# How did they allow the character name Pussy Galore in 1964? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 16, 2014, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-they-allow-the-character-name-pussy-galore-in-1964/707446 "2014-12-16T22:58:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-they-allow-the-character-name-pussy-galore-in-1964/707446/1 "2014-12-16T22:58:39Z")
I wonder how that made it past the studio censors into the final movie. (I know that was her name in the novel as well) ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-they-allow-the-character-name-pussy-galore-in-1964/707446/2 "2014-12-16T23:19:26Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > I wonder how that made it past the studio censors into the final movie. > > \*\* (I know that was her name in the novel as well) \*\* My bolding suggests what I would suspect. But I don’t know that for sure. I do seem to recall other racier names in movies before then, but none spring to mind at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-they-allow-the-character-name-pussy-galore-in-1964/707446/3 "2014-12-16T23:20:28Z")
There’s a lot more backstory in the novel about how she got her name, but in real life the newspapers reported that Honor Blackman had been cast as Pussy Galore for the movie, and since no one collapsed from shock at the announcement, the producers and censors decided there was just enough _double-entendre_ to let it go. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-they-allow-the-character-name-pussy-galore-in-1964/707446/4 "2014-12-16T23:36:34Z")
She was a lesbian in the book, I guess no way that was going to get by the censors. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-they-allow-the-character-name-pussy-galore-in-1964/707446/5 "2014-12-16T23:37:09Z")
According to _ **Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang** _, a history of Bond films that was current up to Pierce Brosnan’s, UA did indeed try to pressure the producers into changing the name to Kitty Galore, but Broccoli and Salzman had already made sure to get enough footage into the can to foil their efforts. IIRC, some publicity materials using the name Kitty were actually printed up but not distributed (or distributed only in limited quantity). ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-they-allow-the-character-name-pussy-galore-in-1964/707446/6 "2014-12-16T23:41:12Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > She was a lesbian in the book, I guess no way that was going to get by the censors. It was hinted at in the movie when she told Bond to save his charms (“I’m immune!”) and Bond quipped “I must have appealed to her maternal instincts” when asked why she notified Washington about Operation Grand Slam. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-they-allow-the-character-name-pussy-galore-in-1964/707446/7 "2014-12-17T00:56:54Z")
Apparently in promotional material for the American market, the character was referred to as “Miss Galore” or “Goldfinger’s personal pilot”. > **[Goldfinger (film) | Promotion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldfinger_(film)#Promotion)** > > The film's marketing campaign began as soon as filming started in Florida, with Eon allowing photographers to enter the set to take pictures of Shirley Eaton painted in gold. Robert Brownjohn, who designed the opening credits, was responsible for the posters for the advertising campaign, which also used actress Margaret Nolan. To promote the film, the two Aston Martin DB5s were showcased at the 1964 New York World's Fair and it was dubbed "the most famous car in the world"; consequently, s ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-they-allow-the-character-name-pussy-galore-in-1964/707446/8 "2014-12-17T01:33:31Z")
Why, whatever do you mean, sir? If you see something objectionable in the name, you must have a dirty mind. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-they-allow-the-character-name-pussy-galore-in-1964/707446/9 "2014-12-17T03:27:29Z")
I thought referring to “pussy cats” was taken at face value once upon a time and then at some point it began a slow decline as the perverted use grew in favor. I don’t know where 1964 falls on that line though. Similar to “having a gay old time” or referring to someone as a “gay fellow.” ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-they-allow-the-character-name-pussy-galore-in-1964/707446/10 "2014-12-17T03:47:48Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > According to _ **Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang** _, a history of Bond films that was current up to Pierce Brosnan’s, UA did indeed try to pressure the producers into changing the name to Kitty Galore, but Broccoli and Salzman had already made sure to get enough footage into the can to foil their efforts. IIRC, some publicity materials using the name Kitty were actually printed up but not distributed (or distributed only in limited quantity). A character of that name appeared decades later in the [Cats & Dogs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cats_%26_Dogs:_The_Revenge_of_Kitty_Galore) movie franchise. It all came full circle when **Jeopardy!** used her name as an answer in the “Movie Titles” category: > [@](#): > > **Alex Trebek:** Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of “Blank Blank.” > > \*\*Contestant: \*\*What is “Pussy Furry”? ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-they-allow-the-character-name-pussy-galore-in-1964/707446/11 "2014-12-17T04:18:40Z")
