Goldengirl

Goldengirl

Company type	Film
Industry	Motion picture
Founded	1979
Founder	Joseph Sargent (director), John Kohn (screenplay), Bill Conti (music)
Products	Film

Goldengirl is a 1979 American film blending science fiction with sports drama, directed by Joseph Sargent. It adapts the 1977 novel authored by Peter Lear, a pen name for Peter Lovesey. The screenplay was crafted by John Kohn, accompanied by a score composed by Bill Conti. This movie introduces Susan Anton in her first major cinematic role, starring as the lead character alongside James Coburn.

Plot

Dr. Serafin, a scientist with neo-Nazi affiliations, pioneers a technique to engineer an enhanced human specimen, using his adopted daughter Goldine as the subject. Through a regimen of vitamins and hormones, Goldine is groomed to participate in three disciplines at the 1980 Summer Olympics held in Moscow.

To support his research financially, Serafin offers shares of Goldine’s future earnings to a group of investors who then assign merchandising specialist Dryden to safeguard their stake. Concurrently, psychologist Dr. Sammy Lee oversees Goldine’s psychological conditioning.

Goldine’s Olympic competition in Moscow unfolds with surprising results.

Production

Susan Anton, previously crowned Miss California and placing second runner-up in the 1969 Miss America pageant, gained recognition through television advertisements for Muriel Cigars. Her performance in this film earned her a 1980 Golden Globe nomination for Best New Star of the Year—Actress.

Notable athletes such as Olympic competitors Dwight Stones and Bob Beamon, along with tennis star John Newcombe, appear briefly in cameo roles.

The production financed two-thirds of its $7 million budget by pre-selling television rights to NBC. The network intended to broadcast an extended 184-minute miniseries timed with its exclusive coverage of the 1980 Moscow Olympics. However, after the U.S. boycott of the Games, NBC delayed airing the project and ultimately presented a shortened 117-minute edition in January 1981.

Reception

Vincent Canby from The New York Times commended the movie for its sharp and satirical critique of corporate influence within amateur athletics. Conversely, Variety criticized Susan Anton’s acting and described the screenplay as confusing. Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune rated the film one star out of four, remarking that only James Coburn’s performance lent it authenticity.

Kevin Thomas writing for the Los Angeles Times considered the film inconsistent, citing uneven character development that weakened its overall effect. Gary Arnold from The Washington Post pointed out editing flaws that disrupted narrative coherence and eliminated important explanatory scenes.

Jack Kroll of Newsweek noted that despite promising concepts, the film faltered due to heavy-handed direction and awkward cuts, including excision of a crucial scene revealing Serafin’s history.

From a commercial standpoint, Goldengirl failed at the box office, earning just $3 million in North American rentals against its $7 million production cost.

See also

• The Bionic Woman, television series aired from 1976 to 1978
• List of films about the sport of athletics