TV Shows Or Movies With Strong Female Action Icons Before 1975.
by Jaguar24 | created - 17 May 2013 | updated - 12 Jul 2013 | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. The Avengers (1961–1969)
TV-14 | 50 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
A quirky spy show of the adventures of eccentrically suave British Agent John Steed and his predominantly female partners.
Stars: Patrick Macnee, Diana Rigg, Honor Blackman, Linda Thorson
Votes: 8,890
2. Honey West (1965–1966)
Not Rated | 30 min | Action, Crime, Drama
After her father's death, Honey West takes over his high-tech private-detective firm, assisted by rugged Sam Bolt--and her pet ocelot Bruce.
Stars: Anne Francis, John Ericson, Bruce, Irene Hervey
Votes: 809
3. Mission: Impossible (1966–1973)
TV-PG | 50 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
An elite covert operations unit carries out highly sensitive missions subject to official denial in the event of failure, death or capture.
Stars: Peter Graves, Barbara Bain, Greg Morris, Peter Lupus
Votes: 11,499
4. Get Christie Love! (1974–1975)
TV-PG | 60 min | Crime, Drama
Adventures of sexy & sassy black undercover cop Christie Love.
Stars: Teresa Graves, Dennis Rucker, Charles Cioffi, Scott Peters
Votes: 336
5. Batman (1966–1968)
TV-G | 25 min | Action, Crime, Fantasy
The Caped Crusader and his young ward battle evildoers in Gotham City.
Stars: Adam West, Burt Ward, Alan Napier, Neil Hamilton
Votes: 26,147
"Batgirl" 1967-68
6. Ironside (1967–1975)
TV-PG | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Wheelchair-using, crime-fighting detective Robert T. Ironside battles the bad guys on the streets of San Francisco.
Stars: Raymond Burr, Don Galloway, Don Mitchell, Barbara Anderson
Votes: 4,099
7. The Persuaders! (1971–1972)
60 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
Two worlds collide when Lord Brett Sinclair, a titled British man, and Danny Wilde, a Bronx-raised, self-made American, reluctantly join forces to right wrongs and protect the innocent.
Stars: Tony Curtis, Roger Moore, Laurence Naismith, Juliet Harmer
Votes: 5,901
Many episodes with female agents or detectives flipping men.
8. It Takes a Thief (1968–1970)
TV-PG | 51 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
The adventures of suave cat burglar Alexander Mundy, who plies his trade for the U.S. Government.
Stars: Robert Wagner, Fred Astaire, Malachi Throne, Murray Pollack
Votes: 2,196
Many episodes with female protaganists and strong villians.
9. The Champions (1968–1969)
60 min | Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller
After a plane carrying three UN Agents crashes in the Himalayas, they are rescued by an advanced civilisation secretly living in Tibet who grant them enhanced versions of the ordinary five senses, and intellectual and physical abilities.
Stars: Stuart Damon, Alexandra Bastedo, William Gaunt, Anthony Nicholls
Votes: 1,424
10. Department S (1969–1970)
60 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
An elite department within Interpol, Department S inherits those cases which the other member groups have failed to solve.
Stars: Peter Wyngarde, Joel Fabiani, Rosemary Nicols, Dennis Alaba Peters
Votes: 583
11. The Protectors (1972–1974)
TV-14 | 30 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
Challenges abound for worldwide crime-fighting team The Protectors. Organised into a global secret society, their mission is to protect the innocent and apprehend the guilty. Starring Emmy winner Robert Vaughn "The Man From U.N.C.L.E.".
Stars: Robert Vaughn, Nyree Dawn Porter, Tony Anholt, Yasuko Nagazumi
Votes: 572
12. Okay S.I.R. (1972–1974)
25 min | Crime
Stars: Anneliese Uhlig, Monika Peitsch, Anita Kupsch, Marran Gosov
Votes: 26
German crime series with female leads as Interpol agents. Was said to be a unofficial precursor to American TV Series "Charlie's Angels (1976-81)
13. Special Branch (1969–1974)
60 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Groundbreaking British police drama series following the exploits of the Special Branch of the Metropolitan Police: an elite group of officers tasked with protecting London from spies, terrorists, and subversives.
