Review: Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine

Blu-ray: Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine (1965)

‘Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine’.  No, it’s not a new Rob Zombie song, it’s actually 101 Films new Blu_ray release of this obscure, ‘screwball’ sci-fi/comedy from 1965.

Screwball is the only accurate word I can summon to describe what was offered up here. As far as the 60’s sci-fi/comedy genre goes, this is right up there with… ummmm… ‘Dr Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs’ (which was interestingly directed a year later in ‘66 by horror icon Mario Bava no less).

Vincent Price is ‘Dr Goldfoot’. I could stop there as Price is reason enough to watch any movie regardless in my book. The mad Doctor is hell bent on creating an army of bikini clad robot women to do his bidding.  He aims to take over the world by using the bikini assassins to marry the most powerful men in the world and inherit their fortunes. Quite brilliant really.

Vincent Price is on top form, as camp as Christmas and devours every scene with some effortlessly sinister/silly gestures and typical hand rubbing malice. Hot on his tail is government agent Craig Gamble, played by the surprisingly entertaining Frankie Avalon (Grease) who provides the hero role. Avalon is so animated in his scenes  I thought he was a cartoon for most of the film.

Dr Goldfoot is so ‘60s’ it’s almost like watching a parody. Directed by Oscar winning Norman Taurog; the man behind nine of Elvis’ movies. Taurog fills every scene with hot robot women, innuendos and lots of ‘madcap’ behaviour. For a film that is over 50 years old and from a time when kooky sci-fi and impromptu dancing was a staple, I found Dr Goldfoot very entertaining. The HD 16:9 transfer is flawless with rich colours and little grain. The sound is also excellent but no special features to speak of unfortunately.

A perfect purchase for Vincent Price completists and for fans of this era of film making. Hell, just watch is for Frankie Avalon’s facial expressions. Priceless.

Review by Ramrod (co-host of 60 Minutes With) from a disc kindly supplied by 101 Films.