personal information
Robert Brown playing M
Born in Swanage, Dorset, England on 23rd July 1921
Died 11th November 2003
Starred In Octopussy (1983), A View To A Kill (1985), The Living Daylights (1987) and Licence To Kill (1989).
film information
M played by Robert Brown appears in four James Bond films from Octopussy up to and including Licence To Kill. In Octopussy M gives Bond the usual briefing, and then ventures into West Berlin later in the film to discuss the situation and give Bond further instructions.
While Sir Frederick Gray is initially concerned about MI6 launching an investigation into Max Zorin in A View To A Kill, M gives Bond his permission. M is back on top form however when he exclaims at Bond the amount of damage caused by his reckless antics to follow the Eiffel Tower assassin (May Day) without generating any leads.
M organises a training exercise for his 00 agents in The Living Daylights, and is seen giving a briefing in a makeshift office inside a plane high above the Rock of Gibraltar. Later M scoffs at Bond's feelings that the mission to kill General Leonid Pushkin could be more than it seems, telling him that if he is not willing to take on the assignment 009 will replace him.
Licence To Kill marks the last time M is played by Robert Brown. M is very abrupt and harsh with Bond when he confronts him about the neglect of his duties, due to his investigations into Felix Leiter's mutilation. After M harshly criticises Bond for lack of professionalism and objectivism, Bond hands in his resignation, where M quickly remarks, “Were not a country club 007"!
character information
Robert Brown's portrayal of M is once more as Bernard Lee played it, one of formality. M would now be straight to the point and would not ask Bond what he knew about a subject. However Robert Brown's M does not have that heightened sense of authority that was evident with Bernard Lee's portrayal, and while he did project an air of firmness and power, it seems lacking in weight. M is also more open about his proud feelings for his 00 agents. In The Living Daylights, M tells his agents that he knows they won't let him down in the training exercise and that they are going to make him proud. §
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