M - Bernard Lee

In his second screen appearance, Bernard Lee hones the role of M to perfection, with a slightly more benign attitude towards Bond than had been shown in 'Dr. No'. Amusingly, M - who disapproves of Bond's womanising - has no choice but to order 007 to bed Soviet agent Tatiana Romanova in the hope that the seduction will allow British intelligence to gain access to a Lektor decoding machine. We almost get a rare glimpse into M's personal life later in the film. The MI6 chief is surrounded by his top staff members as he plays a tape recording of Bond interrogating Tatiana, who is more interested in discussing 007's love life. When she asks Bond if he had any experiences with oriental women, he begins to relate a story about when he and M were in Tokyo. A red-faced M instantly shuts off the tape. While we don't hear the details, the very idea that he and Bond may have shared any type of sexual experience with Japanese women is too hilarious to contemplate.


Other Allies in From Russia With Love

Miss Moneypenny

Kerim Bey

Boothroyd