Wonder Woman (1974)

                 LOST GEMS 

                                           You’re a wonder

In 1941, the first published appearance of Wonder Woman, created by William Moulton Marston, took place in All Star Comics #8.  Marston was an American Psychologist, working under the pen name Charles Moulton, that had created Wonder Woman through the inspiration of his wife, Elizabeth Holloway Marston, and their polyamorous life partner, Olive Byrne.  The character itself was heavily influenced by the dominance and bondage culture both in her combat style and weakening.  She could tie her opponents up and make them tell the truth, some of her powers came from bronze bracelets that were symbols of slavery, and she could be rendered powerless by being tied up as well.  She was the powerful woman that was completely opposite of the day and age.  Needless to say, controversy surrounded the character and was frowned upon even by women!  The character lost her powers in a very long story arc until American feminist journalist, social political activist and fan of Wonder Woman, Gloria Steinam, rallied to have the character restored to her full potential, featuring Wonder Woman on the first issue of Ms. Magazine in the spring of 1972 and becoming “the woman that saved Wonder Woman.  Wonder Woman was starting to jump media platforms and it wasn’t long before she made the jump to the screen.  Ask any fan when word of a new Wonder Woman movie in 2017, to be directed by Patty Jenkins, that its star was going to be Gal Gadot and NOT “the one TRUE Wonder Woman”, Lynda Carter how much ire they were in.  Lynda Carter had successfully played Diana Prince/Wonder Woman for three seasons from 1975 to 1979 and in a total of 60 episodes in the traditional red white and blue satin tights.  She was the only person to play Wonder Woman and, therefore, the only person that SHOULD play Wonder Woman!  

*hrumph loudly and cross your arms* 

Sorry, gang, Lynda Carter was NOT the first person to play Wonder Woman no matter how many times you Google “first Wonder Woman” or “original Wonder Woman”. 

The story arc of 1968 to 1972 where Wonder Woman had been stripped of her powers was used as the basis for the pilot of a newly proposed TV series.  Gone was the traditional costume for a lot of Emma Peel of the British TV series THE AVENGERS inspired designs...catsuits and miniskirt designs prevalent for the time and popularized by Diana Rigg.  To be directed by Vincent McVeety, known for a host of popular shows ranging from Star Trek to The Rockford Files and Airwolf...even an episode of favourite series to Matthew and myself, Kolchak: The Night Stalker (The Knightly Murders). This incarnation is a super-spy holding the position of a secretary to Steve Trevor played by Kaz Garas, known for such shows as Hawaii 5-0, Starsky & Hutch, The Dukes of Hazzard and more! Known as Diana formerly and Dee in more friendly conversation and recognized as Wonder Woman by every bad guy regardless of clothing apparel (usually red, white and blue), armed with superior gymnastic abilities, exceptional intelligence, the strength of love, and a variety of gadget style bracelets that include tracking devices to properly outfit this James Bond style of hero.  But who plays this daring woman of adventure?  Lynda Carter did apply for the role, not having any luck until 1975, and losing out to blonde 29-year-old former tennis player Cathy Lee Crosby.  Wonder Woman’s costume of action is almost a tennis playing and very modest type suite with blue leggings and knee-high blue boots.  I have to admit, it also looked uncomfortable for warmer weather excursions as it looked like fleece.  Interesting enough, Cathy Lee Crosby would also later go on to take part in an episode of Kolchak: The Night Stalker in the episode The Youth Killer. 

Kolchak links don’t stop there! From the episode The Demon In Lace, Andrew Prine plays a slimy bad guy even other bad guys cannot trust.  But he is only the right hand to the boss bad guy. 

That boss bad guy is none other than...KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHN!  Ricardo Montalban himself!  Montalban plays an exceptional bad guy and adversary to our hero.  He is sneaky, deviously smart, underhanded and not one to be trifled with as he provides SPECTRE level traps like a room with an almost impenetrable glass wall on one end and an advancing wall of coloured acidic mud on the opposite side.  

