- Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine
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Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine 
Directed by Norman Taurog Produced by Samuel Z. Arkoff
James H. NicholsonWritten by Short Story Author:
James Hartford
Screenwriters:
Robert Kaufman
Elwood UllmanStarring Vincent Price
Frankie Avalon
Dwayne Hickman
Susan Hart
Jack MullaneyMusic by Les Baxter Cinematography Sam Leavitt Editing by Eve Newman
Ronald SinclairRelease date(s) November 6, 1965 Running time 88 min. Country United States Language English Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine is a 1965 American International Pictures film directed by Norman Taurog and starring Vincent Price, Frankie Avalon, Dwayne Hickman, Susan Hart and Deborah Walley. This is a parody of the then-popular spy film trend, particularly the 1964 James Bond hit Goldfinger.
Contents
Synopsis
Price plays the titular mad scientist who, with the questionable assistance of his resurrected flunky Mullaney, builds a gang of female robots who are then dispatched to seduce and rob wealthy men. (Goldfoot's name reflects his and his robots' choice in footwear.) Avalon and Hickman play the bumbling heroes who attempt to thwart Goldfoot's scheme. The film's climax is an extended car–bike–cable car–boat-on-wheels chase through the streets of San Francisco.
Production
Despite its low production values, the film has achieved a certain cult status for the appearance of Price and other AIP Beach Party film alumni, its in-jokes and over-the-top sexism, the claymation title sequence designed by Art Clokey, and a title song performed by The Supremes. (The lyrics of the song use the phrase "Dr. Goldfoot and his bikini machine", reflecting the film's original title, which was changed before release.)
Vincent Price stated in a 1987 interview with David Del Valle that the original script was a camp musical, comparing it to Little Shop of Horrors. Price stated, "It could have been fun, but they cut all the music out", though he is not clear whether the footage was actually shot or the idea was abandoned during production. An AIP Television special that appeared on Shindig! in November 1965 called The Wild Weird World of Dr. Goldfoot featured many songs that may have been cut from the cinema release. The title of the television show may have been inspired by the November 1965 The Incredible World of James Bond designed to give publicity to the upcoming release of Thunderball.
The film is notable for its scenic photography of San Francisco, California. The cablecar scene is filmed at the West Portal tunnel.
Susan Hart's hair was done by Jon Peters.
In Britain this film was released as Dr. G. and the Bikini Machine due to legal action by a London-based Doctor Goldfoot.
Cast notes
One of Goldfoot's bikini-clad female robots is played by Deanna Lund, three years before joining the cast of Irwin Allen's science fiction series Land of the Giants. Frankie Avalon and Dwayne Hickman play the same characters they did in the previous year's Ski Party.
Sequel
Vincent Price returned for the 1966 sequel, Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs, directed by Mario Bava. These films, particularly the idea for the "fembots", were reportedly a major inspiration for the 1997 spy spoof Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.[citation needed]
External links
- Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine at the Internet Movie Database
- Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine at AllRovi
- The Wild Weird World of Dr. Goldfoot at the Internet Movie Database
The films of Norman Taurog 1920s Lucky Boy • The Diplomats • In Holland • The Medicine Men1930s Troopers Three (with B. Reeves Eason) • Sunny Skies • Hot Curves • Follow the Leader • Finn and Hattie • Skippy • Newly Rich • Huckleberry Finn • Sooky • Hold 'Em Jail • The Phantom President • If I Had a Million (segments "Prologue" and "Epilogue") • A Bedtime Story • The Way to Love • We're Not Dressing • Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch • College Rhythm • The Big Broadcast of 1936 • Strike Me Pink • Rhythm on the Range • Reunion • Fifty Roads to Town • You Can't Have Everything • The Adventures of Tom Sawyer • Mad About Music • Boys Town • The Girl Downstairs • Lucky Night1940s Broadway Melody of 1940 • Young Tom Edison • Little Nellie Kelly • Men of Boys Town • Design for Scandal • Are Husbands Necessary? • A Yank at Eton • Presenting Lily Mars • Girl Crazy (with Busby Berkley) • The Hoodlum Saint • The Beginning or the End • The Bride Goes Wild • Big City • Words and Music • That Midnight Kiss1950s Please Believe Me • The Toast of New Orleans • Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone • Rich, Young and Pretty • Room for One More • Jumping Jacks • The Stooge • The Stars Are Singing • The Caddy • Living It Up • You're Never Too Young • The Birds and the Bees • Pardners • Bundle of Joy • The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown • Onionhead • Don't Give Up the Ship1960s Visit to a Small Planet • G.I. Blues • All Hands on Deck • Blue Hawaii • Girls! Girls! Girls! • It Happened at the World's Fair • Palm Springs Weekend • Tickle Me • Sergeant Dead Head • Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine • Spinout • Double Trouble • Speedway • Live a Little, Love a LittleTelevision Light's Diamond Jubilee (1954) (with Alan Handley, Christian Nyby, Roy Rowland, King Vidor, William A. Wellman and Bud Yorkin)Categories:- American films
- 1965 films
- 1960s comedy films
- 1960s science fiction films
- Parody films
- American International Pictures films
- Comedy science fiction films
- English-language films
- Films directed by Norman Taurog
- Films set in San Francisco, California
- Teen comedy films
- Bikinis
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