Review for Modesty Blaise

'Modesty Blaise' is either an accurate reflection of its time or possibly contributed to the style of the age. It's pure swinging sixties baby. Like some crazy mix up of Warhol's pop art with cold war spy spoof, a dose of Avengers style surrealism and a groovin' soundtrack by our very own John Dankworth.



Its powerful colouring, with op-art interiors, mini-skirts, plastic belts, wide-reel computers, shag-pile carpets and bowler hats makes virtually any given freeze-frame somewhat iconic of the era from whence it came.
Unfortunately though, it never quite reaches its potential and the net result is something less than the sum of its parts.



Despite Dirk Bogarde camping it up in a way he couldn't have got away with five years earlier, and a sterling performance from Monica Vitti (a poor man's Streisand) the film just fails to ignite, stumbling through its high farce narrative without raising too many belly laughs - or even any sense of danger and fun. And whilst Terence Stamp was always a great addition to films of the era, here he merely goes through the paces, often over-shadowed by Vitti's sheer force of personality.



Which is not to say it's a complete dud. It's just not as good as others of its ilk (the 'Flint' movies or even 'Barbarella').



So what is it about? Based on Peter O'Donnell's newspaper comic strip, Monica Vitti is Modesty Blaise - the world's deadliest female agent. With her outlandish James Bond-style weapons and ever-changing hair colour,
international super spy Modesty Blaise (Vitti in her first English speaking role) and her faithful sideick Willie Garvin (Terence Stamp) battle villains the world over.



Modesty and Wilie become embroiled in a government conspiracy involving
diamonds, a Middle Eastern sheik and a heist plot by arch-villain Gabriel played to the max by Dirk Bogarde in a wig and sinister glasses.



Depending on your view, the highlight or low-light of the film has to be the song that Vitti and Stamp sing together half way through. Sheer comedic musical theatre and confirmation that here is a film that under no circumstances should be taken seriously.



The wide-screen picture of this 'newly restored' DVD, particularly in the opening segments, doesn't look like much restoration has gone on at all with prevalent speckle and dust throughout the titles. This settles down to what is an acceptable, if unremarkable, picture. Audio is fine throughout.

There are no extra features on the check-disc so I suspect none to report on the retail version.



Overall, 'Modesty Blaise' is a mildly entertaining document of the time, though purchase should be reserved for those who either remember the movie with particular fondness, or for those interested in art and entertainment that reflect the sixties era. This certainly achieves that - if nothing more.