'The Beauty Jungle' (1964) A.K.A. 'Contest Girl'

The local beauty pageant, the national beauty pageant, the international beauty pageant... all glitz and glamour? - as this film shows, the reality involves a lot more drama and heartache.

This film directed by the famous Val Guest, starred Ian Hendry and Janette Scott. Margaret features throughout the film as a contestant (surely the true winner of any beauty pageant?!) and she has lines of dialogue mostly in scenes featuring a post-contest party.

Film trailer from YouTube  - Margaret can be spotted treading the catwalk and twisting away at a party!

Featured curio web find - 'The Adventures of Don Quick' from 1970.

Starring accomplished actor, Ian Hendry, this weird sci-fi comedy lasted 6 episodes. This is the only episode to survive and luckily for us it features Margaret!

Time for an advert break!

Yes, Groucho Marx using his cigar 'charm' to woo Margaret herself in this advert for Player's Doncella Cigars - what year? anyone know??

Random Front of House Cinema Poster of the Day -

Margaret plays the girlfriend of a ships crew member as they embark on shore leave from their ship. A tale of a 'girl in every port' very much a product of it's time, a fairly mundane film livened up by the stereotypical behaviour of some of the crewmen and their poor 'girls' ashore -  to feature in an up and coming post soon...

More Budgie... continuing on from the previous episode, the further adventures of Inga, with baby!

As I said on my previous post, I have a lot of affection for the Budgie series as it became essential family viewing in our house. It entertained with a lot of well written humour, drama and also a tinge of the bitter-sweet reality of post-sixties society at that time.

This episode ' Everybody Loves a Baby' continues the story along as Inga has had her baby, but is clearly not interested in motherhood. Of course Budgie intervenes with a scam to try to save the day but the results are bitter-sweet. Another outstanding performance here from Margaret - this is the kind of major role we needed to see for her.

Steptoe & Son (1972) - 'A Star is Born'

Famous for their work on radio and with Tony Hancock especially, Galton and Simpson wrote a one-off television play that was to become a very popular and long running BBC sitcom, Steptoe & Son.

Margaret plays am-dram group member Nemone Wagstaff and clearly Harold Steptoe is smitten and attempts to up his game in acting out the lead role in the play the group are performing.

Interesting to note: This is the second time Margaret has played opposite Wilfred Brambell (Albert Steptoe) as they both appeared in the casino scene in The Beatles 'A Hard Days Night' film.

Also this is the second time Margaret has played a character named 'Nemone' - first occasion was in the long running (and yet to feature in my blog) comedy series 'Nearest and Dearest'.

The FULL EPISODE is available here -

Random front of house film still of the day -

This still is taken from the Gerry and the Pacemakers film, 'Ferry Cross The Mersey' (1965) where Margaret played Norah, art student and part of the 'gang' that hang around with the Gerry and the other Merseybeat groups featured in the film. More on this film to come...

Adam Adamant Lives! (1966)

Frozen in time Edwardian gent is revived in 1966 where he fights crime and combats dastardly deeds! - oh those 'wacky' sixties television ideas!

The BBC looking for their take on The Avengers consulted many of the people originally behind 'Doctor Who' and this is what they came up with. An entertaining show, well acted by the then dashing Gerald Harper and sixties 'chick' Juliet Harmer. Special mention must be made of the Edwardian ability to drive a Mini Cooper!!! Despite this series being such a silly premise, I still enjoy watching it a lot.

Margaret plays a femme fatale used to as a honey trap to extort money from wealthy 'respectable' businessmen who should really know better. Whilst a small role for Margaret, clearly her plausibility as a seductive lure holds up here and despite some 'clunky' acting from some of the other cast members, she comes out the other side quite intact from this quirky slice of sixties nonsense!

FULL EPISODE for your pleasure(!) here -