20 Things You Didn't Know About SPECTRE (2015)

19. I Know Where You Keep Your Gun

Spectre Drill Torture
MGM/Columbia Pictures

Although the unhealthy rivalry between James Bond and Ernst Stavro Blofeld takes centre stage in SPECTRE, the organisation’s plan is to encourage nine countries to sign up to “Nine Eyes”, a seemingly legitimate surveillance programme run by SPECTRE agent, Max Denbigh (Andrew Scott), who is dubbed “C” by Double-0 Seven. SPECTRE will have access to the information gathered by the world’s intelligence agencies to use for its own nefarious purposes.

Double-0 Seven discovers C's true allegiances and communicates this to M and Q, who break into C’s Centre for National Security (CNS) in London. Q shuts Nine Eyes down before it can go live, whilst M confronts the gun-toting C, who taunts Gareth Mallory that his code name must stand for “moron”; however, when C pulls the trigger, the firing pin lands on an empty chamber. M reveals that he emptied C’s gun, victoriously announcing “And now we know what C stands for: careless”.

This is a nod to Daniel Craig’s introduction as James Bond in Casino Royale (2006), in which MI6 double agent, Dryden (Malcolm Sinclair) attempts to shoot him, only to discover that Bond has already emptied his gun.

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I started writing for WhatCulture in July 2020. I have always enjoyed reading and writing. I have contributed to several short story competitions and I have occasionally been fortunate enough to have my work published. During the COVID-19 lockdown, I also started reviewing films on my Facebook page. Numerous friends and contacts suggested that I should start my own website for reviewing films, but I wanted something a bit more diverse - and so here I am! My interests focus on film and television mainly, but I also occasionally produce articles that venture into other areas as well. In particular, I am a fan of the under appreciated sequel (of which there are many), but I also like the classics and the mainstream too.