Goldfinger: The Coolest James Bond Car, the Legend of the Golden Lady, and Oddjob’s Hat

Will you really die if you’re painted gold? Are car ejector seats a real thing? How about murder by hat brim? All of these questions are raised by the classic James Bond movie, Goldfinger!

We’re trying something a little different this time around. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of Goldfinger, perhaps the greatest and most iconic James Bond movie of all time, we couldn’t contain our discussion to any one topic. Instead, Hakeem and Tamara are tackling three (count ‘em) topics from this classic spy flick, and breaking down the science and story logic behind each one. That’s right, folks! You’re practically getting three Does it Fly? episodes for the price of one (hey, this show is free, ain’t it?) as our hosts will break down the science, story, and vibes of each individual one of these pop culture icons!

First up is the death of Goldfinger’s employee, Jill Masterson (Shirley Eaton), via “skin suffocation” after she’s painted entirely gold…a movie scene so iconic that it actually sparked an urban legend that this could actually be a thing! Nevertheless, we take a look at this and see just what’s possible and why this could be such a grisly way to die.

Then it’s time to try Oddjob’s hat on for size. The super strong bodyguard for the film’s villain is played by Harold Sakata, and he wields a steel-rimmed hat that he can throw with deadly efficiency (years before Kung Lao made his mark on the Mortal Kombat franchise). But just how likely is death by chapeau anyway? What would it take to make something sharp enough to kill but also balanced enough to sail through the air with the greatest of accuracy? Tune in and find out!

And finally, what Bond movie would be complete without a car? And in Goldfinger it’s the Aston Martin DB5, albeit one that has received some, shall we say, special modifications. Chief among these is the ejector seat. And who among us hasn’t wished for one of those every now and then, right? With that in mind, Hakeem and Tamara break down the potential reality of such a device. Hell, you might need to eject yourself if you drive a Tesla!

Now…on with the show…

Oh yeah, and if you like this format, let us know on social media or drop us a line, and tell us if there are other movies that you think require multiple topics to properly unpack!

SUGGESTED VIEWING 

The James Bond franchise is sprawling and a little uneven. Fortunately for you, most of them are completely standalone affairs that you can watch without any other knowledge of the franchise. This includes Goldfinger! However, if you want the full “peak Bond” experience, go with the first three films in the franchise: Dr. No (1962), From Russia With Love (1963), and Goldfinger (1964). You could arguably throw 1965’s Thunderball in there, too, but that’s where the movies really start to expand, whereas the first three are relatively grounded.

FURTHER READING 

Do you want to delve a little deeper into the facts, concepts, and stories Hakeem and Tamara referenced in today’s episode? Of course you do! 

While the concept of “skin asphyxiation” in Goldfinger doesn’t fly, thermoregulation absolutely sure does, and you can learn more about it here.

Hey, kids! Want to build your own Oddjob hat? Better study up on momentum, first!

Ejector seats are very much a real thing, and one of the leading makers of the actual technology has a cool site with demo videos and specs on various models. Check it out here! For a more general look at ejector seat technology, click here.

Also, while Goldfinger is the third movie in the Bond movie series, the novel by Ian Fleming was actually the seventh Bond adventure! It’s pretty different from the film, and totally worth checking out if you want to get even more of the gritty, cold war flavor of pre-movie James Bond.

WANT MORE FROM DOES IT FLY?

Twisters is in theaters now and we took a look at the science of the film, via the lens of the original 1996 movie!

Star Wars: The Acolyte just completed its inaugural season on Disney+. Time to learn how lightsabers work…and why none of you should have them!

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