MODESTY BLAISE

20th Century Fox, 1966.  Directed by Joseph Losey.  Camera:  Jack Hildyard.  With Monica Vitti, Terence Stamp, Dirk Bogarde, Harry Andrews, Michael Craig, Clive Revill, Alexander Knox, Rosella 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, Also Silvan, John Stacy, Robin Hunter, Denys Graham, Patrick Ludlow, Robin Fox, George Fisher.

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 presumably dead enemy, the arch criminal 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 love nest 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 tattooed 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.

Notes
The film is based on the comic strip "Modesty Blaise" by Peter O'Donnell and Jim Holdaway in the Evening Standard (London, May 13, 1963).

Location scenes filmed in Amsterdam, Naples, London, Farnborough, and Sicily.  Released in London in Technicolor in May 1966.

Music includes:  "We Should've," words and music by John Dankworth, Benny Green, and Evan Jones; and "Modesty Blaise," words and music by John Dankworth and Benny Green, sung by David and Jonathan.