Honey Ryder and “No. I’m Just Looking”

Honey Ryder and “No. I’m Just Looking”

Honey Ryder and “No. I’m Just Looking” – OK, Sylvia Trench was the first real Bond Girl.  Then, you had Miss Taro.  But, come on.   Honey Rider is remembered as the first WOW Bond Girl as she walks out of the waters at Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica in Dr. No.  Ursula Andres, who played Honey Rider, set the standard and a very high bar for all Bond Girls to come.   This is a classic must-see scene.  It reveals a lot more to us about Bond’s character.    Remember – most people are being introduced to James Bond in this film – and hadn’t read the Ian Fleming stories.

When Bond wakes up to Honey Rider singing “Underneath the Mango Tree” as she steps out of the ocean – which has become of the most famous scenes in any movie – he starts singing the song too, and she then notices him.  She asks him what he is doing here, and asks if he is looking for shells, to which Bond quips, “No, I’m just looking!”

Dunn’s River Falls

We have been to Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica, and have climbed the falls.   It is a tourist attraction now and very crowded and busy – but still worth the visit.   Climbing the falls (maybe 180 feet from shore to top) is tricky and requires your guide and the help of people in your group to hold you and pull you up.   It is slippery and can be dangerous – but was fun to do.   And to think, this was in Dr. No adds to the thrill knowing Ursula Andres and Sean Connery were just steps away!  They filmed here and on Laughing Waters beach, which used to be a private section of Roaring Falls.

Here we see Honey Ryder as a very strong woman.   When Bond says I promise not to steal your shells, she quips, “I promise you, you won’t either” as she wields her knife that was held on her side by a wide belt.   In the original manuscript, which we examined,  Honey Ryder walks out of the ocean to the shore wearing just the belt and knife!

As a side note, Ursula Andres sold this bikini at auction on February 14, 2001, for the equivalent of about $60,500!  Belt was included!  Honey Rider and “No. I’m Just Looking”    Yes!  We’d be looking too!

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