How FBI tried to avoid being mentioned in 1964 hit Bond film 'Goldfinger'

Image
ANI London
Last Updated : Dec 09 2014 | 3:00 PM IST

Newly released FBI files have revealed that the investigative agency left no stones unturned to keep itself away from James Bond film 'Goldfinger'.

J Edgar Hoover didn't want his agency to be associated with a fictional spy who has "beautiful women presenting themselves to him in scanty attire", the Guardian reported.

The files show how spooked the FBI became at the prospect of being portrayed in the 1964 Bond movie Goldfinger, in which 007 foils the eponymous baddie in an attempt to steal bullion from Fort Knox and a memorandum from Hoover's office to officers in Los Angeles and Miami has also revealed that the film's producer Harry Saltzman had requested the use of military aircraft in the film.

The LA office was instructed to advise the bureau on the proposed movie, while Miami was told to contact Saltzman at the Fountainebleu hotel and "vigorously protest any mention of FBI or portrayal of its agents in his proposed movie".

There was even a federal law prohibiting the studio using the name or initials of the FBI without written permission: "If a copy of this law is available in your office, it should be furnished to Saltzman."

There were several background checks issued on Saltzman, Fleming and the screenplay writer Richard Maibaum, but the investigations were far from exhaustive, as the bureau wasn't certain if it was the same Saltzman who came to the bureau in 1951 as a newspaper photographer to take a picture of a laboratory.

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Dec 09 2014 | 2:35 PM IST

Next Story