Wonder Woman (1974)

Interesting facts

Wonder Woman is a 1974 American made-for-television superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name, directed by Vincent McEveety and starring Cathy Lee Crosby. The film was a pilot for an intended television series being considered by ABC. The film presented the character as a James Bond–style superspy, and did not contain many elements from the comic book series. Ratings were described as "respectable but not exactly wondrous," and ABC did not pick up the pilot.

Background

The film, Wonder Woman's first appearance in live-action television, was made in 1974 for ABC. Written by John D. F. Black, the TV movie resembles the Wonder Woman of the "I Ching" period. Wonder Woman (Cathy Lee Crosby) does not wear the comic book uniform, demonstrates no apparent superhuman powers, and is depicted as blonde (differing from the black hair established in the comic books).

The pilot aired originally on March 12, 1974. and was repeated on August 21 of that year. Ratings were described as "respectable but not exactly wondrous". ABC did not pick up the pilot, although Crosby would later claim she was offered the series that was eventually given to Lynda Carter. An ABC spokesperson would later acknowledge that the decision to update the character was a mistake.

Warner Bros. released this pilot into syndication as a stand-alone 90-minute telefilm, where it played on independent TV stations throughout the 1970s and 1980s. In December 2012, Warner Brothers made the Cathy Lee Crosby pilot available as a Video On Demand purchase through their online store.

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