Confidential books containing the names of all of the U.S. field agents and the keys to every diplomatic military code throughout the world have been stolen from secret hiding places in Paris, Istanbul, Berlin, Rio de Janeiro, and London. There are two books located in each secret facility. All ten books are needed to decipher the codes. The theft was orchestrated by George Calvin (Andrew Pine), the head henchman for a diabolical villain named Abner Smith (Ricardo Montalban). Smith wants fifteen million dollars for the return of the books and has given the government forty-eight hours to comply.
Agent Steve Trevor (Kaz Garas) is charged with handling the situation. Steve’s secretary is Diana Prince (Cathy Lee Crosby). Diana is from a place called Paradise Island. The island is run by matriarch Hippolyta (Charlene Holt). Hippolyta is also Diana’s mother. Diana is charged with helping the American government find the thieves and return the books. As Steve’s secretary, Diana has access to the information needed to track down those responsible for endangering the agents. Diana’s alter ego, Wonder Woman, is an Amazonian type of Princess who is skilled in all forms of hand-to-hand defense as well as possessing an intelligent mind.
Diana is sent off to France where she encounters George Calvin, who tries to love-bomb her. Diana, of course, sees through him. He then tries to repeatedly kill her even though Abner forbids it. From there she trails the bad guys back to the U.S. where the ransom is to be paid.
“Wonder Woman” was released in 1974 and was directed by Vincent McEveety. It is an American made-for-television superhero film and was based on the DC Comics character. The film was a pilot for a potential ABC television series. The pilot was shown as a movie of the week. The series was never picked up; however, in 1976 a different series was done with Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman.
This rendition of the superhero was different from the normal Wonder Woman from the DC comics. Eventually Cathy Lee Crosby’s version would appear in DC Comics, at first as an alternate Earth Wonder Woman, then as an adversary to the Lynda Carter version of Wonder Woman in one of the "Wonder Woman '77" comics. It is a very G rated version. Not being as well-endowed as Lynda Carter, Crosby wears more of a tunic with leggings style uniform than the form fitting push-up bustier that was standard in the comics and with subsequent versions of the superhero.
The Cathy Lee version doesn’t really have an origin story. When the film starts, Diana Prince is sent from Paradise Island to help mankind out of a pretty pickle. Diana already works for Steve and the U.S. Government as a secretary but is also already known as Wonder Woman. In the film, the Wonder Woman character is more of a secret agent than a superhero. She wears bracelets but uses them as tools instead of as a defense against bullets. She also doesn’t have any real superpowers but does mention that she has an invisible plane.
All in all, the entire movie was plain and boring. What fight scenes there were, were obviously staged and wishy-washy. There aren’t any interesting special effects. Ricardo Montalban’s face is hidden through most of the film. Why is never really addressed. Even the plot is average. Not the best Wonder Woman movie out there, but it is the first.
There was also a mini unaired TV pilot that's just plain bad, but I found it anyway.
Movie
Mini Pilot