Thoughts on Robert Brown as M?
heartbroken_mr_drax
New Zealand Posts: 2,073MI6 Agent
I had a look for threads based on this, but couldn't find one, so sorry if it is a repeat 
What does everything think of Robert Brown as M? He only did four films, and each of them, IMO are quite different performances. Bernard Lee and Judi Dench are more consistent.
I find that in OP and AVTAK that he's decent. He just gets on with the job and seems happy enough with Bond. I really enjoy his performance at Ascot - in particular his delivery of "Mayday".
I find that TLD and LTK that he goes off the boil a bit. His character becomes whiney in TLD and in LTK, he's just a dick to Bond really.
Everyone else?
What does everything think of Robert Brown as M? He only did four films, and each of them, IMO are quite different performances. Bernard Lee and Judi Dench are more consistent.
I find that in OP and AVTAK that he's decent. He just gets on with the job and seems happy enough with Bond. I really enjoy his performance at Ascot - in particular his delivery of "Mayday".
I find that TLD and LTK that he goes off the boil a bit. His character becomes whiney in TLD and in LTK, he's just a dick to Bond really.
Everyone else?
1. TWINE 2. FYEO 3. MR 4. TLD 5. TSWLM 6. OHMSS 7. DN 8. OP 9. AVTAK 10. TMWTGG 11. QoS 12. GE 13. CR 14. TB 15. FRWL 16. TND 17. LTK 18. GF 19. SF 20. LaLD 21. YOLT 22. NTTD 23. DAD 24. DAF. 25. SP
"Better make that two."
"Better make that two."
Comments
1. Bernard Lee
2. Ralph Fiennes
3. Robert Brown
4. Judi Dench
They are all fantastic M's though and play the part well
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
again they didn't give him much to do.
How is Bond supposed to go rogue? .... And later, Q was sent to assist Bond unofficially too. Q would not have brought the equipment to Bond w/o M's support
I think he's only a dick when he says to the guy not to shoot Bond because "there are too many people" - I never liked that line
That could be his way of stopping the people from shooting at Bond and also not appearing weak at tackling insubordination .... Don't forget that Bond was actually supposed to be in or on his way to Istanbul for a mission
Thunderbird Too.
Lee - The Angry Admiral. Only character that could make Sir Sean' Bond I'll at ease.
Brown - The Indignant Civil Servant. Affable, but airy, more taken aback than temperamental. Definitely the least ruffled of the M's in a crisis, indignant and witty, but more sensitive to political and diplomatic niceties. Effective, but without the heavyweight aspects of the others.
Dench.
- As Mawdsley. The Chess Queen. Tough, but flexible, sharp instincts, witty sense of humour, cold temper and demanded respect of those who doubted her. Plans a good long game. Knows how manipulate others, even against her own instincts.
- As Mansfield. Lady MacBeth. Tough, uncompromising, sarky humour, fiery temper, and made mistakes, which she was not forgiven for. A tragic character as she was too sure she was right, against evidence and advice.
Mallory. - The menacing M. Quiet, thoughtful, contemplative. Ominous when peeved. The most physical M of the lot, Mr Fiennes has given his character a neat twist by being the opposite of Mr Lee's Admiral. The office scene in SP ripples with tension and frustration between M-Malry and Bond.
It's funny, because Mr Brown's M was completely right for the mid to late eighties period. A time when the rise of bureaucracy and the public spoofing of the civil service mentality. (Spitting Image, Yes Prime Minister) Though just as compelling because he was such a damned good actor.
Honourable mention to James Fox in NSNA, as he too has that bureaucratic air, but with a very hot headed temper!
I think I'd rank them the same.
That quality you mentioned was evident despite the different Bonds with Lee, less so with Brown who was more than competent, but Lee 'nailed it' as I believe the young people have it
1) Dench
2) Fiennes
3) Lee
4) Brown
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
1) Lee
2) Dench
3) Brown
"Better make that two."
