The seventh part of the first article in the SPECIAL PROJECT MODESTY BLAISE tells us about the adaptations of the Princess and her world to the big and small screen.
As in most cases, rather than transpositions, they should be called versions, given that screenwriters and directors make more or less significant changes to the characters and events compared to the original. In the case of Modesty, this even occurred when the film’s initial screenwriter was the character’s creator himself.
We can tell you that the film about Modesty Blaise will be the subject of a further in-depth analysis in a few weeks with Giuseppe Causarano
Regarding the previous parts, the topics covered to introduce the character of Modesty and her publishing history were:
- the first part focused primarily on her creator, Peter O’Donnell, how and why he received the assignment, what inspired him, and how the character’s publishing life and career evolved;
- the second part focused on Modesty herself, describing her initial events and the psychological characteristics that make her such a compelling and three-dimensional character;
- Part three described Willie Garvin, Modesty’s fellow adventurer and best friend, and how deep and special their relationship is, like that of two brothers who are very in tune and close;
- Part four discussed the practicalities of adventure, such as Modesty’s combat uniform and her and Willie’s favorite weapons;
- Part five introduced the five artists who created the Princess’s comic book adventures;
- Part six covered the publication of the strips and novels in Italy.
As always, we wish you happy reading, and we’ll see you in a week.
Mario Benenati and Daniele Tomasi, editors of the SPECIAL PROJECT MODESTY BLAISE
Note: this Special Project, like all others on this digital magazine, is non-profit and just for informative purposes, as the images used which are © of the rights holders.
The Italian association FUMETTOMANIA FACTORY – APS, which has been operating nationwide since 1991—while never neglecting the activities carried out within its headquarters in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto (Messina, Sicily)—has the aim of promoting, disseminating, and enhancing themes related to the language of comics.
Fumettomania’s mission is to attract young people of all ages by promoting projects dedicated to them, addressing current and engaging topics, using comics, which emerge as an autonomous art form that embodies the linguistic code of literature (words), its modes of consumption, but also the sequentiality of cinema and the figurative focus of traditional visual arts.
The Association’s commitment—35 years after its foundation (on May 14, 2026)—is to continue spreading comics culture and to continue its cultural and social projects in the area with workshops for young enthusiasts and schools, solo and group exhibitions dedicated to comics, illustration, and related fields, comic book presentations, and meetings with authors.
MODESTY BLAISE, THE PRINCESS – part 7: movies and TV series
– by Joe7 –
Even though the film “Modesty Blaise” starring Monica Vitti was horrendous, it still allowed O’Donnell to explore the character of Modesty through fiction.
The first book, “Modesty Blaise,” was quite successful, and O’Donnell continued.
He found greater satisfaction in writing the Modesty novels, with the opportunity to better explore the characters and their nuances: something difficult to do in a comic book.
These novels are a sort of world unto themselves, sometimes interacting with the comic book, sometimes not.
Even though the film “Modesty Blaise” starring Monica Vitti was horrendous, it still allowed O’Donnell to explore the character of Modesty through fiction.
The first book, “Modesty Blaise,” was quite successful, and O’Donnell continued.
He found greater satisfaction in writing the Modesty novels, with the opportunity to better explore the characters and their nuances: something difficult to do in a comic book.
These novels are a sort of world unto themselves, sometimes interacting with the comic book, sometimes not.
In total, there were 11 novels, including two short stories.
Only a few were published in Italy, mostly by Garzanti.
Losey was an American director of intellectual and political films, and therefore ill-suited to action films.
The film’s story was officially O’Donnell’s: he had simply adapted the screenplay from his first novel, “Modesty Blaise” (1965), which he had written specifically for the film.
But the final script was rewritten several times, leaving practically only one line from O’Donnell’s screenplay.
Furthermore, Monica Vitti had just emerged from her artistic experiences with Michelangelo Antonioni, another political and intellectual director like Losey: therefore, she was unsuited to playing a charismatic and active character like Modesty.