Stars: Derren Nesbitt, George Sewell, Morris Perry, Fulton Mackay
Votes: 195
Many episodes with female law enforcers
14. Division 4 (1969–1975)
50 min | Crime, Drama
This series was about the wide variety of cases dealt with by the Criminal Investigation and Uniform branches at Melbourne's fictional Yarra Central police station.
Stars: Gerard Kennedy, Chuck Faulkner, Frank Taylor, Terence Donovan
Votes: 110
Australian crime series, first with a female police officer who did essentially same jobs as men.
15. Doctor Who (1963–1989)
TV-PG | 25 min | Adventure, Drama, Family
The adventures in time and space of the Doctor, a Time Lord who changes appearance and personality by regenerating when near death, and is joined by companions in battles against aliens and other megalomaniacs.
Stars: William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker
Votes: 39,529
Had notibly two female characters playing strong space enforcing agents between 1965 and 1974.
16. The Bait (1973 TV Movie)
78 min | Drama, Thriller
An undercover policewomen risks her life to trap a homicidal rapist.
Director: Leonard J. Horn | Stars: Donna Mills, Michael Constantine, William Devane, Arlene Golonka
Votes: 157
Based on Dorothy Unhak's Novel of the same name.
17. Wonder Woman (1974 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 73 min | Fantasy
A super-hero uses her powers to thwart an international spy ring.
Director: Vincent McEveety | Stars: Cathy Lee Crosby, Kaz Garas, Andrew Prine, Ricardo Montalban
Votes: 1,471
18. Get Christie Love! (1974 TV Movie)
74 min | Action, Crime
A beautiful policewoman goes undercover to break up a drug ring.
Director: William A. Graham | Stars: Teresa Graves, Harry Guardino, Louise Sorel, Paul Stevens
Votes: 371
19. Police Woman (1974–1978)
TV-14 | 120 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Follows Sergeant "Pepper" Anderson, LAPD's top undercover cop. A member of the Criminal Conspiracy Unit, Pepper works the wild side of the street, where she poses as everything from a gangster's moll to a streetwalker to a prison inmate.
Stars: Angie Dickinson, Earl Holliman, Charles Dierkop, Ed Bernard
Votes: 2,337
20. Amy Prentiss (1974–1975)
120 min | Crime, Drama
When the Chief of Detectives suddenly dies, the police officer with the most seniority (who happens to be a woman) becomes the new Chief, which doesn't go down well with all of the men of the Department.
Stars: Jessica Walter, Art Metrano, Johnny Seven, Steve Sandor
Votes: 59
21. Playgirl (1969–1974)
Action, Adventure, Thriller
When mystery novelist and independently wealthy socialite Makoto Masako decides to start a business she settles upon a unique Insurance & Investigation Service. Recruiting a number of ... See full summary »
Stars: Hideo Murota, Hiroshi Nihon'yanagi, Hiroshi Ogasawara, Franz Gruber
Votes: 8
All Female detective series like "Okay SIR" was said to be a precursor to "Charlie's Angels"
22. Kii Hantâ (1968–1973)
Action
The Key Hunter unit of International Police is tasked with clandestine investigation and enforcement of laws involving international crime, espionage and political strife. The action-crime serial featured 262 episodes.
Stars: Franz Gruber, Shin'ichi Chiba, Tetsurô Tanba, Hayato Tani
Votes: 10
Translated to "Key Hunter" a Japanese tv series depicting a unique group of law enforcers. Female lead was similar to "Cinnamon Carter" of "Mission Impossible" and "Emma Peel" in "The Avengers"
23. Coffy (1973)
R | 90 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
A sexy Black nurse takes vigilante justice against inner-city drug dealers after her sister becomes their latest victim.
Director: Jack Hill | Stars: Pam Grier, Booker Bradshaw, Robert DoQui, William Elliott
Votes: 12,937
24. Cleopatra Jones (1973)
PG | 89 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
During the 1970s, U.S. Special Agent Cleopatra Jones proves to be an invaluable asset to the local police forces in the war on drugs.
