Goldfinger (1964) - The 007 template gets perfected in fabulously entertaining third spectacle

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A hype-pushing, bold poster for Guy Hamilton's Goldfinger, which promises action, star charm and titillating sexiness

James Bond is back, this time investigating a gold smuggling kingpin.

Goldfinger is written by Paul Dehn (Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)) and Richard Maibaum (Dr. No (1962)), based on the same-titled 1959 novel by Ian Fleming (Live and Let Die (1954)), the 7th in his Bond series, and directed by Guy Hamilton (The Ringer (1952)). It is the third film in the Bond franchise.
Gert Fröbe (Ludwig (1973)) is the fat Goldfinger villain, who schemes to break into the US Treasury's Fort Know gold depository and turn all the gold radioactive. Goldfinger is the silliest film of the Bond franchise up to its point, but hysterically enjoyable all the same.
The golf scene, the Aston Martin gadgets, Goldfinger's exit through a tiny airplane window, - there's a long list of memorable scenes and elements in Goldfinger, which as a movie is similar to the Bond franchise overall in that as entertainment product, it is irresistible.

Related posts:

Bond franchise: Spectre (2015) - Mendes' second Bond delivers 
Skyfall (2012) - Mendes elevates a slickly produced modern Bond to thrilling heights 
Die Another Day (2002) - Tamahori makes a thrilling, grand piece of Bond escapism 
A View to a Kill (1985) or, Once a Gentleman, Always a Gentleman! 
For Your Eyes Only (1981) - Glen debuts with wacky, action-packed Roger Moore Bond
Diamonds Are Forever (1971) - Connery's last Bond adventure is a colorful romp 
From Russia with Love (1963) - Several remarkable elements make Young's 2nd Bond an enduring classic  
Dr. No (1962) - Bond # 1 is one attractive package
Guy Hamilton: Top 10: Best car chases in movies reviewed by Film Excess to date
Diamonds Are Forever (1971) - Connery's last Bond adventure is a colorful romp

Top 10: Best franchise movies 

Watch a delightful clip from the film here, in which Q (Desmond Llewlyn) instructs Bond in the gadgets in his new Aston Martin car

Cost: 3 mil. $
Box office: 124.9 mil. $
= Blockbuster (returned 41.6 times its cost)
[Goldfinger premiered 17 September (London, UK) and runs 110 minutes. The film's budget was the equivalent of the preceding first (Dr. No) and second (From Russia with Love) Bond movies combined, and it is the first in the franchise to put focus on America. Terence Young left as director when he was refused a profit percentage. Shooting took place in Switzerland, the UK including London, Miami, Florida, Kentucky and Washington DC from January - July 1964. Fleming visited the set but died in August, shortly before the film's premiere. The production received permission to film around Kentucky's Fort Knox, the US Bullion Depository, where they violated the flying permits by flying way too low and were harshly reprimanded by the military. All the Fort Knox interiors were shot in a studio set in England. Glass doors in the Leicester Square cinema in London were broken by the ecstatic crowds at the film's premiere. The film recouped its budget in 2 weeks; with Guinness Book of World Records recording it the 'fastest grossing film of all time' and New York's DeMille cinema staying open 24 hours a day to screen the film nonstop. The film grossed 23 mil. $ (50 % of the gross) in North America in its initial release and 46 mil. $ globally. With a double feature re-release with Dr. No in 1966, the gross grew to 51 mil. $ (40.8 % of the total gross) in North America and 73.8 mil. $ elsewhere for a reported enormous 124.9 mil. $ total. The film won the Sound Effects Oscar; it was also nominated for a BAFTA, a Grammy and other awards. Roger Ebert gave the film a 4/4 star review, translating to two notches higher than this review. The film was the first Bond movie to tie gadgets to the character, and the toy version of his Aston Martin DB5 car reportedly became the year's best-selling toy. Bond returned in Thunderball (1965). Hamilton returned with uncredited direction on The Party's Over (1965) and as credited director with Funeral in Berlin (1965); he returned to the Bond franchise with Sean Connery's (The Longest Day (1962)) last Bond portrayal, Diamonds Are Forever (1971). Connery returned first in The Hill (1965). Goldfinger is certified fresh at 98 % with an 8.6/10 critical average.]

