Jill Masterson (Shirley Eaton) dies of "skin suffocation" by being coated in gold, a complication that, despite popular belief, has no basis in fact. The belief depends on the incorrect supposition that respiration occurs, at least in part, through the skin, a fallacy that has been discredited in scientific circles since the Renaissance. Despite periodic debunking in the popular media (especially noteworthy is a 1978 column of the syndicated newspaper feature, "The Straight Dope", and a 2003 episode of the Discovery Channel series, MythBusters), a widespread belief in the myth of "skin suffocation" still exists. The myth was further bolstered by rumors that Shirley Eaton had actually died on set from asphyxiation due to the gold paint.
Operation GRAND SLAM was the actual codename for the Soviet overflight mission by CIA pilot Francis Gary Powers during which his Lockheed U-2C spy plane, serial number 56-6693, Article 360, was shot down by an SA-2 "Guideline" surface-to-air missile on 1 May 1960.
Producers Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli were so determined to get Honor Blackman for the part of Pussy Galore that they had the actress's ability to perform judo written into the script.
Product placements, brand integrations and promotional tie-ins for this movie include the silver birch Aston Martin DB5; Dom Perignon Champagne, particularly a Dom Perignon '53; Rolex Watches, James Bond wears a Rolex Submariner; Kentucky Fried Chicken; and Corgi Toys, the beginning of their relationship with the series.
Pussy Galore introduces herself to Bond, who replies "I must be dreaming." The original script had Bond replying "I know you are, but what's your name?" This was deemed too suggestive.
Some of Pussy Galore's all-woman Flying Circus were played by men wearing blonde wigs.
The aircraft (which has a profile similar to a Boeing 747) that transports Goldfinger and his car out of England is actually an Aviation Traders ATL-98 Carvair. This was a heavily modified Douglas DC-4. The 747 didn't make its first flight until 1969 but the Carvair entered service in 1962 (two years before Goldfinger). The flight number for the flight in the movie was British United Air Ferry Flight VS 400 to Geneva, Switzerland.
The budget was more than the budgets for the first two Bond films combined.
The character of Syliva Trench was originally intended to return in this movie after appearing in Dr. No and From Russia with Love. However, this was scrapped when Guy Hamilton became director.
The debut of the Aston Martin.
The exchange between Bond and his caddy about Goldfinger's golf ball ("If that's his original ball, I'm Arnold Palmer.") had the caddy standing on the ball in the novel. This is switched so Bond hid the ball for the film as Harry Saltzman thought it would give Bond a more cheeky image.
The film earned back its production costs outlay of $3 million in just two weeks.
The film's World Premiere was held on Thursday 17th September 1964 at the Odeon Theatre, Leicester Square, London. Sean Connery could not attend due to filming commitments for The Hill. A specially designed "gold finger" piece of jewelery was designed by British Designer Dipples for Honor Blackman for the premiere and the star's promotional tour for the movie. Sean Connery drove an Aston Martin DB5 down the famous Parisian promenade of the Champs-Elysees for the French Premiere of the film. For the occasion, sixty women were gilded in gold like the Shirley Eaton character of the movie. One woman mobbed Connery and got into the car. After this incident, Connery stopped attending James Bond premieres until You Only Live Twice.
The first Bond film to be shown on U.S. commercial TV, on Sunday, 17 September 1972, earning the highest Nielsen ratings for a single movie on TV up to that time. 49% of the nation's viewers tuned in that night, and ABC-TV, which showed the film, would retain the exclusive commercial U.S. TV rights to the Bond series for the next 28 years.
The Ford Motor Company happily supplied a Lincoln Continental for the car compactor scene in exchange for featuring their new model Ford Mustang in the Swiss mountain driving sequence. During the crushing of the Lincoln, the crew remained totally silent, in awe of what they were doing.
The golf scenes in the film were shot at the Stoke Poges Golf Club in England, not far from Pinewood Studios. There is now a James Bond themed bar at the golf course. The interest in golf developed by Sean Connery is said to have spawned during this filming.
The idea of the Aston Martin's revolving number plates came from director Guy Hamilton who had just been frustrated at receiving a parking ticket. The various revolving license plate numbers for James Bond's Aston Martin DB5 were 4711-EA-62 (France), LU 6789 (Switzerland) and BMT 216A (UK).
The literal translations of some of this film's foreign language titles include 007 Against Goldfinger (Brazil & Portugal); Mission Goldfinger (Italy); 007 Versus Goldfinger (China) and Agent 007 Against Goldfinger (Spain)
The main theme was selected by the American Film Institute number 53 on the list of the top 100 from movies of the past 100 years.
The Masterton surname of Tilly Masterton and Jill Masterton in the Ian Fleming novel was changed to Masterson for the film. Ian Fleming is said to have based the Masterton name on Sir John Masterman, a leading Oxford University academic and former Mi5 agent.