Modesty Blaise

Modesty Blaise (Vitti) is a reformed international jewel thief turned secret agent who is enlisted by the British government to bring down the crime network of master-criminal, Gabriel (Bogarde).

There is a profusion of wigs, short skirts and hideous interior decorations, with Blaise changing from one crazy outfit to the next at the click of her fingers. The dialogue is snappy and daft and there's a fabulously loopy soundtrack by John Dankworth.

Although a 60s classic - and excellent source material for Austin Powers wannabes - Modesty Blaise succeeds as neither spoof, comedy or action-adventure. Vitti is great as the sexy temptress but is none too convincing as an action heroine.

Although intended by highbrow director Joseph Losey to be an arch comment on the crassness of popular culture, Modesty Blaise is just too ridiculously daft, perverse and incoherent to be taken seriously. But for archivists in search of wiggy trash it ranks as a must-see.