MovieChat Forums > Goldfinger (1965) Discussion > Oddjob's Hat

Oddjob's Hat

posted 11 years ago by stevewyzard
16 replies | jump to latest

Look, I know Oddjob's hat is not real - but for the sake of this discussion, let's pretend it is.

When Bond is first introduced to Oddjob at the golf course, he is given a demonstration of the hat's unique abilities: it decapitates a stone statue. Later in Switzerland, during the standoff with Oddjob and Goldfinger's henchmen, Bond orders Tilly to make a run for safety. Oddjob notices, throws his hat, and kills her without any blood shed.

1. If the hat could cut off the head of a stone statue, wouldn't the same thing happen with a living person's head?

OK, let's say the filmmakers just didn't want to show a person being decapitated, and the hat simply provided one very deadly blow. In the scene that follows, Bond runs over to Tilly and is obviously very remorseful that his split-second decision led to her death. He is quickly surrounded and captured.

2. After seeing what Oddjob's hat can do on two different occasions, why does he just leave the hat on the ground? Oddjob calmly walks over, picks up his hat, and has his deadly weapon back.

The watcher and the tower.....waiting hour by hour

[–] KinksRock 11 years ago

1. Yes, it should have decapitated her. If the film were made today, I bet it would have.

2. Bond is surrounded at that point. No point in grabbing the hat.

Jaan Pehechan Ho

[–] shabba83 11 years ago

Also, when Goldfinger and Oddjob fly to Switzerland, did no-one at the airport say anything when his hat went through the metal detectors?

[–] KinksRock 11 years ago

Even if they did, what could they say? I used to have shoes that set off metal detectors.

Jaan Pehechan Ho

[–] OldGrayMare 11 years ago

Also, when Goldfinger and Oddjob fly to Switzerland, did no-one at the airport say anything when his hat went through the metal detectors?

A lot of clothing accessories do that.

[–] learningtree72 11 years ago

Did they have metal detectors in 1964?

[–] JonahVarque 11 years ago

That, plus any time it was a private airplane the rules are different and always have been for private flights. (Though in the case of Goldfinger that you mention, it was a scheduled flight; and in those days you just walked aboard). It was the hijackings to Cuba which really started in 1968 that started the idea of security checks outside of El Al.

WARNING!
Objects under T-shirt are larger than they appear!

[–] hifijohn 9 years ago

this is 1964 back then airports had very little security.I doubt if most people back then even had seen a metal detector.

[–] movies789 10 years ago

"1. If the hat could cut off the head of a stone statue, wouldn't the same thing happen with a living person's head?"

The hat didn't slice through the stone statue's neck; it cracked the stone, and the then-broken head fell off. If the hat hit the girl's neck, the neck, too, might simply have cracked & broken, without being sliced through. Also, it's not certain that the hat struck her neck; it could have struck and cracked her skull.

"2. After seeing what Oddjob's hat can do on two different occasions, why does he just leave the hat on the ground?"

Presumably, it would be like using a boomerang or throwing-knife for the first time. Odd-Job was clearly a martial arts expert, with substantial practice in delivering the hat to its target. Besides, Bond's compact handgun was very possibly empty at that point, and he was clearly outnumbered by Odd-Job and his horde, so one throw of an unfamiliar hat-weapon would have been futile.

[–] sillyspaghetti 10 years ago

Never really thought about it. All I know is that I have loved that hat since I was a kid and I have no desire to analyse it (no offence intended) as I love Bond for what it is - a flight of fancy.

[–] nutsberryfarm 10 years ago

i'd like one!

🏪🇺🇸

[–] sillyspaghetti 10 years ago

Me too!

[–] MonteCarloMan 10 years ago

The thing is at the end his hat must have been sharp cause it stuck to the poles inside fort knox.

[–] movies789 10 years ago

Keep in mind that the brim didn't cut INTO the poles; it wedged BETWEEN the poles.

Anyway, it was a great scene, to be sure, with (IMHO) one of the two best Bond villains ever - Odd Job (with Robert "Grant" Shaw being the other).

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Degree7 9 years ago

Who throws a shoe?

Honestly!

~ I'm a 21st century man and I don't wanna be here.

[–] raf-33 9 years ago

"Mr Powers, meet.. Random-Task."

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