L’il Abner got away with Appassionata von Climax in 1960 (in the strip, on Broadway, and in the movie). ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-they-allow-the-character-name-pussy-galore-in-1964/707446/12 "2014-12-17T05:17:00Z")
I’m still amazed Beaver Cleaver was a thing. ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-they-allow-the-character-name-pussy-galore-in-1964/707446/13 "2014-12-17T05:28:59Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > I thought referring to “pussy cats” was taken at face value once upon a time and then at some point it began a slow decline as the perverted use grew in favor. I don’t know where 1964 falls on that line though. Similar to “having a gay old time” or referring to someone as a “gay fellow.” This was my assumption… I mean, we had Josie and the Pussycats in the 60s/70s, and that was a children’s comic book/cartoon title. Nowadays, the term “pussycat” garners an eyebrow raise, especially in connection with a human woman. ---
**Author:** ![Grotonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c2a13f/32.png) [@Grotonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grotonian)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-they-allow-the-character-name-pussy-galore-in-1964/707446/14 "2014-12-17T08:07:04Z")
I think a lot of Americans are unaware of the phenomenon of words being viewed as far harsher here in the States than in the UK. Pussy, piss, bastard, and shit come to mind as words that are vulgar in the UK but obscene in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-they-allow-the-character-name-pussy-galore-in-1964/707446/15 "2014-12-17T08:15:54Z")
> [@Grotonian](#): > > Pussy, piss, bastard, and shit… Reported… to the FBI, NSA and even the PTA. ---
**Author:** ![Ken001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Ken001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ken001)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-they-allow-the-character-name-pussy-galore-in-1964/707446/16 "2014-12-17T12:16:52Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > I thought referring to “pussy cats” was taken at face value once upon a time and then at some point it began a slow decline as the perverted use grew in favor. I don’t know where 1964 falls on that line though. Similar to “having a gay old time” or referring to someone as a “gay fellow.” Exactly. There are still Gaytime icecream cones (for home use) sold here and they are an innocent memory from my childhood. [http://shop.countdown.co.nz/Shop/ProductDetails?Stockcode=273822&name=gaytime-cones-super](http://shop.countdown.co.nz/Shop/ProductDetails?Stockcode=273822&name=gaytime-cones-super) I normally ask where pussy is, meaning my pussycat (a large Maine Coon) although my teenadult children cringe. Pussy Galore and Pussy Riot evokes a slight smirk at most but usually no reaction at all here. Mind you the OP asks this from a country where grown men are called Randy without blanching and patting someones fanny is amusing. Try that here and you’ll be on the deck or in a police station answering awkward questions. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![alted315](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/cc9497/32.png) [@alted315](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alted315)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-they-allow-the-character-name-pussy-galore-in-1964/707446/17 "2014-12-17T12:23:52Z")
how about Plenty O’Toole? ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-they-allow-the-character-name-pussy-galore-in-1964/707446/18 "2014-12-17T13:04:25Z")
> [@alted315](#): > > how about Plenty O’Toole? That’s OK. She’s named after her father. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-they-allow-the-character-name-pussy-galore-in-1964/707446/19 "2014-12-17T13:38:25Z")
[Dirty Dingus Magee (1970)](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065642/?ref_=nv_sr_1) probably took advantage of the trend that _Goldfinger_ had established. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2014, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-they-allow-the-character-name-pussy-galore-in-1964/707446/20 "2014-12-17T14:42:49Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Reported… to the FBI, NSA and even the PTA. You’re ninja’d, IYKWIM. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-they-allow-the-character-name-pussy-galore-in-1964/707446.md?page=2)