Come back, Mrs. Whistler (slight spoilers)

Most of the good things in this lower tier Bond film happen early on. High on the not so good list are the duo playing Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd, very poor actors who make atrociously unfunny material even worse. Jimmy Dean has a nothing part and certainly does nothing good with it. Pretty faces and good figures are the minimum requirements for Bond girls. The best of them add style, grace and wit. The worst gum up their assignments with amateurish acting. Jill St. John and Lana Wood definitely fit in group 2.
As for the good stuff, well Lois Maxwell's Moneypenny moments are always rewarding. And her appearance here is brief, breezy and charmingly played. But my favorite character in the whole thing is Mrs. Whistler (played by Margaret Lacey). She's the sweet, slightly dotty old teacher who turns out to be a benign little diamond smuggler. Love the sweet rapport she obviously shares with her students while imparting words on the efficacy of umbrellas "lest it rain". The performance puts me in mind of Katie Johnson in "The Ladykillers". Was looking forward to enjoying more of Mrs. Whistler's quaint doings throughout the film. Goodness knows the movie could have used some of that droll Ealing style charm. But quick as a flash she was gone. Permanently. What a shame. I missed her for the rest of the picture.