The Last of the Blonde Bombshells

The Last of the Blonde Bombshells is a 2000 British/American television movie directed by Gillies MacKinnon. The script by Alan Plater focuses on the efforts of a recently widowed woman to reunite the members of the World War II-era swing band with which she played saxophone.

It features Carry On actress Joan Sims in her final acting performance before her death in 2001.

The film was a joint project of BBC Films and HBO. It premiered in the US on August 26 and in the UK on September 3.

Plot synopsis

After her husband's death, Elizabeth decides to return to her musical roots and begins busking with young guitarist Paul in a plaza overlooking a London ice rink, much to the dismay of her daughter Patricia and son Edward. One day she is spotted by Patrick, who attempted to avoid enlistment during World War II by dressing as a woman and playing drums with the Blonde Bombshells, a supposedly all-female band with which Elizabeth performed when she was only fifteen years old.

The two reminisce, prompting them to begin searching for other band members for a reunion concert at a school dance organized by Elizabeth's granddaughter Joanna. At first they have little success - one has died, another is suffering from dementia, a third is serving time - but eventually they locate piano player Betty working in a seaside saloon, singer Gwen performing in a nightclub, trombonist Annie dedicated to the Salvation Army, and trumpeter Dinah, an alcoholic living in a secluded manor in...
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