Honor Blackman Movies

A couple tries to hold their relationship together despite the twenty-three year gap in their ages in this romantic comedy/drama. Scott Wardman (Charles Bronson) is an 39-year-old American author living in England who supports himself by writing pornographic novels. Scott meets Twinky (Susan George), an attractive young woman who tells him she's almost 20. Scott quickly falls for her beauty and charm, but he discovers her definition of "almost" is looser than that of most people -- it seems Twinky is only 16 years old. In a moment of romantic impulse, Scott and Twinky travel to Scotland and get married, but Twinky's parents are less than enthusiastic when they hear the news. Scott soon brings his new bride to New York City to meet his friends, and while they're not as upset, they have a hard time believing this is true love, especially after the differences in Scott and Twinky's ages become increasingly apparent. Lola (also released as Twinky) was an early film credit for director Richard Donner, who at the time was still best known for his work in television. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

In this western adventure, Shalako (Sean Connery) leads a hunting expedition in the wilds of New Mexico. There they run across an Apache camp where the Countess Irina (Brigitte Bardot) is being held hostage. When the Indians retaliate by destroying the camp of the European aristocrats, Shalako must use his wiles to battle the Indians and the jealous members of his own hunting party. The camp is robbed by Fulton (Stephen Boyd), who runs off with the wife of Sir Dagget (Jack Hawkins). Lady Boyd (Honor Blackman) leaves her rich husband in a dramatic split decision prompted by the marital discord between her and her pompous husband. Shalako leads the survivors through dangerous mountain terrain, engaging in climactic hand-to-hand combat. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

A largely British cast appears in the 90-minute American TV drama Agent for the Plaintiff. Glenn Howard (Gene Barry), the publisher of Crime magazine, is the defendent in a libel suit. As the trial progresses, it appears as though Howard is the victim of a conspiracy hatched by his own attorney, the lovely-but-lethal Bethany Cromwell (Honor Blackman), and plaintiff Harold Wyler (Maurice Evans). Susan St. James, Brian Bedford, Murray Matheson, and Anthony Caruso also figure prominently in the proceedings. Agent for the Plaintiff premiered March 21, 1969, as an episode of the weekly TVer The Name of the Game. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Mervyn LeRoy, one of the best-known directors of Hollywood's Golden Age, wrapped up his career behind the camera with this suspense drama. Kay Stanton (Jean Seberg) is the wife of well-known psychiatrist Neil Stanton (Arthur Hill). Neil's international reputation often keeps him on the road lecturing at medical conferences, leaving Kay alone at home. Bored and craving attention, Kay becomes involved with a handsome Naval officer named Mark Dominic (Sean Garrison), but the affair is often rocky, and one day, in the midst of an argument, Kay accidentally shoots Mark. Convinced that Mark is dead, Kay panics and calls her friend Daphne (Honor Blackman). With Daphne's help, Kay drags Mark's body to a car, and they drive to a deep ravine, where they toss the body in. Shortly afterward, Kay calls the police to report that a dead body is in the ravine, without giving her name. But they learn that the body was not found; as it turns out, Mark was only wounded in the shooting, and he now waits in a hospital ward, recovering from his wounds and suffering from amnesia. Moment to Moment was made at a time when leading lady Jean Seberg was getting most of her work in European films; she wasn't to make a picture for a U.S. studio for another three years. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Life at the Top is a belated sequel to Room at the Top, John Blaine's "angry young man" British novel that was made into a film in 1959. Laurence Harvey is back as Joe Lampton, the man-on-the-rise protagonist who in Room had given up true love in favor of a career-boosting (and antiseptic) marriage to his boss' daughter. Ten years have passed: Lampton is a business success, but utterly bored by his dead-end marital setup. His wife feels the same, and it isn't long before Mr. and Mrs. Lampton begin conducting separate affairs. While the original Room was a fairly accurate evocation of its era, Life at the Top works too hard and too noisily to be "mod," in reflection of the ethereal Swinging London era. The inclusion of flashbacks from Room at the Top, in which Harvey is seen making love to Simone Signoret, only serves to emphasize the shortcomings of the sequel. The best moments in the later version can be found in the early establishing scenes set in Yorkshire. Life at the Top was followed by a TV series called Man at the Top, starring Kenneth Haigh as Lampton, which in turn was followed by a theatrical feature of the same name. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

