“Goldfinger” and the Decline of the Classical Hollywood Narrative

The 1964 film Goldfinger, released right after the break-up of the Hollywood studio system, presented a new kind of narrative that did not conform to the classical Hollywood three-act model. In this talk, I will examine how Goldfinger differed dramaturgically from the classical Hollywood style and why, fifty years later, the film’s artistic and financial success remains such a strong influence on almost all Hollywood production.

Ken Selden is a film and television writer/director.