Lois Maxwell, the Canadian-born actress who passed away on
September 29, made an indelible impression throughout the 007 film series in
her signature role as Miss Moneypenny, personal secretary to “M.†Ian Fleming
himself approved her casting, confiding to her after filming wrapped on Dr.
No: “I envisioned a tall, elegant woman with the most kissable lips in the
world. You are her!â€
Moneypenny never applied those passionate lips to James
Bond’s, yet she held his affections longer than any of his innumerable screen
conquests. Maxwell sat in Moneypenny’s chair in 14 Bond films, sparking against
the disparate charms of Sean Connery, George Lazenby and Roger Moore. She made
the most of her limited screen time, exhibiting sophisticated comic flair in
ongoing racy repartee with the world’s most libidinous secret agent.
With Connery, Maxwell enjoyed a palpable sexual rapport,
especially in the first several films. There was an intriguing sense that,
given the right circumstances, they just might give in to their mutual
attraction. In Dr. No, Bond sits on the edge of her chair and seductively
nuzzles her while holding her hand. And why not? She’s wearing a fetching
sleeveless black dress that’s just begging to be ripped off. From Russia
With Love finds them in another near-embrace, with Bond whispering, “Let me
tell you the secret of the world†and Moneypenny about to come undone when M’s
buzzer breaks their reverie. As Bond leaves for his assignment, he and
Moneypenny exchange “ciaos†with the intimacy of would-be lovers.
There was a similar level of sexual expectancy to their
banter in Goldfinger, but in Thunderball and You Only Live
Twice, Moneypenny adopted a more detached and ironic attitude towards Mr.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. By that time he had already bedded Sylvia Trench, Honey
Ryder, Miss Taro, Tatiana Romanova, gypsy girls Vida and Zora
(simultaneously!), Dink, Jill Masterson, Pussy Galore and Q knows whom else. It
must finally have dawned on Moneypenny that Bond was never going to succumb to
her charms.
Nevertheless, Moneypenny’s torch was still burning when
Lazenby stepped into the role. The latter was equally as flirtatious as Connery
had been, even going so far as to pinch Moneypenny’s pert behind. M’s secretary
also performs her most significant narrative function in this film. After Bond
writes a letter of resignation, she alters it into a request for leave, much to
the eventual relief of both 007 and, especially, her boss: “What would I do
without you, Miss Moneypenny?†Following Bond’s wedding to Tracy Di Vicenzo in
the penultimate scene, he and Moneypenny exchange a poignant glance that seems
to sum up the entirety of their relationship. It’s fitting that Maxwell’s most
fully rounded and realized Moneypenny performance occurs in what is arguably
the series’ finest film.
During the Moore
era, Moneypenny seemed increasingly resigned to Bond’s never-ending sexcapades.
She even somewhat bizarrely helped him conceal from M a frowned-upon amour with
a French secret agent in Live and Let Die. There was also a realization
that both Moneypenny and Bond were growing older, which gave a wishful rather
than lustful overlay to their badinage. As the 1970s progressed, one could
detect in Moneypenny an occasional note of matronly disapproval toward the
increasingly uncomfortable pairings of the blatantly 50ish Bond with nubiles
half his age. By the time of A View to a Kill, the magical rapport
between Moneypenny and 007 had long since vanished, mirroring the films’
equally obvious loss of potency.
There are many other intriguing Moneypenny subtexts
awaiting exploration. One wonders, for example, just how she would have reacted
had Bond actually made a serious pass at her. Would she have surrendered
herself with the unreserved ardor of Domino, Aki, Tiffany and all the others?
Or would she have playfully slapped his face and said something along the lines
of “Sorry, James, not for your eyes only.â€
And what of her relationship to M? The latter always
seemed unduly jealous of Bond’s attentions to his secretary, and never
squandered an opportunity to interrupt their flirtations. M’s discomfiture in
front of Miss Moneypenny while listening to the steamy tape recording of Bond
and Tatiana’s lovemaking in From Russia With Love — not to mention M’s
rapt attention to said tape recording once Moneypenny retires to her office and
her surreptitious eavesdropping wherefrom — also bear investigation. But such
considerations take a back seat to the many priceless exchanges between the
steadfast, sex-starved secretary and the licensed to thrill skirt chaser. Here
are a few of the most memorable:
Dr. No: Asked by 007 what gives: “Me, given an
ounce of encouragement.â€
Goldfinger: “What do you know about gold,
Moneypenny?†“Oh, the only gold I know about is the kind you wear. You know, on
the finger of your left hand.â€
You Only Live Twice: Giving 007 a secret code: “I
love you. Repeat it, please, to make sure you get it.â€
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service: Asked by 007 what
he would do without her: “My problem is, you never do anything with me.â€
The Man with the Golden Gun: When 007 tells her she’s
better than a computer: “In all sorts of ways, but you never take advantage of
them.â€