10 Times James Bond Films Were Better Than The Books

7. Bond Escaping The Laser In Goldfinger

The scene in Goldfinger where Bond is strapped to a table with a laser slowly riding up towards his knackers is one of the most famous scenes in all of cinema. Bond, looking for any way he can to avoid being killed, tries to blag his way out by convincing Goldfinger that he knows about his grand plan and that MI6 will come straight after him if Bond is killed in action. It works, and Bond is instead hoisted off to Kentucky for the third act of the film. C’est magnifique.

Not so much in the book.

For a start, we don’t have the laser but the novel was written in 1958 so replacing it with a saw could be let off. But how does Bond stop himself being cut up? Does he have some sort of gadget up his sleeve? Do he and MI6 know something that Goldfinger doesn’t? Does he seduce Oddjob?

No.

He offers to work for Goldfinger. As his secretary. Like, being stuck behind a desk, doing all the paperwork, filing Goldfinger’s taxes and so on. And it works. Bond becomes Goldfinger’s Moneypenny, allowing him to stay behind enemy lines and learn of Goldfinger’s plot.

There’s a reason why the film is one of the most famous and the book isn’t.