Adam H. Kerman
2020-04-06 18:55:00 UTC
Honor Blackman, perhaps the most fondly remembered Bond girl after Ursula
Andress as Honey Ryder in Doctor No, has died at age 94.
https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-11162866
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/04/honor-blackman-obit
theguardian.com/film/2020/apr/06/honor-blackman-james-bond-pussy-galore-avengers-dies-aged-94
On television, she's best remembered for playing Cathy Gale on The
Avengers on ITV, series 2 and 3, 1962 to 1964. Took decades before these
episodes aired in the United States. She was in 17 of 26 episodes in
series 2, and 26 episodes in series 3.
She was cast as Pussy Galore in Goldfinger due to this television
series, which is why she left after series 3.
Cathy Gale was a terrific character. She was one of the earliest
characters on British television to demonstrate fighting skills and
wasn't present just to play the victim. Of course, the villain captured
her plenty of times, but she may have rescued Steed more often than
Steed rescued her.
Her episodes featured a fun jazz score, but the strict formula was
enforced, there was little variation from one week to the next, and the
show had absolutely no budget and production values were poor.
I liked the leather outfit on Honor Blackman better than on Diana Rigg
and Rigg's later costume, the jumpsuits, were absurd. But both women
were gorgeous.
The highlight of The Avengers was Series Four, the first series with a
big enough budget that it could be shot on B&W film with single camera.
The scripts were better this season as well, even though the absurd
science fiction elements were introduced; there was very little of this
in the Cathy Gale episodes. This series introduced Emma Peal... in
leather.
Cathy Gale knew judo, but it was nice to have a self assured woman in
her mid 30s. She was a widow.
Steed just liked fighting crime and performing counterespionage with
gorgeous women because, well, why the hell not?
Blackman was terrific as Pussy Galore in Goldfinger. Again, she was one
of the older Bond girls (the oldest would be in a Daniel Craig movie). It
just worked better. Still loved their fight/role in the hay scene, in
which with one kiss, Bond changed her sexuality. It was absolutely absurd
but she was a good enough actress that it was light, fun, and romantic.
It's hysterical that Ian Fleming, getting away with the dirty joke about
her name, was made into an even dirtier joke with Connery's Scot's
accent and pronunciation of "Poooosy". Gotta love this stuff.
She had a full career, mostly on UK and a little American television. It
was always a pleasure to see her. From what I heard, she was in
relatively good health throughout her life but I don't know how she was
doing near the end.
Andress as Honey Ryder in Doctor No, has died at age 94.
https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-11162866
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/04/honor-blackman-obit
theguardian.com/film/2020/apr/06/honor-blackman-james-bond-pussy-galore-avengers-dies-aged-94
On television, she's best remembered for playing Cathy Gale on The
Avengers on ITV, series 2 and 3, 1962 to 1964. Took decades before these
episodes aired in the United States. She was in 17 of 26 episodes in
series 2, and 26 episodes in series 3.
She was cast as Pussy Galore in Goldfinger due to this television
series, which is why she left after series 3.
Cathy Gale was a terrific character. She was one of the earliest
characters on British television to demonstrate fighting skills and
wasn't present just to play the victim. Of course, the villain captured
her plenty of times, but she may have rescued Steed more often than
Steed rescued her.
Her episodes featured a fun jazz score, but the strict formula was
enforced, there was little variation from one week to the next, and the
show had absolutely no budget and production values were poor.
I liked the leather outfit on Honor Blackman better than on Diana Rigg
and Rigg's later costume, the jumpsuits, were absurd. But both women
were gorgeous.
The highlight of The Avengers was Series Four, the first series with a
big enough budget that it could be shot on B&W film with single camera.
The scripts were better this season as well, even though the absurd
science fiction elements were introduced; there was very little of this
in the Cathy Gale episodes. This series introduced Emma Peal... in
leather.
Cathy Gale knew judo, but it was nice to have a self assured woman in
her mid 30s. She was a widow.
Steed just liked fighting crime and performing counterespionage with
gorgeous women because, well, why the hell not?
Blackman was terrific as Pussy Galore in Goldfinger. Again, she was one
of the older Bond girls (the oldest would be in a Daniel Craig movie). It
just worked better. Still loved their fight/role in the hay scene, in
which with one kiss, Bond changed her sexuality. It was absolutely absurd
but she was a good enough actress that it was light, fun, and romantic.
It's hysterical that Ian Fleming, getting away with the dirty joke about
her name, was made into an even dirtier joke with Connery's Scot's
accent and pronunciation of "Poooosy". Gotta love this stuff.
She had a full career, mostly on UK and a little American television. It
was always a pleasure to see her. From what I heard, she was in
relatively good health throughout her life but I don't know how she was
doing near the end.