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Edward Fox as 'M' in Never Say Never Again

007InVT007InVT Classified
edited August 2014 in Actors Posts: 893
I'm writing a piece about Edward Fox and wondered what you all had to say about his turn as M in Never Say Never Again?

Some of you might have said 'Never Again', but an actor of his quality must have brought something to the role.

Any thoughts most welcome!
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Comments

  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 23,525
    He was adequate but hardly interesting because the script didn't allow him to be. Also, it's tough to fill Lee's shoes and in '83, Bernard Lee was still fresh in our minds. Furthermore, I feel like they made him more of a parody of M rather than a serious M.
  • WillyGaloreWillyGalore
    Posts: 6,396
    I really like Edward Fox but as @DarthDimi said his M was very poorly written.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited August 2014 Posts: 17,783
    Edward Fox was a Fleming fan interestingly and had read all of the novels. I've not seen NSNA for ages (I've been meaning to watch it again) but I concur that this M was more of a parody of M (akin to FYEO M replacement Chief of Staff Bill Tanner James Villiers in this regard if you like) and what we Brits might call a "stuffy arse".

    Anyhow, looking forward top your piece on your excellent blog, @007InVT! :)
  • 007InVT007InVT Classified
    Posts: 893
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Edward Fox was a Fleming fan interestingly and had read all of the novels.

    This is very interesting - can you divulge any more?

  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,330
    He's a good actor but was poorly used as M and wasted in that film.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,783
    007InVT wrote: »
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Edward Fox was a Fleming fan interestingly and had read all of the novels.

    This is very interesting - can you divulge any more?

    It is mentioned in Marcus Hearn's book Kiss Kiss Bang Bang! (2000). I will have to dig it out to see if it says anything else as my post was just from memory...
  • SaintMarkSaintMark
    Posts: 7,653
    An excellent choice, EON should have picked him up after NSNA.
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    edited August 2014 Posts: 11,189
    @Birdleson. I'm watching Blackadder at the moment on TV. If the team ever decided to do a Bond/spy themed series he'd fit perfectly into it (along with Charles Gray's Blofeld).
  • thelivingroyalethelivingroyale
    Posts: 12,837
    I didn't like him but we weren't meant to like M in that film. In NSNA the old Bernard Lee M is gone and this is a new M. He's not an old military man like the other one, he's a posh private school educated politician type, a stuck up bureaucratic knobhead who had no time for the 00s.

    I thought it was an original and interesting take on the character.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited August 2014 Posts: 17,783
    I see that Edward Fox also criticised the casting of Daniel Craig as James Bond back in 2007, apparently saying that he was "too ugly".
  • SaintMarkSaintMark
    Posts: 7,653
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    I see that Edward Fox also criticised the casting of Daniel Craig as James Bond back in 2007, apparently saying that he was "too ugly".

    Which is his right in our "democratic" part of the world.

  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited August 2014 Posts: 17,783
    SaintMark wrote: »
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    I see that Edward Fox also criticised the casting of Daniel Craig as James Bond back in 2007, apparently saying that he was "too ugly".

    Which is his right in our "democratic" part of the world.

    Just for the record I was not actually trying to suggest anything else. I have no desire to live in a totalitarian society, even if it did mean no criticism of Bond actors. ;)
  • 007InVT007InVT Classified
    Posts: 893
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    I see that Edward Fox also criticised the casting of Daniel Craig as James Bond back in 2007, apparently saying that he was "too ugly".

    Here is the quote:

    So ugly! He is utterly wrong for Bond. The opposite of what Fleming intended, and I knew Fleming.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,783
    007InVT wrote: »
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    I see that Edward Fox also criticised the casting of Daniel Craig as James Bond back in 2007, apparently saying that he was "too ugly".

    Here is the quote:

    So ugly! He is utterly wrong for Bond. The opposite of what Fleming intended, and I knew Fleming.