In short, Modesty was made “as I please,” and the film proved a flop, so much so that critics seriously thought it was a parody of spy movie.
The problem was that they wanted to make a serious movie…
Later, in 1982, a feature film, “Modesty Blaise,” was shot, which was intended to be the pilot for a television series.
The two protagonists were played by Ann Kathryn Turkel (Modesty) and Lewis Van Bergen (Willie). But it was unsuccessful and never came to fruition.
From then on, Modesty Blaise was never seen again in the cinema…
… until 2004, when Quentin Tarantino, a longtime fan of the heroin, decided to give it a try (in Pulp Fiction, John Travolta‘s character is shown reading Modesty Blaise). Tarantino entrusted his friend Scott Spiegel with the direction. The title was “My Name Is Modesty,” with a screenplay by Lee Batchler and Janet Scott Batchler.
The winning idea was to not base it on one of the many episodes, making an action movie similar to so many others (there are so many women with guns nowadays), but to set it in the Tangier period, when a young Modesty ran the roulette wheel for the Larouche gang. The protagonist is Alexandra Staden, the crew is Romanian, and filming took place in Romania in a record 18 days. But the film never made it to theaters and is only available on DVD from Miramax.
And it’s a shame, because this time the result is remarkable.
To show the beginning of Modesty, the screenwriters combine the comic book and the one told by Peter O’Donnell in his books. In fact, the film opens with British soldiers in a mountainous area of the Balkans, who encounter a little girl armed with a nail and a stick. The most avid reader realizes that the person offering her her ration of food is the future author.
There’s also old Professor Loeb, who explains to Modesty: “Everyone has their own limit“.
The very young student asks: “How can I know what mine is?“
and the answer is: “It’ll take you a lifetime to find out“.
Willie isn’t here yet, so we can only hope for the next film. If they make it, and if it turns out well: two very difficult combinations.
[to be continued in part 8]
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Modesty Blaise © Modesty Blaise Ltd.
All images are used for informational purposes only and are © their respective owners.
The opinions expressed in the article by the author do not necessarily reflect those of the Fumettomania Association, which aims to offer a platform that always guarantees the right to free expression through its website.
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NOTE:
To access the index and links to all the articles in the SPECIAL PROJECT MODESTY BLAISE, visit this page with the introductory article::
– Italian version: https://www.fumettomaniafactory.net/progetti-di-fumettomania/contenuti-web-extra-dal-2012-in-poi/modesty-blaise-la-principessa-delle-spie/
– English version: https://www.fumettomaniafactory.net/fumettomania-presents-the-special-project-modesty-blaise/
EXTRA NOTES
DANIELE TOMASI is a multifaceted creative in the field of ComicArt, acting as artist, letterer, colorist, editor.
With the DTE brand, “the smallest publishing house in the world”, he edited and published three volumes of the “DebbieDillinger” series (where he is even the artist), the first number of “TetroTeatro” magazine (author of texts and drawings), the digital magazine “Continua…” (a free-distribution magazine with comics of various genres and authors, seven issues so far) and three issues of the magazine “Gli Archivi del Fumetto” (new issues and large-format volumes are planned).
He has created comics and illustrations for various Italian publishers (Tunuè, ProGlo, ComixCommunity, UndergroundPress, BotteroEdizioni, Pegasus/Comicus, Antani, Apache, AltaFedeltà).
He has worked as graphic designer for Italian publishers ProGloEdizioni, GreencomService, Shockdom, Palabanda Edizioni and Chimbe.
He has made lettering for Black Velvet and RW Edizioni.
He organizes courses about the Language of Comics.
In Internet you can see some of his artworks on the website danieletomasi.altervista.org , see other works and read some of his thoughts and opinions on the blog danieletomasi.blogspot.com , read for free some of the DTE publications in issuu.com/dteditore, read for free a fake storyboard of the “Spider-man” movie by James Cameron downloading the pdf (screen or print resolution) from the site spidercameron.altervista.org , write to him at the e-mails danieletomasi@gmail.com and dteditore@gmail.com
