Ten Unforgettable Desmond Llewelyn Moments

As portrayed by the inimitable Desmond Llewelyn, Q is a treasured part of the 007 universe. Over the years, he has performed a number of roles for Bond: armourer, supplier of high-tech gadgetry, provider of valuable intel, a useful accomplice in the field and an unofficial father figure. Starting with From Russia With Love in 1963 to The World Is Not Enough in 1999, Llewelyn appeared in 17 Bond films (Q is mentioned in Live And Let Die but never appears), starring opposite five Bonds: Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and finally Pierce Brosnan. A famous technophobe, Llewelyn invested the character with charm, warmth and wit; his relationship with 007 was always a highlight of each 007 adventure. Here are ten of his greatest moments.

• THE INTRODUCTION

From Russia With Love (1963)

When actor Peter Burton proved unavailable to reprise his role as Major Boothroyd in Dr. No, Llewelyn took over the character, now known as Q. In M (Bernard Lee)’s office, Q gives Bond (Sean Connery) a run-through of a standard MI6 attaché case kitted out with a throwing-knife, anti-tampering mechanism with a magnetised tear-gas cartridge (disguised as a tin of talcum powder), fifty concealed gold sovereigns and an Armalite AR-7 Survival Rifle. A legend is born.

• THE CAR

Goldfinger (1964)

The third 007 film is the first time we see Q in his natural habitat — the laboratory. Walking past a parking meter spewing toxic gas and a test for a bulletproof raincoat, Bond enquires about the location of his beloved Bentley. On M’s orders, Q introduces him to his new ride, an “Aston Martin DB5 with modifications”; bulletproof windscreen and windows, revolving number plates (“valid in all countries”), smokescreen, oil slick, rear bulletproof screen and front wing machine guns. When Q informs Bond that the Aston Martin has an ejector seat, the secret agent suggests he must be joking. “I never joke about my work, 007.”

OUT IN THE FIELD

Thunderball (1965)

Thunderball is Q’s first foray into the field, travelling to the Bahamas to personally furnish Bond (Sean Connery) with his often life-saving apparatus: a modified Geiger Counter Wristwatch, an Underwater Camera, an Underwater Propulsion Unit, a miniaturised Flare Gun, a Radioactive Homing Pill and a miniature Rebreather, gifting 007 four extra minutes of breathing underwater.  Q arrives in a blue Hawaiian shirt dotted with pineapples — while his fashion sense might miss the mark, his gadgetry is always on point. 

• WORDS OF ADVICE

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

Q attends Bond (George Lazenby)’s wedding to Tracy di Vicenzo (Diana Rigg). He congratulates Bond on his nuptials and, rather than berating 007, offers him some rare praise by admitting, while he thought him previously irresponsible, he now has nothing to complain about — for once. Patting him on the back, Q offers some assistance that is far more meaningful than a gadget.

Q: Look, James, I know that we haven’t always exactly seen… Well, don’t forget, if there´s anything you need…”

Bond: “Thank you, but this time I have the gadgets, and I know how to use them.”

As Bond walks off into married life, Q moves to console a tearful Moneypenny (Lois Maxwell), who has caught the hat flung by a departing 007. Q observes that Bond “never had any respect for Government property.”

CASINO ROYALTY

Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

Q arrives in Las Vegas to gift 007 (Sean Connery) a Voice Algorithm Recorder for mimicking the voice of Bert Saxby (Bruce Cabot), Blofeld (Charles Gray)’s casino manager — Q reveals he had created a similar gizmo as a plaything for his children the previous Christmas. Yet the Quartermaster’s real triumph comes from using an electromagnetic RPM Controller Ring to manipulate a payout on every slot machine in a Vegas casino. Ker-ching. 

• THE BOY FROM BRAZIL

Moonraker (1979)

Operating in a Brazilian monastery in Moonraker, Q walks Bond (Roger Moore) around his workshop of gadgets that run the full gamut, from exploding bolas (“Balls, Q?” deadpans 007) to a sleeping man gun turret to a Laser rifle being tested. But Q also shows off the depths of his knowledge, informing Bond that the toxin he found in Venice comes from a rare orchid found only in the Amazon, keeping the mission on track.

HOT AIR BALLOON

Octopussy (1983)

The climax of Octopussy once again puts Q in the thick of the action. He helps Bond infiltrate Kamal Khan’s palace compound by expertly piloting a hot air balloon (decorated with a Union Jack), allowing Bond to crash through a window and give chase to Kamal. But Q isn’t finished there. He navigates the balloon into the compound where Octopussy’s (Maud Adams) all female team are fighting Kamal’s henchmen, bumping into a killer, causing him to miss his shot — an act of heroism that later sees him covered in kisses by the grateful women.

• DEEP UNDERCOVER

Licence To Kill (1989)

This represents Desmond Llewelyn’s Q’s most extensive mission in the field. 007 (Timothy Dalton) has gone rogue after having his licence to kill revoked, so Moneypenny (Caroline Bliss) insists Q go to Isthmus to support Bond. Under the pretence of being Bond’s uncle, Q arrives at the Hotel El Presidente. showing 007 a range of nifty gadgets: a plastic explosive disguised as toothpaste, a camera that assembles into a signature rifle and a Polaroid camera that unleashes a laser. 

Q spends the night in Bond’s room (“I hope you don’t snore,” quips 007) and proves invaluable assistance, driving Bond to Sanchez’s office and providing him with a detonator (disguised as a cigarette packet) to blow the glass. 

Q also goes deep undercover as a Mexican gardener at Sanchez’s drug factory, using a radio transmitter hidden in a rake to communicate to agent Pam Bouvier (Carey Lowell) Bond’s whereabouts. Job done, he casually tosses the rake away. 

CAST AWAY

GoldenEye (1995)

The GoldenEye laboratory scene showcases Q’s showmanship and ingenuity to the max. Bond (Pierce Brosnan) enters the lab and discovers Q in a wheelchair with a plaster cast. “Morning, Q. Sorry about the leg. Skiing?” asks Bond. Q fires a rocket from the cast into a wall and cheekily replies, “Hunting”. 

He introduces Bond to his new gadget-laden car, BMW Z3 (“Need I remind you 007, you have a licence to kill, not to break the traffic laws”), a rappelling cord hidden in a leather belt, an x-ray document scanner and an exploding pen that destroys a mannequin (“The writing’s on the wall,” quips Bond after a demonstration to which Q replies “Along with the rest of him”). 

Bond picks up a baguette, wondering what hidden tech it contains. “Don’t touch that,” says Q. “That’s my lunch!” 

• A FOND FAREWELL

The World Is Not Enough (1999)

At an MI6 retreat in Scotland, Q introduces Bond to his successor (John Cleese), immediately dubbed R by 007. After R briefs Bond on the BMW Z8, his incompetence at using a ski jacket inflates a sealed sphere, leaving the secret agent and quartermaster alone for the last time.

Bond: “You’re not retiring any time soon, are you?”

Q: “Now pay attention, 007. I’ve always tried to teach you two things: first, never let them see you bleed.”

Bond: “And the second?”
Q: “Always have an escape plan…”

As Q, lowered on a platform, disappears out of sight, it’s a touching goodbye to an unforgettable performer.