    Yes, that quote I recall, especially the Fleming bit. Did he I wonder mean that he had known Fleming personally or merely that "he knew his Fleming" meaning the original Bond novels?
  • 007InVT007InVT Classified
    Posts: 893
    Good question - not sure. He might have been a bit young to have 'known' Fleming personally.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,783
    007InVT wrote: »
    Good question - not sure. He might have been a bit young to have 'known' Fleming personally.

    Yes, that quote always struck me as odd at the time. I'd completely forgotten all about it until you posted the quote in full.

  • 007InVT007InVT Classified
    Posts: 893
    If only we could ask Edward what he meant!
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    Posts: 13,350
    He would have been 27 when Fleming died, so who's knows how well he know him, if at all.
  • WalecsWalecs On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    Posts: 3,157
    007InVT wrote: »
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Edward Fox was a Fleming fan interestingly and had read all of the novels.

    This is very interesting - can you divulge any more?

    Out of curiosity, albeit off topic, how many Bond actors have read the novels? I've heard Dalton has, but I wonder who also did. I think Brosnan and Craig read them too.
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    Posts: 13,350
    Dalton and Craig have. Brosnan I believe has read one and Connery, three. Moore hasn't read them all either and I'm sure Lazenby has read most of them.
  • 007InVT007InVT Classified
    Posts: 893
    Poor form to have only read one!

    I think it shows, the better Bonds had at least read the main ones.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,783
    007InVT wrote: »
    If only we could ask Edward what he meant!

    Indeed - I shall have to seek out a contact address for just that purpose!
  • HASEROTHASEROT has returned like the tedious inevitability of an unloved season---
    edited August 2014 Posts: 4,399
    i never liked his portrayal as M.... I found him really annoying.... he comes off like a petulant Headmaster who is constantly scolding a young school boy... I was waiting for him to start yelling "You can't get your pudding if you don't eat your meat!!" at one point.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,783
    HASEROT wrote: »
    i never liked his portrayal as M.... I found him really annoying.... he comes off like a Petulant Headmaster who is constantly scolding a young school boy... I was waiting for him to start yelling "You can't get your pudding if you don't eat your meat!!" at one point.

    Pink Floyd fan, then?
  • HASEROTHASEROT has returned like the tedious inevitability of an unloved season---
    Posts: 4,399
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Pink Floyd fan, then?

    yes... but a casual fan... i got their best of album - but i also own the albums of The Wall and Darkside Of The Moon.

  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,783
    HASEROT wrote: »
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Pink Floyd fan, then?

    yes... but a casual fan... i got their best of album - but i also own the albums of The Wall and Darkside Of The Moon.

    Yes, I recently watched the music video to Another Brick in the Wall and was reminded of the headmaster's line you quoted above. I had a friend at school who was a massive Pink Floyd fan, hence I know a little about the band. :)
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,330
    It's shame he wasn't given better material. He was excellent in Day of the Jackal.
  • 007InVT007InVT Classified
    Posts: 893
    Murdock wrote: »
    It's shame he wasn't given better material. He was excellent in Day of the Jackal.

    Couldn't agree more. Fleming would have preferred Fox as Bond over Moore.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 17,783
    007InVT wrote: »
    Murdock wrote: »
    It's shame he wasn't given better material. He was excellent in Day of the Jackal.


    Couldn't agree more. Fleming would have preferred Fox as Bond over Moore.

    I'd imagine so although ironically Roger Moore wanted to play The Jackal but either the director or the producer refused him.
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,330
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    007InVT wrote: »
    Murdock wrote: »
    It's shame he wasn't given better material. He was excellent in Day of the Jackal.


    Couldn't agree more. Fleming would have preferred Fox as Bond over Moore.

    I'd imagine so although ironically Roger Moore wanted to play The Jackal but either the director or the producer refused him.

    That would be very interesting. Considering Michael Lonsdale played the protagonist.
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