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{{Infobox character |
{{Infobox character |
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| − | | image = |
+ | | image = <gallery> |
| + | M (Bernard Lee) - Profile.jpg|1961 |
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| ⚫ | |||
| + | M_(Goldfinger)_-_Profile.png|1964 |
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| ⚫ | |||
| + | M_(You_Only_Live_Twice)_-_Profile.png|1967 |
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| + | M_(On_Her_Majesty's_Secret_Service).png|1969 |
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| + | M_(Diamonds_Are_Forever) - Profile.png|1971 |
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| + | M_(Live_and_Let_Die)_-_Profile.jpg|1974 |
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| + | M_(The_Man_with_the_Golden_Gun)_-_Profile.jpg|1975 |
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| + | M_(Moonraker)_-_Profile.png|1979 |
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| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| rank = Vice Admiral |
| rank = Vice Admiral |
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| − | | |
+ | | age = |
| − | | |
+ | | birth_date = --, |
| + | | birth_place = [[United Kingdom]] |
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| death_date = |
| death_date = |
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| death_place = |
| death_place = |
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| + | | hair = Gray, short |
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| eyes = Blue |
| eyes = Blue |
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| − | | |
+ | | height = 6'1" (1.85 m) |
| − | | height = 5'8 |
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| weight = 218.4 pounds |
| weight = 218.4 pounds |
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| known_relatives = |
| known_relatives = |
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| ⚫ | |||
| − | | age = |
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| ⚫ | |||
| occupation = Head of British Secret Service |
| occupation = Head of British Secret Service |
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| − | | affiliation = [[British Secret Service]],<br>British Government |
+ | | affiliation = [[Secret Intelligence Service|British Secret Service]],<br>British Government |
| status = Deceased |
| status = Deceased |
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| role = [[Ally]] |
| role = [[Ally]] |
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| − | | portrayed = [[Bernard Lee]] <small>(1962–1979)</small> |
+ | | portrayed = [[Bernard Lee]] <small>(1962–1979)</small><br>Peter Renaday <small>(video game)</small> |
| + | | first_appearance = [[Dr. No (film)]] |
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| − | | first_appearance_book = |
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| ⚫ | |||
| − | | first_appearance_film = [[Dr. No]] |
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| − | | first_appearance_other = [[From Russia with Love (video game)]] |
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| − | | last_appearance_book = |
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| − | | last_appearance_film = [[The World Is Not Enough]] <small> (picture) </small> |
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| ⚫ | |||
}} |
}} |
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| + | {{Quote|If you carry a double-O number, it means you're licensed to kill, not get killed.|M|Dr. No (film)}} |
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| − | '''Sir Miles Messervy ( |
+ | '''Sir Miles Messervy''' (known by his first initial, "'''M'''") is a fictional character in [[Ian Fleming]]'s ''James Bond'' series; the character is the Head of [[Secret Intelligence Service]]—also known as MI6. |
| − | M was played by [[Bernard Lee]] from the first Bond |
+ | M was played by [[Bernard Lee]] from the first Bond film ''[[Dr. No (film)|Dr. No]]'', until ''[[Moonraker (film)|Moonraker]]''. As in the novels, it is hinted that M's real name is Vice Admiral Sir Miles Messervy. While his name was hinted at throughout the novel series and finally revealed in ''[[The Man with the Golden Gun (novel)|The Man with the Golden Gun]]'', in the film series only his first name, Miles, was revealed (in ''[[The Spy Who Loved Me (film)|The Spy Who Loved Me]]''). Like his novel counterpart, he also has the rank of Vice Admiral and it is generally assumed that the M of the films and of Fleming's books are one and the same person. Lee portrayed M in all of the six [[Sean Connery]] films as well as [[George Lazenby]]'s film and in the first four [[Roger Moore]] films. He is succeeded by [[Robert Brown]] in 1983's ''[[Octopussy (film)|Octopussy]]''. |
==Film biography== |
