| Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs | |
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 Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Mario Bava |
| Produced by | Louis M. Heyward Fulvio Lucisano |
| Written by | Louis M. Heyward Robert Kaufman Pipolo |
| Starring | Vincent Price Fabian Franco Franchi Ciccio Ingrassia Laura Antonelli |
| Music by | Les Baxter |
| Cinematography | Antonio Rinaldi |
| Distributed by | American International Pictures |
| Release date(s) | Italy July 29, 1966 US 9 November 1966 |
| Country | Italy United States |
Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs is a 1966 Italian spy-spoof film directed by Mario Bava and starring Vincent Price, Fabian, Francesco Mulé, Laura Antonelli and the Italian comedy team of Franco Franchi and Ciccio Ingrassia.
The film was shot in Italy by cinematographer Antonio Rinaldi and the Italian version is reported to be quite different than the English-language edition, with more screen time spent on the antics of Franco and Ciccio and less on Vincent Price and the other American cast. The Italian title of the film is Spie vengono dal semifreddo (Literally, "The Spies Who Came In From the Frozen Custard"). The Italian title was a pun on The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and the name of a thick Italian ice cream dessert, semifreddo (literally semicold).
The "Dr. Goldfoot" of the English version is clearly a take off of James Bond's foe Goldfinger; 1964 film version was highly successful and still fresh in the public consciousness at the time the previous film in the series, Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine was made.
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Synopsis [edit]
Price plays the titular mad scientist who is working with the Chinese government to use exploding female robots to disrupt a scheduled NATO war-game by blowing up the various generals involved in the exercise (one of whom looks exactly like Goldfoot, and whom Goldfoot later impersonates). Fabian is the hero who works to thwart the plot, when he isn't busy chasing women such as Laura Antonelli's character. The film ends with an extended frantic chase through the streets of Rome, and Goldfoot attempting to start World War 3 between Russia and the United States by dropping a nuclear bomb on Moscow.
Production [edit]
This sequel was an attempt to fully capitalize on Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine, which had been a minor success in America and a major financial success in Italy. In order to further exploit the "Goldfoot" name in Italy, the producers shot the film in Italy, hired an Italian director, Mario Bava, and cast popular Italian stars Franco and Ciccio in major roles. (AIP later released several dubbed Franco & Ciccio films in America, but the duo never found a Stateside audience.)
Frankie Avalon was originally announced for the sequel[1] but his part ended up being taken by Fabian. At one stage the movie was known as Dr Goldfoot and the Love Bomb.[2] Filming took place in Rome and started in April 1966. Louis Heyward estimates the script was rewritten about nine times just prior to production and says there were difficulties satisfying the Italian and American backers; some different scenes were shot for each country, including emphasising brunettes in the Italian version and blondes in the American version.[3]
Reception [edit]
The resulting film was not particularly successful, however, and is considered by many critics to be director Bava's worst movie,[4] yet it was his commercially most successful movie in Italy.[citation needed] Vincent Price's Goldfoot is the only character who appears in both movies.
Samuel Z. Arkoff said the film's commercial reception was hurt by the refusal of female lead Laura Antonelli to take her clothes off. Arkoff claims she was originally willing but then his nephew, Ted Rusoff, who was sent to supervise the film, developed a crush on her and persuaded her not to do it.[5]
In Britain this film was released as "Dr. G. and the Girl Bombs" following legal action against the distributors of the first film by a London-based Doctor Goldfoot.
References [edit]
- ^ 'Whiskers' on 20th Slate Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 12 Jan 1966: c13.
- ^ Universal Signs Margulies Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 29 Mar 1966: c15.
- ^ When in Rome, Don't Give Up: Schizophrenic Roman Holiday Champlin, Charles. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 26 June 1966: b1.
- ^ Second 'Dr. Goldfoot' Film Really a Bomb, Thomas, Kevin. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 02 Dec 1966: d24.
- ^ Samuel Z Arkoff & Richard Turbo, Flying Through Hollywood By the Seat of My Pants, Birch Lane Press, 1992 p 136-137
External links [edit]
- Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs at the Internet Movie Database
- Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs at AllRovi
- Review discussing film's tortured gestation
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