"Q" and "R"

"Q" (Major Boothroyd) and "R"
"Q" in the Novels In Ian Fleming’s first Bond novel, 1953’s "Casino Royale", he wrote that Bond carried a .25 calibre Beretta pistol, fitted with a skeleton stock, which he carried in a "Berns and Martin" holster. After the novel was released, a certain Major Geoffrey Boothroyd, a retired Army officer and member of Aberdeen Full Bore Gun Club, wrote to Fleming and suggested that an agent of Bond’s calibre (excuse the pun) should instead carry a 7.65 mm Walther PPK. According to legend, the author then used Boothroyd as his adviser on ordnance-related matters. In 1958’s "Dr. No", Fleming incorporated the "Armourer" as a character, and named him "Boothroyd". Whether the tale is true, or not, is difficult to prove – Major Boothroyd is alive and apparently living out his retirement somewhere in Scotland, but no-one knows precisely where and he is certainly not making his whereabouts known either.

	Desmond Llewelyn	John Cleese	Peter Burton
	Click here for the page about Desmond Llewelyn	Click here for the page about John Cleese
One of the most enduring theories concerning the origins of "Q", is that the character of "Boothroyd" was then developed by Fleming into the character "Q". In the Army, the abbreviation "Q" stands for "Quartermaster" – the person in charge of issuing equipment – not weaponry - which certainly applies to the film version of "Q". Indeed, he was referred to as being the "Equipment Officer" in the film of "From Russia With Love", his first appearance. That said, if Fleming were not allowed any artistic licence, then "M" would be referred to as "C" – the traditional title for the head of the Secret Service. However, in "Casino Royale", Fleming does refer to "Q", although this is probably a department - "Q Section" - rather than a person, a reference which is reiterated in his second novel, "Live and Let Die" and on several occasions through the subsequent books. "Q section supplied Bond with his gadgets. The character of "Boothroyd" appeared in his sixth novel ("Dr. No", which of course would be the first made into a film). "Boothroyd" therefore appears in that film and is credited on "From Russia With Love" (which was Fleming's fifth novel). On Desmond Llewelyn's second appearance, in "Goldfinger", (book number 7), he is referred to as "Q". In short - the film adaptations converted "Boothroyd" into "Q", rather than Fleming. This was probably as the films were made in a different order to the original release sequence of the books and continuity would have undoubtedly gone astray as a consequence !
"Q" in the Films
The original "Boothroyd", who appeared in 1962's "Dr. No", was played by Peter Burton. The film was a generally accurate adaptation of Fleming's novel and he therefore appears to relieve Bond of his ageing Beretta pistol and furnish him with a new Walther PPK. He was unable to return for the following film, so the role was recast and won by Desmond Llewelyn. "Boothroyd" hands Bond his trick-filled attaché case prior to leaving for his mission. As mentioned before, he is referred to on screen as the "Equipment Officer". His appearance is brief, but the scene carried comedy and must have struck a chord with the production crew, because when Llewelyn returned for "Goldfinger", the character had been developed and his role became more important. In addition, he was no longer referred to in the end credits as "Boothroyd", but as "Q" - and referred to by this name in the dialogue. In many ways, for die-hard traditionalists of the films, this was perhaps "Q"s finest hour, as he hands Bond the ultimate gadget - the Aston Martin DB5. Revolving number plates, ejector seats, oil slicks behind the tail lamps, tyre slashers, machine guns behind the indicators, pop-up bullet-proof rear screen, the car must have taken years of "Q" section development time. We see for the first time the irritation with which "Q" views 007, because he knows that he will abuse any such device, over which he has lavished such care and attention. This relationship would remain constant throughout the series, with the exception of "Live and Let Die", in which "Q" did not appear. However, it is obvious that aside from his professional opinion, "Q" does have a soft spot for Bond. In 1969's "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", "Q" calls the newly-married Bond by his Christian name and extends his very best wishes to the couple. By 1989, when Bond resigns from the service to avenge the murder of "Della Leiter" and the brutal mutilation of his old friend "Felix", "Q" requests some leave and flies to Isthmus City to help Bond - such dedication from an operative who hated working "in the field". W know little about "Q" other than his relationship with "007". However, we learn in "Diamonds Are Forever" that he has children, whom he amuses with gadgets that he builds for them. Because Llewelyn was inextricably linked with the character of "Q", and so little description was included in Fleming's original novels, he was allowed free reign to develop "Q"s background using his own ideas. Despite "Q" having the appearance of a laboratory-bound boffin, he was very athletic as a younger man. He played rugby and cricket, and was also a keen oarsman whilst at school at Radley (the school of which Llewelyn was an Old Boy). He subsequently went up to Trinity College, Cambridge and after graduating, he lived in Gwent, Wales. He continued playing cricket, this time for none other than the MCC, and played rugby for Newport, before he was recruited by the Secret Service. He was an honorary member of the Fire Brigade College at Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire. To add plausibility to his ideas, Llewelyn wore the appropriate club ties in the various Bond films in which he appeared. Unlike "M", "Q" regularly goes abroad, although it is normally in his capacity of Equipment Officer for Bond. Sometimes, he has occasion to operate undercover. In "Tomorrow Never Dies" he makes contact with Bond, posing as an AVIS Hire Rental agent, under the alias of "Quentin Quigley". Whereas Bond himself has been remodelled over the years, as has "M" and "Moneypenny", Llewelyn remained unchanged over almost forty years. As a result, by the 1990's, he was increasingly often suggesting that he should have an assistant, but it was not until 1999's "The World Is Not Enough" that he finally arrived, in the guise of John Cleese as "R". Almost fifty years since Fleming's original novels, we now see a "name" which owes everything to artistic licence (in this case, more humour) and nothing to Bond's creator.
"R" in the Films It seems slightly premature to be writing about "R" as being a recurring character in the series, although we do know at least that Cleese is signed up for Bond 20, due in 2002. As "Q" was such a well loved character, and the relationship between he and Bond worked so well, it seems highly implausible that the producers would choose not to have a replacement. That said, "Q" and Desmond Llewelyn are one and the same in the eyes of the audience, so the name "R" is likely to stay. Our first glimpse of "R" when he is introduced to Bond - his future nemesis - by "Q", is that he is a slightly clumsy man, possibly more of a boffin that his predecessor. He has already been fully briefed by "Q" about the total disregard that Bond has for his inventions and seems ready to counter any quip from 007 that may come his way. Given Cleese's obvious comic genius, it seems likely that the character will develop in this way, but it remains to be seen what the future holds in store. The world of Bond is undoubtedly a poorer place without "Q".