 There is a tense showdown with Amazonian sister turned evil Anjela or Ahnjayla (equivalent to Nubia in the comics) in the only action scene of the show.  The “action” is low key and is used to demonstrate a rivalry that was meant to be a recurring one if the TV series was picked up. 

Wonder Woman then races to confront bad guy Abner Smith (Montalban) in one last carry-over from the comics, her invisible plane...to which there is no explanation.  The showdown leads to Smith’s secret lair (as all good bad-guys have) including an elevator system to an underground stored helicopter and an alternate getaway route of a boat on a river system through a cave system...which has to be used because of Wonder Woman’s gadgetry bracelets.  Wonder Woman never gets to deflect bullets with her bracelets and uses more brain over brain to escape traps with her gadget belt and escape rope rather than Magic Lasso of Truth. 

Other sign of the times is no actual killing takes place on camera but is heavily implied and bloodless results observed.  Overall filming is classic 70’s style but really has an overwhelming comic book charm to it.  The whole presentation does, really.  From story to dialogue, plot and action scenes, bad guy secret lair to Wonder Woman’s motorcycle riding ability (surely pulled for later Carter Wonder Woman series) and the semi soul sounds of the 70’s musical score.  It really is a good start to the shining example of what I think is the greatest era of science fiction movie and TV viewing and for wholesome family viewing. 

Something that stands out are 2 hench...people....Joe and Cass played by Robert Porter and Donna Garrett in an interesting portrayal of what appears to be twin assassins.  Dressing identical in 70’s era brown leather in a potential attempt at gender bending the rules a bit or a dash of androgyny.  The character Joe is decidedly male but Cass is female with overt male tones to the characters visual and personal mannerisms.  Taking the point of interest even further, androgynous figures occurred frequently in Greek mythology with a blend of desirable traits of both men and woman.  Some being Aphroditus (to Aphrodite), Heramphroditus (offspring to Hermes and Aphrodite and source to the term “hermaphrodite”), and  Agdistis a deity possessing both male and female sexual organs.  The character Diana/Wonder Woman is filled right from her creation with the concept of love between nothing but same sex characters as she comes from an island (Paradise Island) where there are no men or even supposed to be allowed, and sprung from the same sex relationship between Moulton’s wife and their sex partner as mentioned at the start. 

Overall, is it a GREAT show to watch?  No, it isn’t.  Is it fun?  It has its moments.  It does definitely stick with Wonder Woman’s original standing philosophy of love conquers evil and hate.  Smith even announces, “Wonder Woman, I love you!” at the end. Philosophically, anthropologically and from the point of female power in society, it still gives a lot for one to think about.  Even if Diana is subservient to Steve Rogers, it is still Wonder Woman that saves the world and from a man with her only real opponent, a woman, getting away. If you are a comic book entertainment “historian”, you cannot miss watching this honourable mention.  As a lost gem, it is a diamond in the rough but a diamond none the less. A rough in the diamond I’ll say. 

A little taste of Cathy Lee Crosby as Wonder Woman:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHvtlWmlMFU

As a follow-up show to watch, I really suggest checking out Professor Marston and the Wonder Women.  Check out the trailer here;

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r991pr4Fohk

Last point I want to make as well is don’t let past portrayals stop you from checking out other efforts by other people to portray Wonder Woman.  Wonder Woman has been a favourite character of mine since I was a kid...but, at that time, a boy didn’t admit that a strong female character was one of his favourites, Wonder Woman was so girls would enjoy comics too...which is a load of nonsense.  Some other really great people have portrayed the Amazonian such as;

Must List Lynda Carter:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imc_qG8Re2Q

Adrianne Palicki (and also starring...PEDRO PASCAL!) fan added Carter series Wonder WOman preview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1cDmZeHIY4

Lucy Lawless...trivia...Xena was based on Wonder Woman 

And, of course, Gal Gadot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q8fG0TtVAY

But so many women have played Wonder Woman.  Is there one true Wonder Woman?  No...she is all women.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aM5JjJSMCCk