Director: Jack Starrett | Stars: Tamara Dobson, Bernie Casey, Brenda Sykes, Antonio Fargas
Votes: 3,532 | Gross: $2.98M
25. TNT Jackson (1974)
R | 72 min | Action
A young karate expert searches for her brother's killer in Hong Kong.
Director: Cirio H. Santiago | Stars: Jeannie Bell, Stan Shaw, Pat Anderson, Ken Metcalfe
Votes: 1,409
26. Fuzz (1972)
PG | 92 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
Police in Boston search for a mad bomber trying to extort money from the city.
Director: Richard A. Colla | Stars: Burt Reynolds, Raquel Welch, Jack Weston, Tom Skerritt
Votes: 2,251 | Gross: $0.57M
Raquel Welch played sexy and capable female detective.
27. Big Zapper (1973)
R | 92 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
A female private detective, Harriet Zapper, is hired by a rich old man to find his missing children, and becomes involved in counterfeiting and murder
Director: Lindsay Shonteff | Stars: Linda Marlowe, Gary Hope, Sean Hewitt, Michael O'Malley
Votes: 156
British version of Coffy and Ginger
28. The Abductors (1972)
R | 90 min | Action, Drama
Cheerleaders and models are kidnapped & sold by a white slavery ring. Female agent is sent to rescue them.
Director: Don Schain | Stars: Cheri Caffaro, Richard Smedley, Patrick Wright, Laurie Rose
Votes: 489 | Gross: $0.94M
29. Stacey (1973)
R | 81 min | Action, Crime, Drama
The sleazy and dangerous adventures of a gorgeous female private detective.
Director: Andy Sidaris | Stars: Anne Randall, Alan Landers, James Westmoreland, Marjorie Bennett
Votes: 264
First of the Andy Sidaris' series of big buxum former playboy model superwoman genre flicks,
30. The Doll Squad (1973)
PG | 92 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Squad of beautiful government agents tries to catch saboteurs.
Director: Ted V. Mikels | Stars: Michael Ansara, Francine York, Anthony Eisley, John Carter
Votes: 1,151
Technically came out in 1972
31. Double Agent 73 (1974)
R | 73 min | Action
An unusually proportioned secret agent uses her unique anatomy to spy on the members of an international drug ring.
Director: Doris Wishman | Stars: Chesty Morgan, Frank Silvano, Saul Meth, Jill Harris
Votes: 914
Made In 1970
32. Muñecas peligrosas (1969)
TV-14 | 75 min | Comedy, Action, Adventure
Who said they were the weaker sex? Four courageous and feisty women fight against a gang of criminals who want to get their hands on a scientist's valuable formula.
Director: Rafael Baledón | Stars: Fernando Casanova, Armando Silvestre, Emily Cranz, Maura Monti
Votes: 29
Another set of Charlie's Angel prequels or the "Charlie's Angels" of Mexican Spy Genres.
33. Come Drink with Me (1966)
Not Rated | 95 min | Action, Crime
Bandits kidnap a governor's son and demand their imprisoned leader to be set free in exchange. The governor's daughter, a skilled martial artist, is sent to rescue him, but eventually finds herself overmatched and in need of assistance.
Director: King Hu | Stars: Pei-Pei Cheng, Hua Yueh, Chih-Ching Yang, Hung-Lieh Chen
Votes: 4,925
35. Temptress of a Thousand Faces (1969)
83 min | Action, Crime
A Hong Kong reporter (Tina Chin) sets out to thwart the evil "witch" boss of a gang (Pat Ting Hung) bent on world domination.
Director: Chang-hwa Jeong | Stars: Tina Chin-Fei, Liang Chen, Pat Ting Hung, Liang Hua Liu
Votes: 218
Probably the first in the Hong Kong's Girls N Gun series.
36. Kiss Me Monster (1969)
R | 75 min | Adventure, Horror, Mystery
KISS ME, MONSTER finds The Red Lips moonlighting on a striptease world tour - but no sooner do they hit the stage than the girls are up to their pasties in stiffs, Satanists and Sapphic sadists, all after a secret formula for human clones!
