Best remembered as 'M' in the James Bond films, Bernard Lee was a popular character player in British films throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Born into a theatrical family, he made his stage debut at age six and later attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He first appeared on the West End stage in London in 1928, and continued to work in the theatre during the 1930s, taking only occasional film roles.
It was only after World War II that he concentrated his efforts on the cinema, and was much in demand in British films of the 1950s as friendly authority figures, including army sergeants, police detectives or navy officers. Detectives became a particular specialty, and he played this role in more than a dozen films, including The Blue Lamp (1950), Beat the Devil (1953) and The Detective (1954). In the early 1960s, he also made regular appearances as police detectives in the The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre (1959) second feature series, usually as "Inspector Meredith". He also made memorable appearances in The Third Man (1949), Operation Disaster (1950), Glory at Sea (1952), Pursuit of the Graf Spee (1956), Dunkirk (1958) and Whistle Down the Wind (1961).
He was effectively cast against type in only two films, as the union agitator in The Angry Silence (1960), and as a disgruntled civil servant who becomes a spy for the Russians in Ring of Treason (1964).
In 1962, he made his first appearance as the head of the British secret service in the first James Bond film, Dr. No (1962). He went on to be featured in the next ten films in the series, appearing with Sean Connery, George Lazenby and, later, Roger Moore as Bond, and will probably be considered the definitive "M" by more than one generation of Bond fans.
Allied soldiers from Belgium, the British Commonwealth and Empire, and France are surrounded by the German Army and evacuated during a fierce battle in World War II.
A butler working in a foreign embassy in London falls under suspicion when his wife accidentally falls to her death, the only witness being an impressionable young boy.
Pulp novelist Holly Martins travels to shadowy, mystifying post-war Vienna only to find himself investigating the mysterious sudden death of old friend Harry Lime.
James Bond investigates the hijacking of British and Russian submarines carrying nuclear warheads, with the help of a K.G.B. agent whose lover he killed.
James Bond is targeted by the world's most expensive assassin, while he attempts to recover sensitive solar cell technology that is being sold to the highest bidder.
James Bond and the Japanese Secret Service must find and stop the true culprit of a series of space hijackings, before war is provoked between Russia and the United States.
as'M'
1965 |
Dr. Terror's House of Horrorsas Hopkins (segment "Creeping Vine")
James Bond willingly falls into an assassination plot involving a naive Russian beauty in order to retrieve a Soviet encryption device that was stolen by the organization Spectre.
A resourceful British government agent seeks answers in a case involving the disappearance of a colleague and the disruption of the American space program.
asM.
1962 |
The Brainas Dr. Frank Shears
1962 |
The Share Outas Det. Supt. Meredith
1961 |
Clue of the Silver Keyas Superintendent Meredith
1961 |
Fury at Smugglers' Bayas Black John
1961 |
Partners in Crimeas Inspector Mann
1961 |
The Secret Partneras Det. Supt. Frank Hanbury
1961 |
Whistle Down the Windas Mr. Bostock
1960 |
Clue of the Twisted Candleas Superintendent Meredith
1960 |
Kidnappedas Captain Hoseason
1960 |
The Angry Silenceas Bert Connolly
1960 |
Trouble in the Skyas Capt. Gort
1959 |
Breakoutas Lt. Col. Huxley
1959 |
Web of Evidenceas Patrick Mathry
1958 |
Nowhere to Goas Victor Sloane, alias Lee Henderson
1958 |
The Keyas Cmdr. Wadlow
1958 |
The Man Upstairsas The Inspector
1957 |
Across the Bridgeas Chief Inspector Hadden
1957 |
Fire Down Belowas Doctor Sam
1957 |
High Flightas Flight Sergeant Harris
1956 |
Pursuit of the Graf Speeas Captain Dove - M.S. Africa Shell
1956 |
The Spanish Gardeneras Leighton Bailey
1955 |
Out of the Cloudsas Customs Officer
1955 |
PT Raidersas Sam Brewster, The Customs Officer
1954 |
Crest of the Waveas Able Seaman 'Lofty' Turner
1954 |
The Detectiveas Inspector Valentine
1954 |
The Purple Plainas Dr. Harris
1953 |
Beat the Devilas Insp. Jack Clayton
1953 |
The Yellow Balloonas Constable Chapman
1953 |
Sailor of the Kingas Petty Officer 'Stokes' Wheatley
1952 |
Glory at Seaas Able Seaman 'Stripey' Wood
1951 |
Calling Bulldog Drummondas Col. Webson
1951 |
Fortune in Diamondsas O'Connell
1951 |
Island Rescueas Brigadier
1951 |
White Corridorsas Burgess
1950 |
Cage of Goldas Inspector Grey
1950 |
Last Holidayas Inspector Wilton
1950 |
Odetteas Jack
1950 |
The Blue Lampas Divisional Detective Inspector Cherry
