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Is there a better Bond girl name than Pussy Galore?

posted 3 years ago by Alocirp (683)
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I haven't quite seen every Bond film just yet, but Pussy Galore seems rather hard to top (pun possibly intended). Obviously, Bond girls are famously known for their sexually suggestive names, but "Pussy Galore" really takes it to a whole other level. I don't even consider the name to be "suggestive"—a more accurate description would be "blatantly, in-your-face obvious".

Personally, I love the fact they went ahead with the name here—I think it's awesomely hilarious and hilariously awesome. Though I'm almost surprised they were actually able to get away with it back in 1964. It's pretty racy even by today’s standards. Either way, I can only imagine the viewer reactions back when the film was first released. Must have been great.

In any case, back to the original question: Is there any Bond girl with a name better than the absolute gem that is "Pussy Galore"?

[–] Ace_Spade (9546) 3 years ago

If your standard is the innuendo or how sexually punny the name is, then yeah, I think Pussy takes it. Pun intended. Honey Ryder is pretty great, though, and a bit less on-the-nose.

I like Miranda Frost, though, and Agent Strawberry Fields.

[–] Alocirp (683) 3 years ago

Yeah, by "best" I generally meant "most appropriate" for a Bond girl. The name Pussy Galore not only follows the franchise's typically suggestive naming formula, but actually cranks the sexuality of it up to 11. Admittedly, the name does walk a fine line between parody and perfection, but personally I feel it never strays over to the wrong side of that line.

Obviously, it's not the classiest or prettiest of names—I just love it for how hilariously over-the-top it is. I simply can't think of a name more stereotypically appropriate for a Bond girl than "Pussy Galore".

To be fair, Honey Ryder and Strawberry Fields are excellent Bond girl names as well.

Not crazy about Miranda Frost, though. What makes that one a particular favorite of yours?

[–] Ace_Spade (9546) 3 years ago

I know what you mean with P.G. (more like NC-17) being the gold(finger) standard for Bond Girl names.

For names more stereotypically appropriate, I think you'd have to go to the Austin Powers franchise or something like that. Of course, P.G. (Wodehouse? Certainly houses wood...) was also sorta the original. Honey Ryder was first, of course, but I think "Pussy Galore" is what made parody Bond Girl names (like the ones in Austin Powers) possible. At the time, the names could be suggestive, but most of the pre-Pussy (was Bond ever "pre-pussy"?) names were kinda normal. With the exception of Honey, you've got names like Tatyana Romanova, Miss Taro, and Sylvia Trench. Even after Ms. Galore, you get a couple names that are audacious, but not as sexual/suggestive. Dominique Derval has alliteration and doesn't sound like a "real world" name, but it's no Pussy (at least, in name).

I don't know exactly what it is about Miranda Frost that I like. It's lower-key than other Bond Girl names, but it's still got an unlikely first name and an on-the-nose last name for her "frosty" character (not to mention all the ice in the film). I liked Pike in the role, too, and the character was good, so that helps. She was a highlight in a somewhat mixed-bag Bond picture.

[–] db20db (17237) 3 years ago

..."blatantly, in-your-face obvious".

This is why I've always loved Bond's response to her in the scene where she reveals her name. He rolls his eyes and says simply, "I must be dreaming."

I was a teenager with raging hormones going on when I first saw the movie. ;)

[–] Alocirp (683) 3 years ago

Indeed, Bond's "I must be dreaming" line was absolutely great, made even better by Connery's spot-on delivery.

If not for the famous exchange between Bond and Goldfinger ("Do you expect me to talk?"..."No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!"), it would probably be my favorite line in the movie.

[–] Ace_Spade (9546) 3 years ago

Apparently the original exchange went like this:

PUSSY: I'm Pussy Galore.

BOND: I know you are, but what's your name?

And the ubiquitous They who blanch at such things wouldn't like the filmmakers get away with it; they changed it to Bond's "I must be dreaming".

