Lois Maxwell was a marvelous presence playing M's secretary Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond movies. She holds the record for the most appearances in the series, beating out every Bond, all the M's, Q, and the seven guys who played Felix Leiter - her record stands at fourteen 007 movies. I don't think that record will ever be broken.
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| Lois Maxwell and Sean Connery in the first 007 movie - Dr. No (1962). |
She and Roger Moore attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts together, and I always felt she had a special chemistry with him, though she and Sean Connery had some fine moments as well. She also helped George Lazenby in their only film together, and he got the sauciest moment with her, giving her a discreet tush squeeze just below camera (his hand movement is unmistakable as it moves down there.)
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| Lois Maxwell and the boys - Roger Moore, Desmond Llewelyn, and Patrick Macnee - in her final 007 film - A View to a Kill (1985). |
Miss Moneypenny has since been played by four other women - and they're mostly all awesome - three of them, anyway - but no one compares with Lois Maxwell!
Until next post, you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!
Oh, I love Miss Moneypenny. I always hoped that James would settle down with her. The "girl-next-door" and all that.
ReplyDeleteI'm a great fan of the character too. Those scenes are always fun - except for The Man with the Golden Gun - which is weak in so many ways - and features the least fun Bond/Moneypenny scene.
DeleteThis is a great series of posts Craig. Lois Maxwell was also in this weird little Canadian film called The Blue Man from 1985. It was released on VHS (and maybe laser ?) under a bunch of different titles - I have it on an old ex-rental tape under the title Eternal Evil. It's a pretty cool film and kind of unsettling.
ReplyDeleteThanks for saying so, Dick! I had no idea she was in that movie - which I think is in the video vault on VHS as Eternal Evil - now I really want to see it - a horror movie she was in the same year she did her last bit as Miss Moneypenny? I'm all about seeing that now!
DeleteLove love love Miss Moneypenny.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the A to Z Challenge!
A to Z Co-Host S. L. Hennessy
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DeleteShe is the quintessential Moneypenny, and no matter what she was probably the best thing ( next to M) that Bond had. I do think they had a deep caring for each other but because of Bond’s job he was afraid that if something were to happen to him ( he’s been shot at more than 4,000 times ) that it would really break Moneypenny. Her, and Connery has the best repartee.
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by and commenting - I cannot disagree with you.
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