Doctor Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine is a 1965 American International Pictures (AIP) comedy film directed by Norman Taurog and starring Vincent Price, Frankie Avalon, Dwayne Hickman, Susan Hart (The Slime People) and Jack Mullaney and featuring Fred Clark (Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb).
The movie is a parody of the then-popular spy film trend, particularly the 1964 James Bond hit Goldfinger, utilizing actors from AIP’s beach party and Edgar Allan Poe films.
There is a dungeon scene, complete with The Pit and Pendulum from Roger Corman’s 1961 movie, allowing Price to ham up his previous horror roles and the mad doctor’s assistant is named Igor.
Despite its low production values, the film has achieved minor cult status for the appearance of Price and other AIP Beach Party film alumni, its in-jokes and unabashed sexism, the claymation title sequence designed by Art Clokey, and a title song performed by The Supremes (which name drops Frankenstein’s Monster and Mr. Hyde).
Vincent Price returned for the 1966 sequel, Doctor Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs, directed by iconic Italian horror maestro Mario Bava.
Plot:
Price plays the titular mad scientist who, with the questionable assistance of his resurrected flunky Mullaney, builds a gang of attractive female robots clad in shiny gold bikinis. The sexbots are then dispatched to seduce and rob wealthy men. (Goldfoot’s name reflects his and his robots’ choice in footwear.) Avalon and Hickman play the bumbling heroes who attempt to thwart Goldfoot’s scheme. The film’s climax is an extended chase through the streets of San Francisco.
Reviews:
“The film is this weird mashup of various genres and sub-genres. It’s part mad scientist film, part spy spoof, part slapstick comedy and part dancey-60’s-beach-comedy. It’s a silly, light hearted, fun little flick.” Bloody Disgusting
” …the first Austin Powers movie actually owed a lot to this plot. Doctor Goldfoot is pure, unadulterated 1960s camp of the highest order, always funny and never boring. It all wraps up with a five-minute chase sequence that rivals the infamous 1966 Batman “some days you just can’t get rid of a bomb” sequence in sheer lunacy.” Paste magazine
“The great Vincent Price obviously had fun with his characterization of Doctor Goldfoot in this campy spy spoof directed by Norman Taurog … Annette Funicello and Harvey Lembeck provide cameo appearances. Strictly for fans who loved those 1960s drive-in quickies.” DVD Beaver
