319 replies to this topic

[Guy Haines]

I wondered when we get might around to this, so here are my suggestions. Two have already been mentioned - Sir Patrick Stewart and Timothy Dalton. Either would be able to portray "M" - but then again they could equally well portray a Bond adversary (if you doubt that Timothy Dalton could be a Bond villain, consider all the cads and other assorted villains he has played over the years, to say nothing of his appearance in the two part swansong of David Tennant's Dr Who we watched over here at Christmas. I had him marked down as a "wrong 'un" in that from the outset)

As for Sir Patrick Stewart, he could project authority as Bond's boss or his nemesis. Plus, "Quantum" is hardly likely to flummox a spymaster who took on the Borg in a previous existance!

Two more have already appeared in Bond, but that shouldn't disqualify them. Michael Kitchen - he's played Bill Tanner, and I think would be quite capable of putting 007 in his place with that clipped accent of his. Tim Piggot-Smith - "M"s boss in QoS. I think he could do the role justice - he was interviewed in TV last week and said how much he enjoyed telling "M" off!

A carry over from UK TV as "M" would be Peter Firth - the head man in "Spooks". Provided they don't bump him off half way through - he's from "Spooks", where character life expectancy is worse than any Double-O agent's!

[Aris007]

Sir Michael Gambon or Sir Patrick Stewart if possible of course!

[bill007]

(Juming in).... Absolutely a male!! Thank you CasinoKiller. Great thread. (Jumping out).

[HMBFF]

Quite honestly, no. I realy get used to the idea of M being a woman. After Judi Dench I would love to see Ktin Scott Thmas as M. She would be brilliant!

[carddoug]

Quite honestly, no. I realy get used to the idea of M being a woman. After Judi Dench I would love to see Ktin Scott Thmas as M. She would be brilliant!

someone mentioned alan rickman in a topic earlier. i think he'd be great!

[Guy Haines]

Quite honestly, no. I realy get used to the idea of M being a woman. After Judi Dench I would love to see Ktin Scott Thmas as M. She would be brilliant!

someone mentioned alan rickman in a topic earlier. i think he'd be great!

True. He would make an even better arch villain though (remember Hans Gruber in Die Hard?)

A lot of the names mentioned on this thread already would slot quite comfortably into the "Bond's boss" or "Bond's nemesis" roles.

[Richard]

Judy Dench and her mis-characterization of M. really took the fun out of the series for me. But I wouldn't mind if the series continues with a female M. I just don't want the new female M to be so abrasive, adversarial, condescending, and ego-maniacal. There are other ways to play M.


Richard

[007Bond007]

Definetly go back to the books, no matter what you say the best M will always be Bernerd Lee, casting is definetly crucial though if they misscast they will definetly muck the whole movie up.

[Von Hammerstein]

Quite honestly, no. I realy get used to the idea of M being a woman. After Judi Dench I would love to see Ktin Scott Thmas as M. She would be brilliant!

someone mentioned alan rickman in a topic earlier. i think he'd be great!

True. He would make an even better arch villain though (remember Hans Gruber in Die Hard?)

A lot of the names mentioned on this thread already would slot quite comfortably into the "Bond's boss" or "Bond's nemesis" roles.

Wasn't he offered the Elliot Carver role, or some other villian's role and turned it down? I agree he'd be a great villain and very good M.

[The Shark]

Would anyone like to see the return of a male M?

Only if played by a woman.

[Richard]

Everybody knows I can't stand Judi Dench, but my position is based on the actresses' interpretation, not on her gender. Staying reasonably faithful to Ian Fleming, story logic and character logic, and the spirit of the thing are more important to me than M's gender. Judi Dench's PC interpretation is going to date her films faster than 1960s hairdos. It is time to restore mutual respect and civility between Bond and M regardless of who plays the part.

Richard

[Richard]

Everybody knows I can't stand Judi Dench, but my position is based on the actresses' interpretation, not on her gender. Staying reasonably faithful to Ian Fleming, story logic and character logic, and the spirit of the thing are more important to me than M's gender. Judi Dench's PC interpretation is going to date her films faster than 1960s hairdos. It is time to restore mutual respect and civility between Bond and M regardless of who plays the part.