==Film biography== |
||
| + | {{Under Construction}} |
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| − | |||
In ''[[Dr. No]]'', M refers to his record in reducing the number of operative casualties since taking the job, implying someone else held the job recently before him. The film also saw M refer to himself as head of MI7; Lee had originally said MI6, but was overdubbed with the name MI7 prior to the film's release. Earlier in the film, the department had been referred to as MI6 by a radio operator.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Smith |first1=Jim |last2=Lavington|first2=Stephen|title=Bond films |year=2002 |publisher=Virgin Books |location=London |isbn=978-0-7535-0709-4 |ref=harv|pages=p.11}}</ref> |
In ''[[Dr. No]]'', M refers to his record in reducing the number of operative casualties since taking the job, implying someone else held the job recently before him. The film also saw M refer to himself as head of MI7; Lee had originally said MI6, but was overdubbed with the name MI7 prior to the film's release. Earlier in the film, the department had been referred to as MI6 by a radio operator.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Smith |first1=Jim |last2=Lavington|first2=Stephen|title=Bond films |year=2002 |publisher=Virgin Books |location=London |isbn=978-0-7535-0709-4 |ref=harv|pages=p.11}}</ref> |
||
| − | On many occasions, M demonstrates his high opinion of Bond despite his occasionally problematic methods and flippant nature; when informed that Bond had witnessed the dead body of [[François Derval]] despite other witnesses seeing him boarding a plane after that time, M stated that 007's word was enough to make him consider that avenue of investigation worth exploring. |
+ | On many occasions, M demonstrates his high opinion of Bond despite his occasionally problematic methods and flippant nature; when informed that Bond had witnessed the dead body of [[François Derval (Paul Stassino)|François Derval]] despite other witnesses seeing him boarding a plane after that time, M stated that 007's word was enough to make him consider that avenue of investigation worth exploring. |
==Behind the scenes== |
==Behind the scenes== |
||
A number of Bond scholars have noted the Lee's interpretation of the character was in line with the original literary representation; Cork and Stutz observed that Lee was "very close to Fleming's version of the character",<ref>{{Cite book |last1= Cork |first1= John|last2= Stutz |first2=Collin |title=James Bond encyclopedia|year=2007 |publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]] |location=London |isbn=978-1-4053-3427-3 |ref=harv|pages=p.154}}</ref> whilst Rubin commented on the serious, efficient, no-nonsense authority figure.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Rubin|first=Steven Jay|title=The complete James Bond movie encyclopedia|year=2003|publisher=[[McGraw-Hill]]|location=New York|isbn=0-07-141246-8|ref=harv|pages=pp.227-228}}</ref> Smith and Lavington, meanwhile, remarked that Lee was "the very incarnation of Fleming's crusty admiral."<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Smith |first1=Jim |last2=Lavington|first2=Stephen|title=Bond films |year=2002 |publisher=Virgin Books |location=London |isbn=978-0-7535-0709-4 |ref=harv|pages=p.15}}</ref> |
A number of Bond scholars have noted the Lee's interpretation of the character was in line with the original literary representation; Cork and Stutz observed that Lee was "very close to Fleming's version of the character",<ref>{{Cite book |last1= Cork |first1= John|last2= Stutz |first2=Collin |title=James Bond encyclopedia|year=2007 |publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]] |location=London |isbn=978-1-4053-3427-3 |ref=harv|pages=p.154}}</ref> whilst Rubin commented on the serious, efficient, no-nonsense authority figure.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Rubin|first=Steven Jay|title=The complete James Bond movie encyclopedia|year=2003|publisher=[[McGraw-Hill]]|location=New York|isbn=0-07-141246-8|ref=harv|pages=pp.227-228}}</ref> Smith and Lavington, meanwhile, remarked that Lee was "the very incarnation of Fleming's crusty admiral."<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Smith |first1=Jim |last2=Lavington|first2=Stephen|title=Bond films |year=2002 |publisher=Virgin Books |location=London |isbn=978-0-7535-0709-4 |ref=harv|pages=p.15}}</ref> |