What do you think of Goldfinger?

Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) - The enjoyable if farfetched second Apes sequel

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The colorful poster for Don Taylor's Escape from the Planet of the Apes

QUICK REVIEW: 

The most sympathetic ape couple in screen history, Zira & Cornelius were able to flee the nuclear holocaust of Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) with a third ape and travel through a warp in time. They arrive back on Earth in 1973 and are initially welcomed, - but it is to an atmosphere of intense fear and paranoia.

Just as the first sequel in the Apes franchise, Escape isn't an altogether successful film and a far cry from the masterful Planet of the Apes (1968). It does have some original ideas, and the story is carried ahead without the film seeming like a sell-out, mostly because it almost completely lacks the action scenes that the former films had. SPOILER It does, however, go out on a gloomy note similar to the first films.
A few reservations: SPOILER The character of Dr. Hasslein, who will go to great lengths to murder the apes for something their descendants will presumably do 2,000 (!) years in the future, is far out. As is the final scene with the baby Milo. 
Most of Escape is mostly enjoyable as a type of involuntary comedy. It is written by Paul Dehn (The Taming of the Shrew (1967) and directed by Don Taylor (Echoes of a Summer (1976)).

Related reviews:

The Apes franchise: Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) or, Ape 3.1: Mad Apes!
Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973) or, The Final Ape!  
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) or, The Ape Uprising   
Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) - Decent follow-up to the SF milestone 
Don Taylor: Damien: Omen II (1978) - Mimicking follow-up is a true turkey

Watch an original trailer for the film here

Cost: 2 mil. $
Box office: 12.3 mil. $ (North America only)
= Huge hit
[Escape from the Planet of the Apes was released May 21 and runs 98 minutes. The script was devised to fit a smaller budget than the previous films by only having two actors dressed as apes. Shooting lasted just six weeks November 1970 - January 1971. Kim Hunter (Columbo (1971), TV-series), who plays Zira, liked the script better than the one for Beneath, but later remarked that she and Roddy McDowall (Angel 4: Undercover (1994)), who plays Cornelius, felt a sense of isolation during production, because they were the only two people dressed as chimpanzees. SPOILER She has also said that she was glad that her character was killed off in the film, so she wouldn't have to return to the Apes franchise. Escape opened to good reviews and box office; unfortunately, a world gross isn't made public, but it was certainly a huge hit. Two more sequels were created in the original iteration of the franchise: Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) and Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973). Escape from the Planet of the Apes is fresh at 78 % with a 5.7 critical average on Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Escape from the Planet of the Apes?

Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) or, The Ape Uprising

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Exciting poster for J. Lee Thompson's Conquest of the Planet of the Apes

QUICK REVIEW:

The Apes-saga continues here in its fourth film in the original five-film course as a somber tale of dystopia, - although the portrayed future today lies in the past, as the action takes place in 1991, - but this time the painted picture is simply too stupid:
A pest exterminates all dogs and cats the world over, and the apes become the new house pets/slaves, until the son of our Simian 'friends' Cornelius and Zira, Caesar, starts a violent uprising.
Maybe time has been rough on Conquest, or maybe the film was never very good. It is directed by J. Lee Thompson (Cape Fear (1962)), who has several other, finer films to his name.
One might ponder, whether the Cold War might have contributed to the quite exceptionally dark 'them-and-us'-future, which is inflicted upon the audience here. The film isn't based on Pierre Boulle's original story, (it was subsequently novelized, however), so it is very possible that screenwriter Paul Dehn took inspiration from the times. Also interesting to note is that the film originally was even darker and more violent and bloody, but had a torture-indicating pre-title scene and several things throughout the movie cut out, as well as a new, softer ending designed for ratings-purposes. Perhaps the harsher vision had been a better film, perhaps not.
In any case, marketing for Conquest shows interesting, opportunistic, regional discrepancy in the way the movie was sold:

Red Apes (Communists) looking with hunger to take over the world with arms in an American poster for J. Lee Thompson's Conquest of the Planet of the Apes

Apes in chains, heroically daring revolt against fascist-like humans in a Spanish poster (probably for South America as well) for J. Lee Thompson's Conquest of the Planet of the Apes

Related review:

J. Lee Thompson: Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973) or, The Final Ape!

 Watch the original trailer her

Budget: 1.7 mil. $
Box office. 9.7 mil. $
= Big hit

What do you think of Conquest of the Planet of the Apes?
And the other Apes movies?
Will you be going to a cinema soon to see the new Dawn of the Planet of the Apes?

Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973) or, The Final Ape!

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Incredible chaos and battle scenes are teased on this packed, exciting poster for J. Lee Thompson's Battle for the Planet of the Apes

Battle for the Planet of the Apes is the last of the five films in the original Fox Apes franchise. Most people think that this is the worst of the sequels, but I think it is the best. (Of the sequels mind you. None of them can top Franklin J. Schaffner's original Planet of the Apes (1968).)

 
Apes have gained control of Earth, but Caesar, the leader of the apes, wants humans and apes to live in peaceful coexistence. But with polemic, hateful and powerful groups on both sides, will this dream be possible?

 
That is the story of Battle, a film which was scarred by a writers' strife, a disgruntled director (due to an unfinished script and a small budget), and was later reviewed much in light of this by many critics, including the late Roger Ebert.
- Not fair, because Battle is actually a fine and entertaining film. Alright, the plot has some (expected) hurdles; among other things that raise an eyebrow or two, the apes have developed speech and intellect in a mere 20 years. But if you disregard these minor things, Battle is a good film, told with a fitting frame, and it has John Huston (The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948, director)) as the Lawgiver ape.  SPOILER It is also the only film in the series to end on an optimistic, pacifistic note, rounding the groundbreaking science fiction franchise off with style.
It is directed by great English filmmaker J. Lee Thompson (Murder Without Crime (1950)), who also directed the inferior, preceding Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972). The script is by John William Corrington and Joyce Hooper Corrington (The Omega Man (1971, both)), with Paul Dehn (Orders to Kill (1958)) contributing story elements.

Related posts:

 

The Apes franchise:  War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) - Reeves and Co. astonish with truly spectacular film that finishes the Ape circle

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) or, Ape 3.1: Mad Apes!
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) or, The Ape Uprising   
Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) - The enjoyable if farfetched second Apes sequel
Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) - Decent follow-up to the SF milestone   
J. Lee Thompson: Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) or, The Ape Uprising

Cape Fear (1962) - Great suspense in effective home invasion thriller 

The Guns of Navarone (1961) - Thompson's wonderful war-adventure classic

 

 

 

Watch a 2-minute clip from the film here

Cost: 1.7 mil. $
Box office: 8.8 mil. $ - North America only
= Some uncertainty: A big hit based on North America alone and almost certainly a huge hit with other markets (projected return of 7.35 times the cost)

[Battle for the Planet of the Apes was released 15 June (USA) and runs 93 minutes. Shooting took place around January 1973 in California. My projected final world gross is a low-set 12.5 mil. $. Ebert gave the film a 2/4 star review, translating to 2 notches under this one. The franchise then lay dormant until Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes (2001). Thompson returned with Huckleberry Finn (1974). Roddy McDowall (The Legend of Hell House (1973)) returned in McMillan & Wife (1973, TV-series), Love, American Style (1973, TV-series) and theatrically in Arnold (1973); Claude Akins (Murder, She Wrote (1984, TV-series)) in 15 TV credits prior to his theatrical return in Tentacles (1977). Battle for the Planet of the Apes is rotten at 36 % with a 4.70/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

 

What do you think of Battle for the Planet of the Apes?

Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) - More than decent follow-up to the SF milestone

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The plentiful text promises lots of excitement on this poster for Ted Post's Beneath the Planet of the Apes

A rescue mission carrying astronaut Brent crash-lands on the planet of the apes and discovers a harrowing truth in tunnels beneath their civilization!

 

Beneath the Planet of the Apes is written by Paul Dehn (Orders to Kill (1958)), with Mort Abrahams (Route 66 (1962-63, producer)) contributing story elements, and directed by Ted Post (The Peacemaker (1956)). It is the first sequel to Franklin J. Schaffner's science fiction masterpiece Planet of the Apes (1968).

The film, in short, is not as successful or innovative as its predecessor but still solid entertainment.
Both effects and the action elements have been upped, and yet the debate-sparking elements in the original's storyline are also intact, this time in the forms of war-loving, brutal gorillas, protesting chimpanzees, against the simians' special culture surrounding violence against women. - And then there's the extremist, bomb-worshipping mutants! All in all Beneath has a lot of 'stuff' in it, for lack of a better word, to spur thoughts and parallels to the real world, making it highly successful SF, - if not, however, as revolutionizing as the groundbreaking original.
SPOILER The story about Charlton Heston's (Ben Hur (1959)) character Taylor from the first movie, who now has to be saved 2000 years into the future is a little thin, and the mutants are a bit far-fetched. If one wants to be critical about Beneath the Planet of the Apes. - But their pastel-colored costumes are prime kitsch, and I bought into the story irregardless.
James Franciscus (The Cat o'Nine Tails (1971)) is the new hero, - cast because of his resemblance to Heston, - and he is a woolly, poor hero. But then Heston reappears! SPOILER The ending, (in which Taylor blows up planet Earth), is quite something, and it is also in great alignment with the dystopic end of the original.

 

Related posts:

The Apes franchise: War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) - Reeves and Co. astonish with truly spectacular film that finishes the Ape circle 

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) or, Ape 3.1: Mad Apes!
Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973) or, The Final Ape!  
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) or, The Ape Uprising   
Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) - The enjoyable if farfetched second Apes sequel 

Kim Hunter and James Franciscus are photogenic and sexy as human prisoners in Ted Post's Beneath the Planet of the Apes

Watch an original TV promo for the film here

 
Cost: 2.5 mil. $
Box office: 18.9 mil. $ (North America only)
= Huge hit (returned 7.56 times its cost domestically alone)

[Beneath the Planet of the Apes was released 23 April (Italy) and runs 95 minutes. Pierre Boulle, author of the 1963 Planet of the Apes novel that started the franchise, wrote a script that was thrown out by the studio. Heston agreed only to a brief appearance and wanted his salary to go to charity. Schaffner was not able to return to direct due to his work on Patton (1970). Shooting took place from February - April 1969 in California, including in Los Angeles. Fox cut the budget in half to 2.5 mil. $ due to several recent, costly flops, and one cost-cutting strategy was the incorporation of sets from musical Hello, Dolly! (1969) in the film.It opened #9 to a 250k $ first week in 4 theaters, and it reached #1 in its 6th week with 863k $. The success immediately prompted another sequel to go into production: Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971). Post returned with 9 TV and TV movie credits prior to his theatrical return with The Baby (1973). Franciscus returned in Night Slaves (1970, TV movie) and theatrically in The Cat o'Nine Tales (1971); Kim Hunter (The Kindred (1987)) in 5 TV credits prior to her theatrical return in Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971). Beneath the Planet of the Apes is rotten at 37 % with a 5.30/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

 

What do you think of Beneath the Planet of the Apes?