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M's Office

PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
in Bond Movies Posts: 3,675
If anyone is interested, I have screen captures (some of low quality) of M's office from Dr. No to Skyfall. We could discuss differences from film to film.
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  • QBranchQBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
    edited August 2014 Posts: 14,585
    Great idea. This will be interesting to discuss, especially since I started work on a 3D interior of M's office a while back, and analyzed all the different offices throughout the series, as well as Q's workshop.
  • dragonskydragonsky
    Posts: 2,491
    Post them :)
  • Agent007391Agent007391 Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start
    Posts: 7,854
    Were there big changes not related to when a new actor took over? I seem to remember Brown's office looking the same as Lee's.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,281
    Yes, I'd be very interested in seeing those images of M's office and how it changes from film to film throughout the Bond film series. I say go ahead and post them here in this thread, @PropertyOfALady so we can get the discussion rolling. :)
  • Pierce2DanielPierce2Daniel
    edited August 2014 Posts: 4,409
    The office had minor changes throughout the years. Sometimes the changes were very slight and of course post-1989 the changes to M's office have become more obvious.

    One point I'd like to make is M's office in OHMSS: The set is much larger but also more interestingly Peter Hunt and cinematographer Michael Reed really found new and interesting ways to photograph a pretty familiar set. Having established the style of the Bond films, Young and Hamilton didn't really do anything too new or exciting when filming those scenes but Hunt really found new angles to make the set look more interesting.

    For instance, take this scene:
    http://screenmusings.org/movie/blu-ray/On-Her-Majestys-Secret-Service/images/On-Her-Majestys-Secret-Service-1030.jpg
    It comes late in the film and M's office feels bigger and there's a sense of gloom and hopelessness in the room.

    The office set became a little banal during the 80's as did pretty much the whole 'style' of the Bond pictures during that period.
  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    Dr. No
    http://imgur.com/a/UuvQM#0

    From Russia With Love
    http://imgur.com/a/fBGxe#0

    Goldfinger
    http://imgur.com/a/Eol0X#0

    Thunderball
    http://imgur.com/a/VDjSv#0

    You Only Live Twice
    http://imgur.com/a/PZnPe#0

    On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    http://imgur.com/a/1oz83#0

    In Live and Let Die the briefing took place at Bond's house as well as Diamonds are Forever, where it was somewhere else. (Correct me if I'm wrong)

    The Man with the Golden Gun
    http://imgur.com/a/7JgI8#0

    The Spy Who Loved Me
    http://imgur.com/a/iKke6#0

    Moonraker
    http://imgur.com/a/RGDJt#0

    For Your Eyes Only
    http://imgur.com/a/WEq1J#0

    Octopussy
    http://imgur.com/a/rFYjy#0

    A View to a Kill
    http://imgur.com/a/IhOUU#0

    The Living Daylights
    http://imgur.com/a/ywAu4#0

    Licence to Kill
    http://imgur.com/a/0PqPz#0

    Goldeneye
    http://imgur.com/a/f8aFz#0

    In Tomorrow Never Dies the brief took place in M's limo. (Again, correct me if I'm wrong).

    The World is Not Enough
    http://imgur.com/a/CVO73#0

    Die Another Day
    http://imgur.com/a/OUTmk#0

    Casino Royale
    http://imgur.com/a/WX9IA#0

    Quantum of Solace
    http://imgur.com/a/IwuNw#0

    Skyfall
    http://imgur.com/a/DeZ7F#0

    Let the analysis begin!
  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    Dr. No to From Russia with Love used fake doors and paneling, but when the series made money, they used real materials.
  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    Is this thread dead?
  • QBranchQBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
    Posts: 14,585
    No, I'm actually half way through an analysis of part of M's office, but have had other things to take care of. I'll post it up soon ;)
  • SoundofthesinnersSoundofthesinners
    Posts: 3,236
    PropertyOfALady wrote: »
    Is this thread dead?

    "I'm not dead yet!" "Shut up, you'll be stone dead in a minute." "I'm getting better!"

    Anyway, it's cool seeing the subtle changes that they made to M's office, especially during the Connery movies. It definitely takes a big step up in fanciness between FRWL and GF.
  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    @QBranch How's the analysis going?
  • Pierce2DanielPierce2Daniel
    Posts: 4,409
    The first big re-design came in OHMSS. The set seems much larger than any of the Connery films. Also the photography during the Connery films was very same-y, in OHMSS it's clear that Hunt wanted to find some new angles to film the more familiar sets in.

    The set also appeared slightly more lavish in MR but appeared slightly more tamed down in FYEO. There are a lot of new angles used during AVTAK and also some new green leather chairs.

    What's interesting with Judi Dench's office redesign in GE is how they decided to stay as true to the old office set but give it a modern flavour. There are a lot of the old trappings but it has a different more sleeker feel. QOS was the first time there was a major redesign of the office. I like it, I know many have criticised it for being too futuristic but in the context of the film it works well as the modern efficient nature of the office is a sharp contrast to the gritty field work Bond is doing in Haiti.
  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    What is with the office in LTK? It looks very set-like. Almost as if they said "Oh, dear. We're out of money. Well, we'll give it our best shot to get it close... good enough."
  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    @QBranch Where are you on this? I'd be curious to read your full analysis.
  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    I shall not confirm nor deny the closure of this thread.
  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    In between DN and FRWL the picture on the wall next to the door on the right side changes.
  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    Who are the famous people in M's office? The paintings of generals and such.
  • barryt007barryt007
    Posts: 19,339
    PropertyOfALady wrote: »
    Who are the famous people in M's office? The paintings of generals and such.

