Daily BirthdaysRobert Shaw Forum
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| by Mike the Brit Re:That comment by Bogarde-He wasn't the only one who disparaged the man's acting talents. But these actors were were upper class snobs who were jealous of the amount of very good film parts Shaw was seemingly walking into from the early '60s.(The casting directors of the time clearly didn't underate him.) They also had a sort of clique, in which they'd socialise, especially if working on the same film. And Shaw was not known as a great socialiser, a drinker yes, but not really a social drinker, and I can only think this caused some resentment among the more refined actors of the period. England was still that sort of place then, but he wasn't the only one traduced by these lesser talented snobs-Burton was forever being sniped at, Harris, Caine, etc.-Why?- They were working class men who were outperforming the luvvies in a traditionally upper class profession. Or put another way, actors who more naturally played real men, such that the public very plainly now wanted to watch on the screen, not the old Shavian drawing room stiffnecks that that old Garrick Club school of actors had specialised in. So men like Shaw, Harris, et al were taking these great film roles from under their turned up noses. And they were making a statement that they didn't need their clique to either get them the work or enjoy a good drink after. They were the new elite, with unelitist attitudes, and the old school hated them for it! Yes! It was simple jealousy and class snobbery. The only role I think Bogarde could have played in, for example, Jaws, would be the bait they were throwing out to get the big fish-And even then I it would have spat him out. (I actually like Bogarde's acting, but he was very narrowly typecast because of his, well, unheroic, unmanly acting style-not his fault-he was what he was-but someone also has to stand up for those they believe deserved the roles they got. And Shaw also deserves a better regard in posterity than he seems to have. Nice to see there are others here who don't get the lack of fuss made about his work). Comment on this... |
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| by Suzanne I have also been a fan of Robert Shaw's for the past 30 years and have dedicated a website to him recently. I want his memory to live on and not just as Quint, as brilliant as his performance was in Jaws, I would like the world to remember this enormously talented and grossly underated actor for so much more than just one role. Had he lived, he surely would have surpassed even the likes of Anthony Hopkins and we would now know him as Sir Robert Shaw. Forever A Fan, http://groups.msn.com/FansOfRobertShaw Comment on this... |
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| by Tammy I have loved Shaw since I was a very small child. Handsome, talented, gifted in more ways than one, he was a powerful force. Twenty six years after his death and I am still drawn to him. I own his books and movies. I was happy to learn that his son Ian is acting as well. I hope to see more of him in the future. I would have loved to have met Robert Shaw in person. All these years later and I still miss him very much. I'd love to hear from you or any one who would like to talk about Shaw. Comment on this... | ||||
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| by Erin I first fell in love with Robert Shaw when I saw Jaws in 1975. After that I had to see every one of his movies! He could have done so much more, but his demons got the better of him. If he had lived we may have had quite a pair of brilliant british actors, namely he and Anthony Hopkins (sorry, one Brit, one Welsh). I see a number of silimarities between the two, with so much intensity behind the eyes and a way of becoming the person they are portraying. A terrible loss for all. He will always be remembered in my heart. Erin Comment on this... |
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| by thenitewhatchman its good to see other fans who admire this multi talented person. when i first saw shaw i was in awe of him, i have yet to see another actor with a greater screen preasence. my favorite performances by shaw are a man for all seasons jaws and black sunday. i hope more people become aware of this great talent Comment on this... |
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| by Joseph Rowland I first became aware of Shaw in "From Russia with Love". he was really chilling as Red Grant to an extent I have never experienced with any other actor. After this movie, I noticed him in reruns of older movies, although, I did not spot him in "Dambusters".I rate him the best actor I ever saw, though I am not a connoisseur of acting. Comment on this... |
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| by Ashley Durose What I liked about Shaw was he became "the role" unlike others Sean Connery Roger Moore and Michael Caine who always came across as themselves playing someone else. He was totally unreconizable as Quint from Martin Hessler in Battle of the bulge just as his other parts,killer in from Russia with Love, RAF pilot in Battle of Brittain and "Custer" Anyone recall his part in "The Dambusters" Comment on this... |
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| by Louis Banlaki This is in refernce to the lovely letter written by Lucinda. If you want to know about those books, let me know. But of course, you probably found them both on the web by now. Always ready to come to the aid of another Shaw fan. Anyone who considers Robert Shaw their favorite actor is all right in my book!! If only I were as good an actor as he was. Enjoy all those great Shaw performances everybody!! Comment on this... | ||||
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| by lucinda This is a great site, at last ive found something a lot more informative about the fab Robert shaw. A fantastic actor who I agree was very talented, more so than a lot of actors. In my opinion nobody comes close to Mr Shaw. Thanks to Louis for mentioning Biographies, I never knew these existed! My favorite has to be Jaws, although all his films are great. Keep writing in because you all know alot more than me about the great man, and its so good to find out more!! Lucinda (England) Comment on this... |
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| by Antony Caswell I have read all the previous comments, and am so glad that there are people out there who feel the same way as me about ROBERT SHAW. In my opinion, in FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, he completely stole the screen in all scenes with Connery, which was no easy feat considering Connery's appeal & charisma. Moving on to my second favorite of Robert's films 'JAWS', what can I say? It's all been said before - JAWS Without SHAW = mediocre 'B movie'. Robert's last few films, with emphasis on THE DEEP were films that without his presence would have been a joke, but he made them into great films just by being what he was - ROBERT SHAW. Your lifelong fan - Antony Comment on this... | ||||
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