Modesty Blaise
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Joseph Losey
Monica Vitti
Terence Stamp
Dirk Bogarde
Harry Andrews
Michael Craig
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Voluptuous adventuress Modesty Blaise is recruited by Secret Service chief Sir Gerald Tarrant to protect a shipment of diamonds to Abu Tahir, a Middle Eastern oil magnate. The shipment is menaced, however, by Modesty's presumedly dead enemy, the archcriminial Gabriel. Gabriel is assisted by the dotard McWhirter and the sadistic Mrs. Fothergill, to whom for chastisement he delivers abducted spy Crevier. In Amsterdam Modesty is reunited with her former lover, Secret Service agent Paul Hagen, while her partner, Willie Garvin, is reunited with an old flame, Nicole. Through Paul and Nicole, Modesty and Willie ascertain that Gabriel is alive. Though Modesty and Paul are surprised in their lovenest by Gabriel's agents, Walter, Hans, and Gunther, they are rescued by Willie. Aware that she has betrayed him, Gabriel orders Nicole's death. En route to a rendezvous with Willie, Nicole is pursued by a tatooed man and stabbed to death. Sought by the same assassins, Modesty disguises herself as a prostitute. When she discovers that she does not enjoy the complete confidence of the Secret Service, Modesty and Willie determine to steal the diamonds for themselves. Gabriel abducts Modesty. Holding her hostage aboard his barque, he forces Willie to steal the diamonds. Disguised as a monk, Modesty escapes with Willie and the booty. After slaying Mrs. Fothergill, Modesty presents Abu Tahir with the shipment. In reward for her stewardship, the sheik gives her the diamonds. Although staked in the sands, Gabriel is rescued by McWhirter.
Director
Joseph Losey
Cast
Monica Vitti
Terence Stamp
Dirk Bogarde
Harry Andrews
Michael Craig
Clive Revill
Alexander Knox
Rossella Falk
Scilla Gabel
Michael Chow
Joe Melia
Saro Urzi
Tina Marquand
Oliver Macgreevy
Jon Bluming
Lex Schoorel
Marcello Turilli
Giuseppe Paganelli
Wolfgang Hillinger
Roberto Bisacco
John Karlsen
Silvan
John Stacy
Robin Hunter
Denys Graham
Patrick Ludlow
Robin Fox
George Fisher
Crew
John Aldred
Buster Ambler
Reginald Beck
Michael Birkett
Mara Blasetti
Davis Boulton
John Cox
Gordon Daniel
John Dankworth
John Dankworth
Bumble Dawson
Stanley Dubens
Stanley Dubens
Gerry Fisher
Evelyn Gibbs
John Goldstone
Benny Green
Ed Harper
Douglas Hayward
Jack Hildyard
Joseph Janni
Joseph Janni
Evan Jones
Evan Jones
Carlo Lastricati
Gavrik Losey
Richard Macdonald
Marissa Martelli
Peter O'donnell
Norman Priggen
Jack Shampan
Ann Skinner
Neville Smallwood
Pearl Tipaldi
Claude Watson
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Peter O'Donnell complains that of his original screenplay, only one line remains: "What do you know about Wilberforce?"
When Willie Garvin is introduced, there is a close-up of a painting of the comic strip version of Modesty Blaise.
At one point Modesty Blaise is shown looking at copies of the real-life Modesty Blaise comic strip.
Peter O'Donnell's novelization of his original script launched a popular series of novels that ran until 1996.
O'Donnell was invited to write a novelization of this film. The book, based upon O'Donnell's original screenplay rather than this film, was a huge success and spawned a series of best-selling novels that O'Donnell wrote until 1996.
Notes
Location scenes filmed in Amsterdam, Naples, London, Farnborough, and Sicily. Released in London in Technicolor in May 1966.
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States 1966
Based on a popular British comic-strip character.
Monica Vitti's first English-speaking role.
Released in United States 1966