[–] Alocirp (683) 3 years ago

That's pretty funny. I picture the censors meeting with the filmmakers after some back-and-forth: "Alright, so we see no issue with you calling the girl Pussy Galore. But don't even THINK for a second to make any jokes about that in your script! Pussy Galore is a perfectly reasonable name, and this film is going to be classy, goddammit! Right down to the last detail!"

[–] Ace_Spade (9546) 3 years ago

"How dare you insinuate that Honor Blackman's character is a cat!"

"I think you're missing the crux of the joke, sir."

"She has cats everywhere!? She's a crazy spinster. That's why she hangs around with all those ladies in the flying circus instead of being married to a man; I get it. I'm not happy about you turning it into a big joke!"

"Pussy means... you know what, sir, we'll just... how about if Bond says, 'I must be dreaming,' instead?"

"Perfect! Because in what universe would Honor Blackman be a spinster? He *must* be dreaming! Good one, writer."

"I have a name."

[–] Alocirp (683) 3 years ago

Haha, great stuff. It's a shame someone with your knack for that kind of comedic writing didn't have full creative control over the script of the 1967 Casino Royale Bond spoof.

[–] Ace_Spade (9546) 3 years ago

Thank you for the compliment.

Full is the key. Apparently Woody Allen was doing (uncredited) rewrites for them and then Feldman would do a re-write and Woody kept lamenting, "He's taking out all the punchlines!"

If they'd given 1967 Woody Allen full control over that script, it would've been amazing.

That said, I kinda like the film as-is. It's a mess, don't get me wrong, but I kinda like how chaotic and slapbang it is.

[–] db20db (17237) 3 years ago

"I have a name."

I've always felt that Honor Blackman is an incredibly charismatic name! I once won a round of Trivial Pursuit concerning her and the character of Pussy Galore.

[–] PaladinNJ (21510) 3 years ago

Xenia Onatopp comes close.

[–] Alocirp (683) 3 years ago

Yes, very nice choice. And in addition to the great name, I gotta hand out some extra credit due to Famke Janssen's smokeshow status as Onatopp, along with me being a complete sucker for GoldenEye in general.

[–] chilidoggg (14285) 3 years ago

Holly Goodhead

[–] Alocirp (683) 3 years ago

Oh wow, I actually had to look that one up to verify its authenticity. I've yet to see Moonraker, but the mere inclusion of a Bond girl named "Holly Goodhead" is surely enough for me to bump the film right to the top of my 007 watch-list.

[–] chilidoggg (14285) 3 years ago

Plenty O'Toole
"Chu Mi"

[–] Bercilak (300) 3 years ago

Named for your father, I see.

[–] chilidoggg (14285) 3 years ago

Lotta Fagina

[–] Alocirp (683) 3 years ago

Pretty sure that's a parody name from Austin Powers, but I'll go ahead and allow it. Lotta Fagina is fine with me.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

Amanda Kiss is a great bond girl name.

[–] Alocirp (683) 3 years ago

Yeah, maybe once the franchise goes full-woke and Bond turns homosexual...

"Excuse me sir, the name's Bond. James Bond. I'm a double-0 agent and currently in the midst of a top-secret mission. My primary objective is to locate Amanda Kiss. I realize we've never met, and this may be difficult for you to believe, but I've just received intelligence indicating that without your help, I have virtually no chance of completing my objective. We don't have much time, so if you would just quickly follow me up to my room, I'll clarify the situation. After a few martinis, I promise to have you 'filled in' completely."

[–] actionkamen (23176) 3 years ago

Bond goes homosexual is actually a good characterization. Bond is an elite spy, and he will do whatever he needs to do to complete his mission, including seducting and fucking men if needed. The story can still leave the actual sexual preference of Bond unknown. But at least as a 007, if the task need him to be a homosexual he will gladly do it.

For his country.

[–] Alocirp (683) 3 years ago

Oh absolutely.

You know... for his country.

[–] millsey72 (10284) 3 years ago

I think the best Bond girl was Tanya Roberts in A View to a Kill. She was the least annoying and most refined Bond girl in the franchise