Director: Jesús Franco | Stars: Janine Reynaud, Rosanna Yanni, Adrian Hoven, Chris Howland
Votes: 739
37. Modesty Blaise (1966)
119 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
Stylish ex-con Modesty Blaise and her partner Willie Garvin are tasked by the British Secret Service with preventing her rival Gabriel from stealing diamonds that are to be delivered to her adoptive father, a Sheikh.
Director: Joseph Losey | Stars: Monica Vitti, Terence Stamp, Dirk Bogarde, Harry Andrews
Votes: 3,179
38. Kommissar X - Jagd auf Unbekannt (1966)
Not Rated | 92 min | Mystery
In this first "Kommissar X" movie, Tony and Brad investigate the murders of politicians and scientists. They soon face off against a team of super hitwomen with their usual flair. Look for ... See full summary »
Director: Gianfranco Parolini | Stars: Tony Kendall, Brad Harris, Maria Perschy, Christa Linder
Votes: 275
39. Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965)
Not Rated | 83 min | Action, Comedy
Three go-go dancers holding a young girl hostage come across a crippled old man living with his two sons in the desert. After learning he's hiding a sum of cash around, the women start scheming on him.
Director: Russ Meyer | Stars: Tura Satana, Haji, Lori Williams, Ray Barlow
Votes: 16,129
40. The Astro-Zombies (1968)
92 min | Horror, Sci-Fi
The Plan - to build a super human. How? By murdering innocent, convenient victims, and using various bits of them. The result? Creatures on the rampage.
Director: Ted V. Mikels | Stars: Wendell Corey, John Carradine, Tom Pace, Joan Patrick
Votes: 2,788
41. Impasse (I) (1969)
M | 100 min | Adventure
Pat Morrison, a treasure hunter in the Philippines, recruits army veterans to search for a gold treasure hidden by the military during World War II.
Director: Richard Benedict | Stars: Burt Reynolds, Anne Francis, Lyle Bettger, Rodolfo Acosta
Votes: 454
Anne Francis shows some post Honey West karate moves.
42. Goldfinger (1964)
PG | 110 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller
While investigating a gold magnate's smuggling, James Bond uncovers a plot to contaminate the Fort Knox gold reserve.
Director: Guy Hamilton | Stars: Sean Connery, Gert Fröbe, Honor Blackman, Shirley Eaton
Votes: 202,581 | Gross: $51.08M
43. Das Geheimnis der drei Dschunken (1965)
90 min | Action, Crime, Drama
An FBI agent goes to Hong Kong to infiltrate an international nuclear smuggling ring.
Director: Ernst Hofbauer | Stars: Stewart Granger, Rosanna Schiaffino, Horst Frank, Paul Klinger
Votes: 151
44. Call Me Bwana (1963)
Not Rated | 93 min | Comedy
A returning moon capsule with vital information goes off-course and lands in Africa, where the little-known Ekele tribesmen find it. Washington orders African expert, Matthew Merriwether - ... See full summary »
Director: Gordon Douglas | Stars: Bob Hope, Anita Ekberg, Edie Adams, Lionel Jeffries
Votes: 880
The director of this movie might have gotten inspiration from Cathy Gale in The Avengers.
45. Operation Kid Brother (1967)
Not Rated | 104 min | Action, Comedy, Thriller
The civilian brother of Britain's best spy must use his skills in plastic surgery, hypnotism and lip-reading to stop a crime syndicate's bid for world domination.
Director: Alberto De Martino | Stars: Neil Connery, Daniela Bianchi, Adolfo Celi, Agata Flori
Votes: 1,563
46. Baraka sur X 13 (1966)
100 min | Adventure
A government agent tries to prevent foreign spies from obtaining a scientist's formula for a solid-rocket-fuel.
Directors: Maurice Cloche, Silvio Siano | Stars: Gérard Barray, Sylva Koscina, Agnès Spaak, José Suárez
Votes: 83
47. That Man in Istanbul (1965)
117 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
When a hostage-for-ransom exchange goes wrong, the F.B.I. sends an agent to Turkey to retrieve the ransom money and the hostage who's an important nuclear-weapon scientist.
Director: Antonio Isasi-Isasmendi | Stars: Horst Buchholz, Sylva Koscina, Ángel Picazo, Gustavo Re
Votes: 470
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