Film Fatales: Women in Espionage Films and Television, 1963-1973 [Hardcover]

Tom Lisanti (Author), Louis Paul (Author), Eileen Oneill (Foreword)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0786411945 | ISBN-13: 978-0786411948 | Publication Date: April 2002

Sean Connery began the sixties spy movie boom playing James Bond in Dr. No and From Russia with Love. Their success inspired every studio in Hollywood and Europe to release everything from serious knockoffs to spoofs on the genre featuring debonair men, futuristic gadgets, exotic locales, and some of the world’s most beautiful actresses whose roles ranged from the innocent caught up in a nefarious plot to the femme fatale.

Profiled herein are 107 dazzling women, well-known and unknown, who had film and television appearances in the spy genre. They include superstars Doris Day in Caprice, Raquel Welch in Fathom, and Ann-Margret in Murderer’s Row; international sex symbols Ursula Andress in Dr. No and Casino Royale, Elke Sommer in Deadlier Than the Male, and Senta Berger in The Spy with My Face; and forgotten lovelies Greta Chi in Fathom, Alizia Gur in From Russia with Love, and Maggie Thrett in Out of Sight. Each profile includes a filmography that lists the actresses’ more notable films. Some include the actresses’ candid comments and anecdotes about their films and television shows, the people they worked with, and their feelings about acting in the spy genre are offered throughout. A list of websites that provide further information on women in spy films and television is also included.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Damn near covers every one of the genre’s noted beauties...thumb through all the pages" -- Hitch

"Geniune zeal...fascinating...entertaining...this well-done tome stands as the best of it’s kind" -- Classic Images

"This terrific hardcover profiles over 100 of these gorgeous actresses" -- Shock Cinema

About the Author

Tom Lisanti is the author of McFarland’s Fantasy Femmes of Sixties Cinema: Interviews with 20 Actresses from Biker, Beach, and Elvis Movies (2001). He has also written for such magazines as In Theatre, Filmfax, Femme Fatales and Films of the Golden Age.

Louis Paul is the author of several books on the performing arts published in Europe. He also has written for such magazines as European Trash Cinema, Chiller Theatre Magazine and The Psychotronic Video Guide. They both reside in New York.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Mcfarland & Co Inc Pub (April 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786411945
• ISBN-13: 978-0786411948
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #715,739 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tom Lisanti is an award winning author and "starlet stalker" documenting the actresses and drive-in movie genres (beach, Elvis, biker, alienated youth, horror) of sixties cinema. His interviewees have included Carol Lynley, Pamela Tiffin, Francine York, Celeste Yarnall, Deanna Lund, BarBara Luna, Lana Wood, Sue Ane Langdon, Laurel Goodwin, Lori Williams, Diane McBain, Shelley Fabares, Linda Harrison, Aron Kincaid, Peter Brown, William Wellman, Jr., Jody McCrea, Lee Meredith, Victoria Carroll, Gail Gerber (pictured with me), and Thordis Brandt, among many others. He is a regular contributor to Cinema Retro Magazine (print and online editions) and Blogs regularly on his web site www.sixtiescinema.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another must read book on sweeties from the 60s, October 29, 2004

By 

James E. Bagley "Jim Bagley" (Sanatoga, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Film Fatales: Women in Espionage Films and Television, 1963-1973 (Hardcover)

This is the third Tom Lisanti book I have purchased (the others being Fantasy Femmes of 60s Cinema and Drive-In Dream Girls). This book profiles far more ladies than either of those two books (107) and because of that, the profiles are not as in-depth and don't always involve interviewing the subjects (which Lisanti did quite throroughly with all of those profiled in the other two books). Also, some of the superchicks covered here were included in the other books. So, while I do suggest you get this book, I would make it a priority only after you have purchased and read the other two books first.

