Auric Goldfinger (Gert Frobe)

Datastream Actor: Gert Frobe Character: Auric Goldfinger Movie: Goldfinger Date of Birth: 25 February 1913 Height: 6' 1"” (1.85m) Distinguishing Feature: Gold obsession Appearance: Medium height, overweight build, dark glaring eyes. Yellowish-blonde hair, round face and medium complexion. Status: Terminated Organisations & Alliances: Auric Enterprises, Odd Job, Pussy Galore Profile Auric Goldfinger is an obsessive megalomaniac, hell-bent on stockpiling his wealth in gold, by whatever means necessary. He hides much of his criminal activity behind a bustling company industry and import/export conglomeration. If there is one thing that drives Goldfinger, it is his compulsive need to win. He bribes and cheats his way through every-day life and is happiest when taking someone's money.

“Man has climbed Mount Everest, gone to the bottom of the ocean. He's fired rockets at the Moon, split the atom, achieved miracles in every field of human endeavour.. except crime! ”

His intelligence is above reproach and his personality appears jovial and hospitable, but Goldfinger harbours a short temper and a sharp tongue. Goldfinger puts his meticulous mind to planning his criminal movements and will get away with it, if not for 007.

Scheme
Goldfinger longs to be remembered as the greatest criminal mastermind and, in true criminal genius style, forges a plan to increase his bullion of gold by a factor of ten. His master plan involves infiltrating Fort Knox - the largest gold repository in the USA - dispensing his "home-brewed" and very fatal Delta-9 nerve gas, and last of all, planting a nuclear bomb (supplied by Red China) in the heart of the bullion. If the plan is conducted successfully, the world's largest gold stockpile becomes unreachable with a radioactive half-life of fifty-eight years. This puzzled Bond at first as to why Goldfinger wouldn't want to steal the gold, then it was unraveled, by doing this the Western economy would be in crisis, Goldfinger's gold stocks would be worth a great amount more and Communist China would rejoice as they would not be effected by the downfall of the economy. 007 must infiltrate the mission and, with the help of the feisty Pussy Galore, prevent the bomb from triggering

I've Been Expecting You "Now hear this, Goldfinger. Your luck has just changed. I doubt very much that the Miami Beach Police would take kindly to what you're doing. Nod your head if you agree." Bond is sent to Miami Beach to keep an eye on the gold-smuggling villain and discovers him cheating at cards. From a hotel window the ill-kept Jill Masterson spies on Goldfinger's bridge partner, informing the cheat of every hand. Bond quickly puts a stop to the skullduggery, but keeps a close eye on the villainous Goldfinger - tracking him to his Austrian production factory.

Headquarters
Wealthy enough to have outposts across the globe, Goldfinger spends time in England, Austria and Kentucky, USA. His expansive stud ranch in the Americas is his stronghold for meeting shady business associates while the "Auric Enterprises, A.C." production factory in Austria acts as an important stop-off on his gold smuggling route.

Bond: "Do you expect me to talk?"
Goldfinger: "No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!"

Gadgets & Vehicles Goldfinger's pride and joy is no doubt his Rolls Royce Phantom 337. A classic and priceless car demonstrates the perfect image for the arrogant and compulsive Goldfinger. The personalized plate reads "AU1" and the yellow and black colour scheme is sure sign of the villain's gold obsession. Goldfinger also has "Pussy Galore's Flying Circus" to distribute the nerve gas at his command. Dress Code Goldfinger indulges in expensive tailoring, preferring a tweed-coloured jacket and golfing trouser.

Goodbye, Mr Bond
Pussy Galore: "Where's Goldfinger?"
James Bond: "Playing his golden harp."

Goldfinger escapes the failed Fort Knox raid unscathed, but foolishly tries to dispense of Bond by hijacking his private jet bound for the White House. A fight erupts in which the pressurised cabin of the jet is breeched and Goldfinger is violently blown out of a broken window.

Biography Gert Frobe (born Karl-Gerhart Froeber) was born in Saxony, Germany in 1912. In his lifetime Frobe performed in over 100 film productions and came into the western public eye after his menacing role in 1964's "Goldfinger" as the title character. Before this role, Frobe was an established actor in his first language, but contrary to the character, Frobe was a jolly and humorous man and comedy was his natural forté. On the James Bond production the dubbing artist Nikki van der Zyl taught Frobe to recite his English lines. He was, however, ultimately dubbed in the final cut of the film. After his introduction to the western world in "Goldfinger", Frobe performed in another Broccoli film, the film adaptation of Ian Fleming's children's novel "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang".. Other notable productions included 1965's "Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines" and numerous German language films.

His final screen appearance was "The Little Vampire" in 1986. Frobe played the lead role of Detective Geiermeier in this German horror flick. Frobe passed away in Barvaria, Germany on the 5th of September 1988. His legendary performance as the villainous Goldfinger remains today, a fan-favourite Bond moment.