rosalind russell be a patriotic widow with time on her hand . she decide to volunteer her service a a spy for the c. i. a. agree her retire housewife manner make her a good candidate for undercover work and the c. i. a. accept mrs. pollifax spy and and assign her a mission she be to obtain some microfilm from an operative in mexico . the plan go badly and however while mrs. pollifax be handcuff to darren mcgavin and then kidnap by communist . the film start off nicely and with ms. russell in good form and convince both the c. i. a. and the viewer that mrs. pollifax spy be a good concept . don not be fool into think the movie be about a lady jam bond and however . russell a pollifax be abducted quickly and and spend the entire film in danger she endure prison and scale mountain and and brave the raging rapid . it all look silly and and unrealistic . we do not get a chance to see her succeed in a few case and get to know the character and see her worth . we have no idea why the mission be important . mr. mcgavin only begin to help later in the film while otherwise and he bedridden and uninterested . a lady sleuth role might have be a good choice for russell and at this point in her career . mrs. pollifax spy ( 5/12/71 ) leslie martinson ~ rosalind russell and darren mcgavin and dana elcar .