M

jaherpy

When Bond is talking to M in her apartment in the beginning of the film, he makes a reference to her name "I had no idea M stood for..." Does anyone know what it stands for? Or is this supposed to remain unknown?

Hardyboy

In his Bond novels, Raymond Benson gives M the name of Barbara Mawdsley. That COULD be the name Bond discovers in CR; otherwise, I think it's supposed to be unknown to us all.

DEFIANT 74205

M in Ian Fleming's novels stands for Sir Miles Messervy. However, I don't believe the full name of any M in Bond films has ever been revealed.

emtiem

DEFIANT 74205 wrote:

M in Ian Fleming's novels stands for Sir Miles Messervy. However, I don't believe the full name of any M in Bond films has ever been revealed.

I think M's called Miles by Gogol in one of the films- Spy Who Loved Me? I think that's right. So it's a fair assumption that he's Miles Messervy in the films too.
And obviously there's the theory that Robert Brown's M could be Admiral Hargreaves- the character he played in Spy Who Loved Me!

Otherwise Dench's M could be anybody: Barbara Mawdsley's as good a name as any. I suppose she could even have played two different Ms so far- the one in CR does seem a bit different in character (and dress sense!).
I like to think that whatever the M stands for is simply a very embarrassing name that she doesn't want Bond to say, not for any reason of national security, but because she hates hearing it! Maureen, perhaps? Mildred Mold?

Mailfist

emtiem wrote:

DEFIANT 74205 wrote:

M in Ian Fleming's novels stands for Sir Miles Messervy. However, I don't believe the full name of any M in Bond films has ever been revealed.

I think M's called Miles by Gogol in one of the films- Spy Who Loved Me? I think that's right. So it's a fair assumption that he's Miles Messervy in the films too.
And obviously there's the theory that Robert Brown's M could be Admiral Hargreaves- the character he played in Spy Who Loved Me!

Otherwise Dench's M could be anybody: Barbara Mawdsley's as good a name as any. I suppose she could even have played two different Ms so far- the one in CR does seem a bit different in character (and dress sense!).
I like to think that whatever the M stands for is simply a very embarrassing name that she doesn't want Bond to say, not for any reason of national security, but because she hates hearing it! Maureen, perhaps? Mildred Mold?

I had always supposed that the M character played by Bernard Lee and Robert Brown were the same person, in the same way as Bond is the same person played by 6 different actors.

y

emtiem

Yup; that probably makes more sense- I'm inclined to agree with you. Some people think he's Hargreaves, and there's nothing onscreen which disagrees with that. Not sure how likely it is you'd have two Admirals in a row in charge of MI6 (and who like the same paintings in their office!) but I wouldn't argue with anyone who thinks he's Hargreaves.

DEFIANT 74205

emtiem wrote:

Not sure how likely it is you'd have two Admirals in a row in charge of MI6

Not that unlikely, actually. When a military officer is appointed to a certain position, he or she is generally automatically promoted to the rank commensurate with that position. So for instance, if an officer of the rank of Captain/Colonel/Group Captain, has been appointed head of, say, MI6, he/she will be promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral/Major General/Air Vice Marshal.

emtiem

That is quite interesting, but I do get the feeling that serving in the armed forces isn't a standard move for one who will be involved in the security services.

Asp9mm

Forty or fifty years ago it would have been perfectly normal, definately not now. You would have to have been a career spook in the organization for some time or at least have very very great input, contact and liaison from the Home or Foreign office.