20 Things You Didn’t Know About Goldfinger (1964)
4. “My Name Is Pussy Galore.” “I Must Be Dreaming!”
Executives at United Artists were extremely worried by the name "Pussy Galore" and tried to change it to "Kitty Galore", even though it had featured in Ian Fleming's 1959 novel.
Regarding the controversy surrounding the name as good publicity, Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman insisted on retaining it, even having Eon Productions’ publicist, Tim Carlile leak it to the press early in the film's production. However, they agreed to remove the name from key merchandise promoting the film (despite Guy Hamilton expressing that a ten-year-old boy who understood its meaning was not a ten-year-old boy).
The filmmakers were also determined to secure Honor Blackman for the role, even writing her ability to perform judo [acquired from her role as Dr. Cathy Gale on The Avengers (1961-1969)] into the script.
Blackman had good fun promoting the film in North America, openly saying "Pussy" or "Pussy Galore" when embarrassed journalists desperately tried to avoid saying her character's name. She also wore a bejewelled gold finger to the film’s British premiere, where she was nearly mobbed by the crowds succumbing to "Bondmania".