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| − | Lee died of cancer in January 1981, four months into the filming of ''[[For Your Eyes Only]]'' and before any of his scenes could be filmed.<ref name="Times (1981)">{{cite news|title=Obituary: Mr Bernard Lee|accessdate=4 January 2012|newspaper=[[The Times]]|date=19 January 1981|page=12}}</ref> Out of respect, no new actor was hired to assume the role and, instead, the script was re-written so that the character is said to be on leave, with his lines given to either his Chief of Staff [[Bill Tanner (James Villiers)|Bill Tanner]] or the Minister of Defence, [[Sir Fredrick Gray]].<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Pfeiffer|first1=Lee|last2=Worrall|first2=Dave|title=The essential Bond|year=1998|publisher=[[wikipedia:Macmillan Publishers|Boxtree Ltd]]|location=London|isbn=978-0-7522-2477-0|ref=harv|pages=p.98}}</ref> Later films referred to Lee's tenure as head of the service, with a painting of him as M in |
+ | Lee died of cancer in January 1981, four months into the filming of ''[[For Your Eyes Only (film)|For Your Eyes Only]]'' and before any of his scenes could be filmed.<ref name="Times (1981)">{{cite news|title=Obituary: Mr Bernard Lee|accessdate=4 January 2012|newspaper=[[The Times]]|date=19 January 1981|page=12}}</ref> Out of respect, no new actor was hired to assume the role and, instead, the script was re-written so that the character is said to be on leave, with his lines given to either his Chief of Staff [[Bill Tanner (James Villiers)|Bill Tanner]] or the Minister of Defence, [[Fredrick Gray|Sir Fredrick Gray]].<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Pfeiffer|first1=Lee|last2=Worrall|first2=Dave|title=The essential Bond|year=1998|publisher=[[wikipedia:Macmillan Publishers|Boxtree Ltd]]|location=London|isbn=978-0-7522-2477-0|ref=harv|pages=p.98}}</ref> Later films referred to Lee's tenure as head of the service, with a painting of him as M in MI6's Scottish headquarters during the 1999 installment ''[[The World Is Not Enough]]''.<ref>{{Cite book |last1= Cork |first1= John|last2= Stutz |first2=Collin |title=James Bond encyclopedia|year=2007 |publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]] |location=London |isbn=978-1-4053-3427-3 |ref=harv|pages=p.154}}</ref> |
| − | == |
+ | ==Gallery== |
| + | <gallery orientation="none" bordersize="none" bordercolor="transparent"> |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | M (You Only Live Twice) - Profile.png|M in his Rear Admiral's uniform, ''You Only Live Twice'' (1967). |
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| − | M Navy.jpg |
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| − | + | M (Bernard Lee) portrait prop (The World is Not Enough).png|Portrait prop of Bernard Lee's M, as seen in ''The World Is Not Enough'' (1999). |
|
| + | maxresdefault (12).jpg|"This is not a personal vendetta 007. It's an assignment like any other" |
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| + | 4110d155c6bbb161d1c33dae62b57fbb.png |
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| + | The-Man-with-the-Golden-Gun-M-Tanner-Colthorpe-Bernard-Lee-Michael-Goodliffe-James-Cossins.png |
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| + | M_FRWL2.png |
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| + | 450px-Drno-beretta1.jpg |
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| + | whitehall.jpg |
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| + | 4ee8ef5a22f87051acc689f236b7d0cb--george-lazenby-secret-service.jpg |
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</gallery> |
</gallery> |
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==References== |
==References== |
||
| − | {{Reflist}} |
+ | {{Reflist}}{{James Bond characters}} |
| ⚫ | |||
| − | |||
| ⚫ | |||
[[Category:Film characters]] |
[[Category:Film characters]] |
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| + | [[Category:Game characters]] |
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[[Category:Dr. No characters]] |
[[Category:Dr. No characters]] |
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[[Category:From Russia with Love characters]] |
[[Category:From Russia with Love characters]] |
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[[Category:Moonraker characters]] |
[[Category:Moonraker characters]] |
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[[Category:Allies]] |
[[Category:Allies]] |
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| − | [[Category: |
+ | [[Category:SIS Personnel]] |
| + | [[Category:Male characters]] |
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| + | [[Category:British]] |
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[[Category:James Bond, The Spy Who Loved Me characters]] |
[[Category:James Bond, The Spy Who Loved Me characters]] |
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| + | [[Category:Deceased characters]] |
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| + | [[Category:Military figures]] |
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| + | [[Category:Recurring characters]] |
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Revision as of 18:24, 8 January 2020
- "If you carry a double-O number, it means you're licensed to kill, not get killed."