    Which films are you referring to,matey ?

  • QBranchQBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
    Posts: 14,585
    My apologies for not following up on this from a few years back. I'll make it up you, @POAL. What I can tell you off the top of my head about M's office is that we can see his matchbox on his desk in a lot of the films. They are Bryant & May 'Swan Vesta' matches, and the designs change throughout the films. You can spot them in every Bond film from the 60's, TMWTGG, MR and TLD. (Perhaps there are more to be seen?)

    In DN, the box is light brown without a price on the cover. For the films FRWL/GF/TB/YOLT/OHMSS/TMWTGG, we see the more common box which is yellow. Additionally, Sir Hilary Bray can be seen with a box of these during his meeting with Bond.

    The box seen most in the films looks like this:

    93f35e1c-d3ff-11e2-8ed0-a3bdf9c2c7f9.jpg

    In MR, we see a different, newer design with a script-style font on the top and side:

    f96d35da8ba471eeee8a063c4b6fe7fa--matchbox-art-match-boxes.jpg

    In TLD, we see Robert Brown's M with an even newer design box. It is standing on its end with a few matches propping the tray open. You can spot it when M gives Bond the Pushkin file:

    97d98e8b.JPG

    You can pick them up cheap on ebay, I have half a dozen of these boxes including the MR one. One box even has some matches left inside.

    While we're mentioning MR and paintings, the one seen on the wall which Bond shoots the wrist dart into is of King William III at the Battle of Boyne 1690, by Jan Wyck:

    jan-wyck-portrait-of-king-william-iii-at-the-battle-of-the-boyne-in-1690_a-l-7680453-8880742.jpg?w=550&h=550
  • barryt007barryt007
    edited December 2017 Posts: 19,339
    My dad used Swan Vesta matches when he used to smoke,many years ago,so I have seen plenty of those boxes in my time,especially the MR one !
  • QBranchQBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
    edited December 2017 Posts: 14,585
    That's cool, Barry. Did you see them before you became a Bond fan?

    Since Mallory has the office of old, it would be an awesome nod to previous M's if we saw one on his desk. It doesn't have to be front and centre, maybe partially peeping out from under a file.
  • barryt007barryt007
    edited December 2017 Posts: 19,339
    QBranch wrote: »
    That's cool, Barry. Did you see them before you became a Bond fan?

    Mallory has the office of old, it would be an awesome nod to previous M's if we saw one on his desk. It doesn't have to be front and centre, maybe partially peeping out from under a file.

    Yep..he had them around since I remember,when I was about 5,in 1975.
    They were the ones everyone 'had to have',very popular.
    Good matches though tbh,always one strike and they lit up first time.

    Seeing them in Mallory's office would be brilliant,a nod to the real Bond fans .

  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    Right. Some new, high-quality screencaps:

    https://imgur.com/a/T82L7
    https://imgur.com/a/0NeX9
    https://imgur.com/a/TQbfu
    https://imgur.com/a/GD1Oo
    https://imgur.com/a/isHeb
    https://imgur.com/a/fMhVZ
    https://imgur.com/a/N6CET
    https://imgur.com/a/LwdpE
    https://imgur.com/a/A1vAA
    https://imgur.com/a/t9WF2
    https://imgur.com/a/W9VTc
    https://imgur.com/a/Yf5NC
    https://imgur.com/a/gIBF6
    https://imgur.com/a/rBlFc
    https://imgur.com/a/shSb3
    https://imgur.com/a/OrUEs
    https://imgur.com/a/qxMl1
    https://imgur.com/a/h62ix
    https://imgur.com/a/UWgAA
    https://imgur.com/a/rlWcS
    https://imgur.com/a/6dthe

  • ggl007ggl007 www.archivo007.com Spain, España
    Posts: 2,541
    One from OHMSS and another from TMWTGG

    https://i.imgur.com/LVIk5mJ.jpg

    https://i.imgur.com/ey3zVzy.jpg

    The question is: Who is the man in red in the picture on the chimney?
  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    Yes I wonder that too. Like the man on the wall beside M's door in Dr No.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,281
    Nice to see this thread's still going. I was an early supporter.
  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    Unfortunately it's rather difficult to ascertain who anyone in here is.
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 13,807
    QBranch wrote: »
    What I can tell you off the top of my head about M's office is that we can see his matchbox on his desk in a lot of the films. They are Bryant & May 'Swan Vesta' matches, and the designs change throughout the films. You can spot them in every Bond film from the 60's, TMWTGG, MR and TLD. (Perhaps there are more to be seen?)

    In DN, the box is light brown without a price on the cover. For the films FRWL/GF/TB/YOLT/OHMSS/TMWTGG, we see the more common box which is yellow. Additionally, Sir Hilary Bray can be seen with a box of these during his meeting with Bond.
    That's an awesome item, I want to add it to the Birding Bond discussion, @QBranch, with credit to you.
    You can pick them up cheap on ebay, I have half a dozen of these boxes including the MR one. One box even has some matches left inside.]
    I actually will, thanks. To be displayed with random items from the films like casino chips, a Parker pen, GoldenEye key, a dove pin, Penfold hearts golf ball, etc.
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 13,807
    For the modern M's office (Dench or Fiennes) surely they could fit in a griffon. And some eagles.

    Brass is ideal. Gold, also okay.
    depositphotos_87571424-stock-illustration-silhouette-mycology-gryphon.jpg
  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    Like this guy to Bond's right:

    mjUZNT6_d.jpg?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium
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