I am trying to complete a trivia contest in a newspaper. I have all but one question answered:

"On screen, this New Jersey-raised actress bonded with Bond, wed Fred and kicked up her heels with Kelly. Name her."

Thank you very much in advance for any help that anyone can give!

Bill

ballengerb1

Virginia Katherine McMath, also know by her stage name Ginger Rogers.

billnutt

Thank you for your prompt reply, but I think your answer has two flaws in it:

1) Ginger Rogers wasn't raised in NJ.

2) I can't find a connection in which she "bonded with Bond."

If you can clarify these points and correct my misconceptions, I'd appreciate it!

Bill

RubyPitbull

I have to say, that since I saw your posting yesterday Bill, it has been driving me nuts!

You are right, it is not Ginger Rogers. I tried a search on every actress that I could find that was born in or just raised in, New Jersey. Came up with a number of possibilites but none of them fit all 3 hints. ARRGGHH.

I am sitting here with 2 feet of fresh fallen snow, so aside from shoveling my way out to take my mind off this maddening puzzle, I can't get out of the driveway until it is plowed. So I am stuck here with this frustrating question buzzing around in my head.

Thanks A LOT Bill!!!

By the way, good call on the other posters movie question. I think you are right. Sounds like Defending Your Life.

I will keep on seeing if I can turn up any useful names up for you. So, if I help you, do I get to split the prize with you? lol

ballengerb1

Sorry, you are correct, she is from Missouri.

billnutt

You think this is driving you nuts? Welcome to MY world! I've been wrestling with this question for two weeks!

The tricky part is the ambiguity. We tend to assume that "wed Fred" refers to Astaire and "kicked up heels with Kelly" refers to Gene Kelly. But what if those are the names of the characters, not the actors? And what if it's a different Fred and Kelly? For that matter, what if "bonded with Bond" refers to Ward Bond and not James Bond.

The only part that's clear is "New Jersey-raised" - and that could apply to dozens of actresses.

If no one gives me a better answer, I'm going to go with Priscilla Barnes. She's the only Bond girl I can find who was raised in NJ (actually, she was BORN here, and that is a strike against her; it would more likely say "New Jersey native"), and in a couple of her early movies she played opposite characters named "Freddie" and "Kelly." (NO idea if she married the "Freddie" character, though.)

Still, if you (or anyone) can give me a better answer, I'd appreciate it. My deadline is February 27.

Thanks very much!

Bill

RubyPitbull

Bill, I am giving it my best shot. I love stuff like this. And yes, I started thinking along the lines you were thinking, but in another direction. The other thoughts about the Bond thing, is that you have SO many Bonds but I was negating Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig, which I am guessing now, I shouldn't do. George Lazenby only played the role once, and I tried every which way using him. Then, I started thinking, okay, Sean Connery is considered by many purists as THE J.B. What if it is someone who "bonded" with him, but she did it in another film, in which he was playing a totally different character?

The biggest problem is, when the answer is so obscure, that you start overthinking it.

I am not so sure about Priscilla Barnes, but I will take a look. I think you are right in one aspect. It says, "raised" in NJ, not born. I think that is the key clue.

So, if you are online over the next couple of days, and you want to try brainstorming with me, send me a PM (private message). If I am online, I will respond and we can see if we can't put our heads together and discuss the names I have come up with.

billnutt

Dear Ruby (may I call you that?)

Thanks for investing time into this, even though you get nothing from it except my thanks. (If I _do_ win, my wife might have something to say about who goes with me on the trip to Hollywood! )

I know what you mean about overthinking it. And I also know what you mean about Connery or one of the other "Bonds."

I'm not going to be online too much this weekend, but I'll be popping in and out. If you want to let me know what names you're considering, we can go from there.

I've never used IMDb.com so much!

Bill

RubyPitbull

Hey Bill, I just saw your posting as I was about to step away from the computer.

Tell your wife not to worry. I may be a movie buff, but I have no interest in Tinsletown.
You just have to let me know the answer if you come up with it. It can be after the contest is over if you are afraid someone else will see it.

Okay, before I run off -- The other thing that came to my mind was the original Casino Royale, Woody Allen's version.

Another Fred could be Fred MacMurray.

What if Kelly is Grace Kelly and there was some dance routine that was done with another woman?

THIS is what I meant about overthinking. If you have some other thoughts or ideas for me to follow up, let me know. I will see what I can track down over the weekend.

The women that I have come up with and can't seem to connect to all three clues:

Joan Bennett
Ruth St Denis
Patricia McBride
Dionne Warwick (what?)
Lee Meredith

Eva Marie Saint
Jayne Wyatt
Vivian Blaine
Sandra Dee
Celeste Holm
Joanna Cassidy
Joan Caulfield
Phyllis Kirk
Natalie Schafer (remember Gilligan's Island?)


All of these women are in some way connected to NJ, I am sure I forgot someone but I am kind of rushing.

And, of course, there are more recent ones that I haven't really looked at.

I know what you mean, IMDb is a great resource.

billnutt

Ruby,

I got it.

I can't believe it, but I got it.

I'll let you know in two weeks, after the contest deadline. (I don't think anyone else interested in the contest is here, but just in case...)

Thanks for inspiring me!

I'll give you a hint: I was wrong. Priscilla Barnes is not the only Bond girl with a New Jersey connection.

Bill