- ― M
Sir Miles Messervy (known by his first initial, "M") is a fictional character in Ian Fleming's James Bond series; the character is the Head of Secret Intelligence Service—also known as MI6.
M was played by Bernard Lee from the first Bond film Dr. No, until Moonraker. As in the novels, it is hinted that M's real name is Vice Admiral Sir Miles Messervy. While his name was hinted at throughout the novel series and finally revealed in The Man with the Golden Gun, in the film series only his first name, Miles, was revealed (in The Spy Who Loved Me). Like his novel counterpart, he also has the rank of Vice Admiral and it is generally assumed that the M of the films and of Fleming's books are one and the same person. Lee portrayed M in all of the six Sean Connery films as well as George Lazenby's film and in the first four Roger Moore films. He is succeeded by Robert Brown in 1983's Octopussy.
Film biography
|
The distance between insanity & genius is measured only by success. This article or section is a work in progress. If it seems lacking, that is because it is actively being constructed and researched. |
In Dr. No, M refers to his record in reducing the number of operative casualties since taking the job, implying someone else held the job recently before him. The film also saw M refer to himself as head of MI7; Lee had originally said MI6, but was overdubbed with the name MI7 prior to the film's release. Earlier in the film, the department had been referred to as MI6 by a radio operator.[1]
On many occasions, M demonstrates his high opinion of Bond despite his occasionally problematic methods and flippant nature; when informed that Bond had witnessed the dead body of François Derval despite other witnesses seeing him boarding a plane after that time, M stated that 007's word was enough to make him consider that avenue of investigation worth exploring.
Behind the scenes
A number of Bond scholars have noted the Lee's interpretation of the character was in line with the original literary representation; Cork and Stutz observed that Lee was "very close to Fleming's version of the character",[2] whilst Rubin commented on the serious, efficient, no-nonsense authority figure.[3] Smith and Lavington, meanwhile, remarked that Lee was "the very incarnation of Fleming's crusty admiral."[4]
Lee died of cancer in January 1981, four months into the filming of For Your Eyes Only and before any of his scenes could be filmed.[5] Out of respect, no new actor was hired to assume the role and, instead, the script was re-written so that the character is said to be on leave, with his lines given to either his Chief of Staff Bill Tanner or the Minister of Defence, Sir Fredrick Gray.[6] Later films referred to Lee's tenure as head of the service, with a painting of him as M in MI6's Scottish headquarters during the 1999 installment The World Is Not Enough.[7]
Gallery
_-_Profile.png "M (You Only Live Twice) - Profile.png (1.05 MB)")
M in his Rear Admiral's uniform, You Only Live Twice (1967).
_portrait_prop_(The_World_is_Not_Enough).png "M (Bernard Lee) portrait prop (The World is Not Enough).png (2.48 MB)")
Portrait prop of Bernard Lee's M, as seen in The World Is Not Enough (1999).
.jpg "Maxresdefault (12).jpg (54 KB)")
"This is not a personal vendetta 007. It's an assignment like any other"
See also
References
- ↑ (2002) Bond films. London: Virgin Books, p.11. ISBN 978-0-7535-0709-4.
- ↑ (2007) James Bond encyclopedia. London: Dorling Kindersley, p.154. ISBN 978-1-4053-3427-3.
- ↑ Rubin, Steven Jay (2003). The complete James Bond movie encyclopedia. New York: McGraw-Hill, pp.227-228. ISBN 0-07-141246-8.
- ↑ (2002) Bond films. London: Virgin Books, p.15. ISBN 978-0-7535-0709-4.
- ↑ "Obituary: Mr Bernard Lee", 19 January 1981, p. 12. Retrieved on 4 January 2012.
- ↑ (1998) The essential Bond. London: Boxtree Ltd, p.98. ISBN 978-0-7522-2477-0.
- ↑ (2007) James Bond encyclopedia. London: Dorling Kindersley, p.154. ISBN 978-1-4053-3427-3.