But if a man assumes the role again, I hope it will be Michael Gambon. He is a strong personality and a domineering presence who projects a working-class intelligence that Bernard Lee would have understood. In other words, he has no pretensions.

Richard

Richard

[The World Is Not Enough]

Dench's M is irritating and acts too much like a scolding mother figure, especially since she's been in every second scene lately. I wouldn't mind if she got assasinated in the next movie.

[DamnCoffee]

What would everyone say to John Nettles being a possible successor to Dench? He is wrapping up work on MIDSOMER MURDERS, so he hasn't got much work for the time being.

[Aris007]

Well he has the voice and the acting, but he doesn't look like M. I'd say he looks more like the easy-going chap from the canteen in MI6!

[volante]

John Nettles? No; he listens to problems and attaches logic to provide a solution.

We need someone who sticks to the black andd white of the Operation.
Begrudgingly allowing Bond to deal with the plot in his own style

[elizabeth]

I don't even know who that is, but I can tell you flat out right now: no.

[CJB]

Dench's casting was no doubt a "clever" trick to bring Bond into the 90's by bowing to the political correctness of the day. This permeates through Goldeneye with Miss Moneypenny suggesting Bond could be liable for sexual harrasment. The attitudes of the powers that be, however, contradict the values of Fleming, who would no doubt snigger at the oversensitivity Britain and other Western countres have clambered into. Not content with simply having M give Bond a femo-rant in Goldeneye, the esteemed writers ensured M's role in consecutive films was expanded to popping up during Bond's missions to lecture him on "trust" as well as treating our hero to some Pyschobabble 101. Of course, I need not even mention the absurditiy of the idea of M being kidnapped. Really, now? Could you imagine a plot revolving around Bernard Lee in captivity? Ridiculous.

To sum up, M's character has been thoroughly twisted the last 15 years. From the stern old ex-Admiral to Bond's mothering psychiatrist. This needs remedying. The solution is of course to stop having M be Bond's travelling psychiatrist and have him behind the mahogany desk at MI6 where he should be. Yes, I said "he". A talented actress Dench may be, but M's character is essentially masculine. Obviously the writers used the excuse of a female M to expand the character into places the character need not be. The logicial solution is to give both M and James Bond their balls back.

Edited by CJB, 12 September 2010 - 04:36 AM.

[freemo]

I'd go the complete other way, and go with another female M.

An M who's utterly incompetent (but deliberately written that way, instead of accidentally), who's appointment is due entirely to tokenism and nepotism. With no experience or knowledge in security or secrets or crisises, but instead, a resume consisting entirely of useless public sector jobs (diversity management, inclusive awareness coordination, etc). An M more concerned with relaxing dress standards and meeting gender and racial intake quotas than running an effective Secret Service, and actually measures her success by these trivial things. An M with policy ideas such as disarming her agents, because if we lay down our guns our enemies might follow our lead. A fat, useless, naive, leftist, politically-correct, tax-payer-funded dullard who does more to gum up the works than anything else. You know, the sort of person who actually gets these kind of jobs nowadays.

Make M someone for Bond to rally against, rather than with.

[sharpshooter]

I do like Dench as M. But I believe with Bond 23, the time is right for a changing of the guard. I'm not sure if I'm down with her being a traitor, or being killed. But some scene where it is acknowledged she is moving on and making way for her successor may be a good idea. Kind of like Q's moment in TWINE. She is getting on a bit, and Bond 23 is still a few years off you would think.

[Guy Haines]

I'd go the complete other way, and go with another female M.

An M who's utterly incompetent (but deliberately written that way, instead of accidentally), who's appointment is due entirely to tokenism and nepotism. With no experience or knowledge in security or secrets or crisises, but instead, a resume consisting entirely of useless public sector jobs (diversity management, inclusive awareness coordination, etc). An M more concerned with relaxing dress standards and meeting gender and racial intake quotas than running an effective Secret Service, and actually measures her success by these trivial things. An M with policy ideas such as disarming her agents, because if we lay down our guns our enemies might follow our lead. A fat, useless, naive, leftist, politically-correct, tax-payer-funded dullard who does more to gum up the works than anything else. You know, the sort of person who actually gets these kind of jobs nowadays.