With Goldfinger, the James Bond series took a turn away from relatively straightforward spy thrillers and toward campy gadgetry, extravagant sets, and kitschy jokes. Bond (Sean Connery) has to prevent a notorious gold smuggler, appropriately named Goldfinger (Gert Fröbe), from robbing Fort Knox. Goldfinger is surrounded by evil henchmen such as the sexy female pilot Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman) and Oddjob (Harold Sakata), who kills with his steel-rimmed bowler hats. In order to stop Goldfinger, Bond has to survive several perilous situations, including a huge, deadly laser. Goldfinger is one of the most popular films in the James Bond series, and it set the tone not only for the rest of the series but also for most of the action/adventure films of the late '60s and early '70s. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide

Unable to assassinate a British traitor, the government is forced to deal with the man in an upcoming round of arms negotiations. Though he despises the assignment, Steed must protect the traitor from harm. He has his work cut out for him. The man originally assigned to kill the turncoat, long thought dead, is alive and well, and he intends to fulfill his deadly mission. Written by Philip Chambers, "The Outside-In Man" originally aired in England on February 22, 1964; the episode made its American cable TV debut on April 2, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Assigned to investigate the disappearance of five fellow agents, Steed ends up being accused of their murders. Alas, the only person able to prove his innocence has completely lost his memory. Acting on her own volition, Cathy tries to get to the truth herself and learns a few unpleasant facts about her "trusted" colleagues. Written by Martin Woodhouse, "The Wringer" was originally telecast in England on January 18, 1964; it made its American TV bow on March 26, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

First telecast on February 29, 1964, this episode was penned by Avengers stalwart Brian Clemens. Steed finds himself under suspicion when several enemy agents are killed off in a short period of time. In order to clear himself and avert an international incident, Steed works side by side with the enemy so that both sides can track down the actual killer. The trail of evidence leads to a gentleman's charm school. This episode was remade as the "Emma Peel" installment "The Correct Way to Kill," wherein Anna Quayle played the Iron Curtain operative originally portrayed by Fenella Fielding. "The Charmers" made its American TV bow on April 3, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Steed suspects that something's amiss when one of his old friends, a wealthy businessman, is buried in an out-of-the-way Cornish village. Several other deceased millionaires have likewise chosen this burial site, and it just doesn't add up. Conducting an investigation, Steed and Gale uncover a conspiracy involving a supposedly worked-out tin mine. Written by Roger Marshall, "Mandrake" first aired in England on January 25, 1964, but it wasn't seen in America until March 27, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Producer-writer Brian Clemens was in top form with this episode, which originally aired on February 15, 1964. Cathy Gale adds to her already impressive leather wardrobe when she joins a motorcycle gang. No, she hasn't "gone punk," she's merely trying to help Steed find the location of an insidious electronic jamming device. As for Steed himself, he has quite a time with a pair of "old witches," namely the Peck Sisters (Athene Seyler and Nora Nicholson). "Build a Better Mousetrap" made its American cable TV debut on April 1, 1991, arousing amusement over the episode's depiction of "typical" 1960s British teens. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cathy dons an eye-patch when she goes undercover as part of a plan to expose an insidious black-market pharmaceutical ring. The plot thickens when it is learned that one of the villains intends to wage biological warfare in the Middle East -- the better to foment widespread anti-British sentiment. In one scene, Steed poses as a Russian art dealer. First telecast in England on November 23, 1963, "The Medicine Men" was written by Robert Hulke; the episode made its American cable TV bow on March 15, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Steed searches high and low for Mister Lo (Robert Lee), an infamous gold smuggler. His investigation leads to a group of disgruntled military men who use their ill-gotten gains for a surprisingly worthy cause. Elements essential to the plot include a mysterious check for 5,000 pounds, a Chinese restaurant, and a suddenly militaristic Cathy Gale. Written by Roger Marshall and Phyllis Norman, "The Golden Fleece" was originally telecast on December 7, 1963. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide