Is the model for the classic "Bond Girl" like an HPD woman?

With the current re-launch of Ian Fleming's James Bond action-spy thiller film franchise in "Casino Royale." replete with its first Gen-Xer to star in the lead, a question occured to me: Is the model for the classic "Bond Girl" like an HPD woman?

These are women who need rescuing from themselves; they use their body and sex-appeal to attract attention by men; sometimes they attempt suicide (ie, Tracy Di'Vicenzo, played by Diana Rigg in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" [1969]). Although they may be capable in a limited way, put a gun in their hands and they just fall apart, liked the scheming Tiffany Case (Jill St. John) in "Diamonds are Forever" (1971).

I'm thinking of Bond Girls such as cellist Kara Milovy (Maryam d'Abo) in "The Living Daylights" (1987); the ice skater Bibi ( Lynn-Holly Johnson) in "For Your Eyes Only (1981); Honey Rider (Ursula Andress) in "Dr. No." The latter character even talks of having been raped and then exacting revenge through the deployment of a well-placed scorpion, resulting in his death.

Now there are many exceptions. Pussy Galore in "Goldfinger" - Melina Havelock (Carole Bouquet) in "For Your Eyes Only - and most Bond pictures since 1987, beginning with "Licence Revoked" (1990), have left this glitteringly dependent type of woman out of the film. There are also a long strain of women who don't know they need rescuing, only to discover that they do from Bond himself (like Tilly and Jill Masterson in Goldfinger or Dominique [Claudine Auger] in "Thunderball" [1965]). Still others are outright conniving and manipulative women.

"Bond Girls" have been much criticized for their sexiness and overly-dependent roles - the very stereotypes "Women's Libbers" haave long campainged against. Defenders have pointed to the fantastic quality of the series itself to dodge explaining the persistence of the "damsel in distress" archetypes that are strewn throughout the 22 total Bond films over 44 years. And to my mind, only the Lara Croft Tomb Raider series finally and fully inverts the patriarchy inherent in the series.

But aren't most negative qualities attributed to "Bond Girls" really histrionic personality disorder traits?

No. In these types of films the heroes and heroines are extravert types who are pretty much in control of their destiny. There is an underlying conceit with much of TV and films that being an extravert is desirable, and that we all aspire to be loud, cocky, confident, etcetera, and that people who can't be like that are unfortunate, - they are "sad". For instance Big Brother is replete with loud exhibitionist types. Introverted, thoughtful people don't make for exciting TV.

Anyway, people with HPD are not, generally, in control of their destiny. They don't have any clear idea of where they are going, let alone how they are going to get there. In the Bond films, everyone has a plan, including the women.

It's also a moot point. You gain no more insight into the mind of a real human being by watching characters in a James Bond film than you would into the behaviour of a wild gorilla by looking at one in the zoo.

If you're referring to James Bond movies specifically I'd have to agree justwunderin but if you mean movies in general I'd have to disagree.

Here's some movies I've seen and heard about giving a good insight into the Cluster B mind specifically.

Blue Sky- HPD
Match Point-HPD
Collateral- ASPD
Cape Fear-ASPD
Girl Interrupted-BPD
American Psycho-NPD

The only ones I can't vouch for are Match Point and American Psycho since I haven't seen them but I have seen the others.

Mylife one of our best HPD contributors endorses the movie Match Point as having a good example of an HPD woman in it.

Anyway getting back to the main discussion question I have to agree with Ray.

The Bond women though needy have a strong control of their destiny while oftentimes the HPD goes where the wind of her out of control feelings carry her.

HPD is a disorder that can have strong dependency needs attached to it but there is a seperate personality disorder called Dependent Personality Disorder that has many traits similar to HPD in it but it is not HPD.

Perhaps the Bond women match this better?

I'd have to do more research on DPD to give a good yes or no informed opinion on it.

What I can say though is that the characters portrayed in those movies are not good examples of HPD.

True they may act Histrionic at times but as another HPD poster pointed out once upon a time we all have histrionic traits in us so it'd only be natural for such entertaining dramatic behaviour to appear in an exciting spy movie in appropriate doses.

Hey KX,

Thanks for the movie list! I'll check 'em out at the local DVD rental and give you a review.