One of the things I love about the Murder She Writes authors is that the women they write about are strong and self sufficient. I’m guess that my own skewed vision of “the damsel in distress” may have been irrevocably altered by a lifetime love of James Bond movies.
It’s been over half a century now since the very first Bond Girl — Honey Ryder, played by Ursula Andress in a white belted bikini accessorized with an assassin’s blade — graced the silver screen and launched a million erections. Sauntering in from the surf just in time for the Sexual Revolution, Bond Girls weren’t considered sexist, but sexy.
But these women were much more than arm charms. When they were good, they were great: not just in bed, but in the field, too. And when they were bad, they weren’t just naughty minxes, but deadly villianesses as well.
The films’ screenwriters (adapting Ian Fleming‘s’ classic spy novels) never met a double entendre they didn’t like. Seriously: with names “Pussy Galore“, “Holly Goodhead” “Plenty O’Toole“, “Bibi Dahl”, “Kissy Suzuki”, “Strawberry Fields”, “Molly Warmflash”, “Xenia Onatopp“, “Fatima Blush”, “Bambi” and “Thumper”– and let’s not forget “Mary Goodnight”), what guy isn’t going to get the wrong idea?
(Note to all aspiring thriller writers: think porn, not corn…)
My own favorites were “Solitaire”, “Domino Vitali, “Jinx” “Paris Carver” and “Vesper Lynd”. Those names have an air of mystery about them, a promise that trouble is just around the corner.
Now that Daniel Craig has completed a third Bond film, and contracted for five more, I’ve been give the best of both worlds: more Bond Girls to inspire me — and the best guy candy ever.
Here’s to a few more tasty Bond-Bonds,
CONTEST QUESTION!
Have a great Bond Girl name?
Post it below, for a chance to win a copy of my book
THE BABY PLANNER.
BONUS POINT!
When writing The Housewife Assassin’s Handbook, I considered giving my heroine a name worthy of a Bond Girl. But because the series is also a tip of the chapeau to
television’s domestic goddesses of the 1950s,
I chose the name Donna Stone.”Email me at MailFromJosie@gmail.com
with the television show that also had a heroine by that name!____________________________
WINNER TO MY LAST POST’S CONTEST:
EDIE RAMER.
Edie, please email me with your home address!
My favorite Bond girl is Jinx (played by Halle Berry. And my favorite Bond is definitely Daniel Craig. Glad to hear he’s signed on for 5 more!
She looked PHENOMENAL as a Bond Girl, didn’t she, Laura?
Then again, Hallie Berry ALWAYS looks great!
: )
J
I guess I never paid attention to the Bond girl names – with the exception of Pussy Galore, which was just too over the top to miss. I never realized just how creative the writers got with those ladies. LOL Xenia Onatopp? And I thought Austin Powers – with its Alotta Fachina – was just being overly spoofy.
I know, BE! I spewed my cola at the theater when Alotta said her name!
I was too young to get “Pussy Galore” when THAT movie came out!
Too funny!
— J
James Bond wouldn’t be half as cool without all those gorgeous, killer women!
Debra, that’s the way I feel. Otherwise, he’d just be a gadget nerd in a suit (with great pecs, LOL!)
xx J
I gotta admit, when Daniel Craig is on the screen, I’m not looking at the chicks 🙂 And I paid no attention to the names besides Pussy Galore, so thanks for the list of names. Wow. Talk about porn star!
Craig is the best Bond in my opinion, and I NEVER thought I’d say that after Pierce Brosnan, who I loved as Remington Steele.
I know, Lori! I don’t think Pierce Brosnan ever got his due in that role. He’s a good actor, and if he’d had better scripts….
Oh well. Thank god they were smart enough to make Daniel Craig’s Bond serious and not slapstick (a la Roger Moore).
i found the bond girls a little bit confusing when I first encountered them. I loved that they were great looking and seduced Bond and then immediately dumped him but I didn’t get the killing part. I tried mightily to connect the dots in my nascent understanding of human sexuality, and it made sense to me in a sort of black-widow way – why keep a dude around after you’ve wrung his life blood, so to speak – but I always felt like they should have stopped short of the assassination attempt and just moved on their merry way…
The fun part is that sex is a part of life — and he’d stop to smell the roses (no matter whose legs it was between, LOL! Welcome home, Sophie!
xx J
Sean Connery beats Daniel Craig even with the age difference. Speaking of age, Daniel Craig’s going to be a little long in the tooth by the fifth film.
Hey! Anne! You leave my Danny boy alone!!!!! I LURV that man!
; )
J
I was thinking the same thing as Anne! He had better make those five films back to back! I love me some DC. I loved Sean too, but Daniel Craig in Casino Royal bestilled my heart forever.
le sigh…
Sean Connery would be the ultimate all time Bond Man. Bond Girl Name is Jamie.
Hey, at least “Jamie” is normal! Love all these Bond Women, Pearl. Just to be chosen made put you in film posterity (or is that posterior???)
: )
— J
Sean Connery is my sentimental favorite, but I do like the way Daniel Craig tackled the role. And the Bond girls are…out there.
Okay, my best Bond girl name: Morning Glory. HA! Okay, I had to go for the easy one. Uhm…Starr Light? Stormy Season? I’m stopping now. It’s only getting worse… 😉
I LOVE Stormy Season, Silver!
Great entry!
; )
J
I don’t care about their names…I WANT THAT BATHING SUIT!!!! Great blog post, Josie!! xoxo, Roxi LaClaire
Thanks, Rocki!
And I know you’d look GREAT in it, too!
With or without the knife!!
xxx J
The knife I’d need is the plastic surgeon’s to wear that baby. I just want to own it and dream. xo
I loved Sean Connery as Bond. I was watching Elizabeth the other night and realized Daniel Craig was the bad guy.
Can’t begin to think of Bond girl names, I have enough to come up with my books character names.
How about Tippie Hills? My god, I suck at this.
ROFLAMO!
Great name, Jill! I can see her now: in 4-inch stilettoes!!!!
xx J
Jinx. Love that name and the character. Domino too.
Yep, between “Domino” and “Solitaire” all that’s left is “Monopoly.”
Or maybe “Old Maid”???
Um….Don’t think so!
I guess “Shoots N. Ladder”….
(Great games, bad puns!)
xxxxxxxxxx J
from the peanut gallery: Mona Lot.
I just spewed my martini!
Okay, seriously: How long did it take for you to come up with that one????
Like… one second?
I’ll bet you’ve got a file cabinet filled with these!!!!!
xoxoxox 2 funnee,
J
I think just about anything combined with Sugar or Honey is just great. But the ultimate is still Pussy Galore. I mean, how can you top that?
And then there was “Octopussy” (Maud Adams)….
Whom, I’m guessing would be played today by OctoMom (LOL!)
Oh, whatta world, whatta world…
: )
J