Make M someone for Bond to rally against, rather than with.

An M of the kind you describe above doesn't necessarily have to be female. There are plenty of male, box ticking, target setting PC types in real life top jobs. I've encountered a few myself. But didn't Connery rally against M in NSNA? Granted, Edward Fox's character wasn't "PC", but he clearly had no time for Bond and the Double-O section. I think as topical an idea, in these trying times of "austerity", would be an M brought in to downsize MI6 in general and the Double-O section in particular (I can just picture the scene: "These are difficult times, 007, and economies have to be made. We're all in this together, you know. Now, remember to pick up your P45 from Moneypenny on your way out. Good day, Bond!" )

Edited by Guy Haines, 19 September 2010 - 07:28 AM.

[Guy Haines]

This contribution isn't a suggestion for the next male M, but I attach this link anyway.

http://www.google.co...84KZc9BPFetGQUA
I came across this rare bit of a 1960s British TV spy drama on You Tube the other day. It's from "The Rat Catchers", an ITV series I watched as a kid. I've added it because of the "M" character, Brigadier Davidson, played by the late Philip Stone (he was "Spectre number 5" in TB - the one who reported the "consultation fee" from the Great Train Robbery of £250,000).

Amid our little debate about what kind of M Bond should work for next, I think he should count himself lucky he didn't work for the Brigadier - quite a cold fish, a mix of M at his worst, everyone's least favourite teacher, and a slight hint of Bond villain to boot (that casual comment about the female double agent - "she had to be killed".)

Mind you, can you imagine Bond walking in, plonking himself down and sitting there reading the newspaper, as agent Hurst does in this clip?

I can't help but think that Philip Stone was wasted as a mere Spectre underling with just one scene and one line in the film. He might have made a convincing villain or authority figure.

Sorry about the quality of the video, but it dates back decades. Incidentally, I was looking for something on the 'net which featured the theme tune of this TV series, and it did. I liked the tune when I first saw the series as a child, so it brought back happy memories.

Edited by Guy Haines, 12 September 2010 - 08:05 PM.

[Guy Haines]

Dench's casting was no doubt a "clever" trick to bring Bond into the 90's by bowing to the political correctness of the day. This permeates through Goldeneye with Miss Moneypenny suggesting Bond could be liable for sexual harrasment. The attitudes of the powers that be, however, contradict the values of Fleming, who would no doubt snigger at the oversensitivity Britain and other Western countres have clambered into. Not content with simply having M give Bond a femo-rant in Goldeneye, the esteemed writers ensured M's role in consecutive films was expanded to popping up during Bond's missions to lecture him on "trust" as well as treating our hero to some Pyschobabble 101. Of course, I need not even mention the absurditiy of the idea of M being kidnapped. Really, now? Could you imagine a plot revolving around Bernard Lee in captivity? Ridiculous.

To sum up, M's character has been thoroughly twisted the last 15 years. From the stern old ex-Admiral to Bond's mothering psychiatrist. This needs remedying. The solution is of course to stop having M be Bond's travelling psychiatrist and have him behind the mahogany desk at MI6 where he should be. Yes, I said "he". A talented actress Dench may be, but M's character is essentially masculine. Obviously the writers used the excuse of a female M to expand the character into places the character need not be. The logicial solution is to give both M and James Bond their balls back.

Could I imagine a plot involving M being kidnapped? I don't have to. It is all there in the Kingsley Amis (as Robert Markham) Bond novel "Colonel Sun". All you have to do is picture Bernard Lee as M when reading it.

[freemo]

I don't even want M to be that big of a deal.

The first scene in GOLDENEYE, with Tanner, was promising. "Seems your hunch was right 007, too bad the Evil Queen of Numbers wouldn't let you play it" set the two characters apart nicely: Bond, who follows is gut instincts, and M, who plays the percentages. Bond is a gambler afterall, and I suppose M can't really afford to take such risks due to her responsibilities (see Bonds line in Casino Royale (book) about what he does on five - "Some people always draw. Some people always stand. I follow my instincts"). Competing philosophies, nice. The sort of thing that can brighten up an info-dump scene, but can also be played out entirely in the confines of the one M's-office scene per film. Bond feels M doesn't appreciate what it's like out in the field, M thinks Bond doesn't understand responsibility. But with begrudging respect both ways. Or something like that.

