest villain in the past 100 years of film.
• In a poll on IMDb, Auric Goldfinger was voted the most sinister James Bond villain, beating (in order) Ernst Stavro Blofeld, Dr. Julius No, Max Zorin and Emilio Largo.
• Goldfinger's oft-quoted line 'No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die,' (after Bond asked him while tied to a table in front of a laser, 'Do you expect me to talk?') was voted the number-one best moment in the James Bond film