The first James Bond movie, Dr. No, led to an explosion of interest in secret agents. For the next ten years, everyone got in the act, with more James Bond films, Matt Helm films, Coburn's Flint movies and lots and lots of cheaply made European knockoffs, plus of course the tv shows like Man From Uncle, Mission Impossible, and I Spy. Lisanti - for this book only, in tandem with Louis Paul - does an admirable job of covering the lovely ladies who graced those projects. My only real disappointment was the omission of busty Carol Wayne who appeared in episodes of Man From UNCLE, Girl From UNCLE, and a memorable episode of I Spy: The Trouble With Temple. I asked Lisanti about this oversight and interestingly enough, he told me he was also approached about her absence from the book by Wayne's own son when Lisanti appeared on a local LA talkshow where Wayne's son was the director. Lisanti said he excluded her because he only included tv actresses that he interviewed. This requirement must not have applied to the enclosed film actresses, as one of those profiled is the late Sharon Tate.

The 107 actresses included here are (those with an asterisk were profiled in one of the other two books): Beverly Adams, Ursula Andress, Pier Angeli, Ann-Margret, Laura Antonelli, Claudine Auger, Tina Aumont, Barbara Bain, Alexandra Bastedo, Senta Berger, Martine Beswicke, Daniela Bianchi, Jacqueline Bisset, Honor Blackman, Erika Blanc, Dominique Boschero, Barbara Bouchet, Thordis Brandt, Ahna Capri, Judy Carne, Helene Chanel, Greta Chi, Tsai Chin, Joan Collins, Yvonne "Batgirl" Craig, Doris Day, Lynda Day George, Danielle De Metz, Mimi Dillard, Karin Dor, Andrea Dromm, Shirley Eaton, Rosella Falk, Sharon Farrell, Barbara Feldon, Anne Francis, Eunice Gayson, Gila Golan, Shelby Grant, Alizia Gur, Jean Hale*, Mie Hama, Susan Hart*, Gloria Hendry, Sharyn Hillyer, Jill Ireland, Karen Jensen*, Kathy Kersh, Sylvia Koscins, Nancy Kovack, Nancy Kwan, Jocelyn Lane, Sue Ane Langdon*, Daliah Lavi, Margaret Lee, Suzanne Leigh, Helga Line, Sue Lloyd, Bebe Loncar, Tina Louise, Joanne Lumley, BarBara Luna, Deanna Lund*, Carol Lynley, Arlene Martel, Marlyn Mason, Lois Maxwell, Diane McBain, Marisa Mell, Donna Michelle, Mary Ann Mobley, Terry Moore, Rosalba Neri, Rosemary Nicols, France Nuyen, Eileen O'Neill*. Lucianna Paluzzi, Trina Parks, Joanna Pettet, Nyree Dawn Porter, Stefanie Powers, Dorothy Provine, Eva Renzi, Janine Reynaud, Diana Rigg, Salli Sachse*, Jill St. John, Tura Satana, Jane Seymour, Nancy Sinatra, Sylvia Solar, Elke Sommer, Stella Stevens, Yoko Tani, Sharon Tate, Linda Thorson, Maggie Thrett, Marilu Tolo, Irene Tsu*, Sigrid Valdis, Monica Vitti, Ira von Furstenberg, Lesley Ann Warren, Raquel Welch, Lana Wood*, Celeste Yarnall*, and Francine York* (whew!).

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lisanti Does It Again!, June 2, 2002

By 

Nelson Aspen "Author/Journalist" (Los Angeles & NYC, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Film Fatales: Women in Espionage Films and Television, 1963-1973 (Hardcover)

The author's obvious love for his subject matter makes his newest work another delight for movie buffs! His coverage his thorough, his narrative amusing and oh, the wonderful photos! Whether it's Rebel Chick Nancy Sinatra, the [rear]-kicking Emma Peel in the form of Dame Diana Rigg, the staggering beauty of blonde Carol Lynley (betcha didn't even realize she WAS a spy chick!) or the camp factor of Agent 99, there is something in here for every fan! Plenty of "Where Are They Now?" information, too. SO much to have on your coffee table!

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have book for spy film fans!, May 3, 2002

By 

J. McGann (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Film Fatales: Women in Espionage Films and Television, 1963-1973 (Hardcover)

If you are a fan of spy movies - James Bond and all - then you need to get this book. It is full of exciting interviews and profiles of all the women in these films. It is a great read and a fun reference. It is also full of some great photos. I really enjoyed it.