Pity they showed no restraint and abandoned it all so quickly. By the next scene we're into "sexist, misogynist dinosaur" and it's all downhill from there. Pumping for information, tantrums, kidnappings, psycho babble, knowing who to trust, lessons learnt, M in every second scene, M as Bond's mum, etc. Blech!

[jrcjohnny99]

I absolutely believe the worst decision in the last 15 years of the francise was both the casting and character of Dench's M.
I have no issue with M being a woman, tho I'd like to see it go back to a male actor this next go around; and there are so many great candidates;
along with those mentioned how about the following;

Jeremy Irons

Kenneth Branagh

Gabriel Byrne

or if he could be gotten....

Sir Ben Kingsley

[Messervy]

along with those mentioned how about the following;

Jeremy Irons

Kenneth Branagh

Gabriel Byrne

or if he could be gotten....

Sir Ben Kingsley

And how about Colin Farrell, Eric Bana, Edward Norton or Jim carrey, then ?!
Name dropping is very nice, but it could use a little realism.

[Messervy]

I'd go the complete other way, and go with another female M.

An M who's utterly incompetent (but deliberately written that way, instead of accidentally), who's appointment is due entirely to tokenism and nepotism. With no experience or knowledge in security or secrets or crisises, but instead, a resume consisting entirely of useless public sector jobs (diversity management, inclusive awareness coordination, etc). An M more concerned with relaxing dress standards and meeting gender and racial intake quotas than running an effective Secret Service, and actually measures her success by these trivial things. An M with policy ideas such as disarming her agents, because if we lay down our guns our enemies might follow our lead. A fat, useless, naive, leftist, politically-correct, tax-payer-funded dullard who does more to gum up the works than anything else. You know, the sort of person who actually gets these kind of jobs nowadays.

Make M someone for Bond to rally against, rather than with.

An M of the kind you describe above doesn't necessarily have to be female. There are plenty of male, box ticking, target setting PC types in real life top jobs. I've encountered a few myself.

Indeed. No offence Freemo, but this is utter nonesense as far as gender is concerned. I've encountered numerous male senior officials who qualify for this kind of profile. Actually, even many senior military men I encountered and worked with, whom you would guess should be harsh and demanding and non-PC and all, proved to be dreary incompetent interested only in their careers and in avoiding any kind of personal implication in profesional issues.
And by the way, some of the best senior officials I've worked with were female.

[jrcjohnny99]

along with those mentioned how about the following;

Jeremy Irons

Kenneth Branagh

Gabriel Byrne

or if he could be gotten....

Sir Ben Kingsley

And how about Colin Farrell, Eric Bana, Edward Norton or Jim carrey, then ?!
Name dropping is very nice, but it could use a little realism.

Hmmm, other than Kingsley, I'm not sure what's unrealistic about any of those names;
Irons and Byrne haven't had leading roles in films for a few years and are largely doing supporting work and television, Branagh when he sint directing, takes largely supporting roles; I suspect all 3 would love the higher profile a Bond movie or 3 would bring...
Maybe next time you can explain rather than just criticise?

[Zorin Industries]

I hate to say it but the casting ethos of the Bond management tends not to veer towards the bleedin' obvious. Whoever follows Judi Dench is no doubt someone no-one has even suggested yet.

[Guy Haines]

I hate to say it but the casting ethos of the Bond management tends not to veer towards the bleedin' obvious. Whoever follows Judi Dench is no doubt someone no-one has even suggested yet.

Indeed, and not only in casting. No doubt the contributors to the Bond 23 song thread will be surprised when the performer is announced. I somehow doubt it will be from one of the red top tabloid showbiz columnists lists of usual musical suspects.

As for Dame Judi's replacement - if they don't get a move on with this film soon, it may not be so much "someone no-one has even suggested yet" as someone who hasn't even been born yet!