Was Brandt in on the Big Lebowski's (not the Dude) scam?

[venicer]

Was he in on it the whole time or was he an unwitting accomplice?

[RevWade]

I say he was in on it the entire time.  When The Big Lebowski mentions the ransom note, Brandt goes from deeply troubled to a blank face, hands the dude the note, and does not return to his troubled state, but turns to the side and places his hands on his legs as if he were told to before hand.

[venicer]

Yeah, Brandt... what a sycophant.

[Rev.Wendy aka The Dude a-Rides]

Nah , maybe he suspected something but he's just a pawn of TBL. does what he's told. i guess he knows the score pretty well of what goes on around there, and TBL likes to be treated like a big shot so Brandt does it. good pay i imagine.

[brother_erwin]

Say what you want about Brandt, at least he meets the Dude always with respect:

1.he calls him "Dude" (while Maude and her father never do that)
2. he communicates with him on a - for want of better words - peer level
3. he invites him to come around again.

I think Brandt's just Brandt, he did not have a clue about the scam.
But then: Who is in a position to confirm or disconfirm this?

Faithfully
Bruder Erwin

[DigitalBuddha]

Say what you want about Brandt, at least he meets the Dude always with respect:

1.he calls him "Dude" (while Maude and her father never do that)
2. he communicates with him on a - for want of better words - peer level
3. he invites him to come around again.

I think Brandt's just Brandt, he did not have a clue about the scam.
But then: Who is in a position to confirm or disconfirm this?

Faithfully
Bruder Erwin

I tend to agree with you, dude. But I'll have to admit, there are other dudes who believe that Brandt was a condescending ass kissing prick and the big Lebowski's male bitch.

That's just like someone's opinion, man. No harm intended.

[brother_erwin]

Ja, I see your point, db, too.

Also, to support that point, "Brandt" is a very very German name (while the name "Burkhalter", the guy in the league office scheduling the semi on a Shabbas, is a bit, at least that's how it appears to me, over-stylized).

I view Brandt as an allusion to our Geman propensity - in the past, hopefully - of being uncritically obedient to (fake-)authorities not questioning whether they are right or wrong. Brandt also stands like "Aaaach-tung. Stillgestanden!" (= stand to attention) with his hands to the seams of his trousers, and head bowed, while the Dude reads the ransom note.

Faithfully yours
Bruder Erwin