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 movie, Dr. No, until Moonraker (1979). 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 movie 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.
Film biography
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 instalment The World Is Not Enough.[7]
Images
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.