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
When you compare him to the other three Ms, Brown's has the least depth. Sure there are subtleties, but it's not like the others. I still like him more than Dench.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
Speaking of LTK: Arranging to have Bond shot in Hemmingway House if he attacked him or his men when he takes away Bond's Licence to Kill wasn't exactly the smartest move. He stopped that one guy shooting Bond saying that there is too many people and there is a sniper with an unsilenced sniper rifle. Surely civillians would be able to hear it.
" I don't listen to hip hop!"
1. Bernard Lee was, and I suspect, always will be the best. He was a like a stern and disapproving but still loving father who understood he had to keep his surrogate son, Bond, in line.
2. Judi Dench (Craig incarnation). She essentially was Bond's surrogate mother, inhabiting many of the qualities that Lee brought to the role, but with a modernist, feminine approach.
3. Ralph Fiennes. His Mallory essentially has the qualities that Lee brought to the role, though his M seems more pensive. It's a bit early to tell how great he will be, but so far, Fiennes is doing a terrific job.
4. Edward Fox. People complain about Never Say Never Again, but I thought quite a bit worked, including Fox as M. To some degree, he was a comic foil, but Fox never quite let it get that far, which still preserved his eccentric dignity.
5. Judi Dench (Brosnan incarnation). Some of it was the poor writing -- M dressing Bond down expertly and then suddenly getting ridiculously sentimental and telling him to come back alive -- and part of it was that she didn't have as much to do as the later one.
6. John Huston. It's true that in many ways the comic version of Casino Royale is a failure, but his M was not that terrible.
7. Robert Brown. He lacked Lee's warmth and personality. If Lee was the disapproving father, Brown was the intimidating neighbor.
For me Bernard Lee was the best and defined the role. JD did a great job and transitioned it well. For me the jury is still out on Ralph.
Brown also suffered because in the 80s, the focus appeared to be on optimizing the elements so more emphasis was on Bond, stunts, action, etc. It is hard to imagine how anyone playing M would have been able to impress much in the 80s films .... Even the Bond girls from the 80s are not that memorable except for OP, where the BG was one of the key focuses of the story
I already like Fiennes better as M in 1.01 films than I liked Dench as either M. It's not her acting, but it's the way her character is written I don't like. I just can't take her seriously in CR with the poetry she recites to Bond.
That's personal preference though .... Objectively, it would be hard to compare Brown and rate Fiennes yet as who knows he may get limited role in future (unlikely but who knows)
Coming back to Brown - He also suffered because in the 80s, the focus appeared to be on optimizing the elements so more emphasis was on Bond, stunts, action, etc. It is hard to imagine how anyone playing M would have been able to impress much in the 80s films .... Even the Bond girls from the 80s are not that memorable except for OP, where the BG was one of the key focuses of the story
I wonder how much screen time Brown got in his four films compared to how much Fiennes got in SP. Over Fiennes two films, he certainly must have had a lot more screen time than Brown had in his four. Based on that, I think that's enough to be able to compare Fiennes.
Again it would not be apples to apples as much of the Brown's time would be spent in giving orders / assignment to Bond, while Fiennes's M was also out in the field as his character was written nicely
For apples to apples comparison (objectively) would be Brown and Fiennes giving orders / assignments to Bond, which would be a pointless comparison
Fiennes role in SP where he took on C is one of the most brilliant roles written for M. Also as the acting M in SF, he decided to bend rules to help M. Only Dench has played such roles. While Lee also has had some minor problem solving to do .... I would give Fiennes one more film before I can start comparing him with Lee and Dench
Good point, although those guys being held up at the airport is lazy writing. Even in the late 80s would you have been allowed on a plane with a sash of bullets around your body?!
"Better make that two."
Interestingly, a couple of those officers reminded me of Brown and Howard and even spoke like them. I supposed that colored my perception of M in the films after that and when Brown began playing M I found him very convincing and started picturing him in the novels rather than Lee. So as much as I thought Lee was a good actor and did a good job in the role as the first M, I preferred Brown when he came aboard.