Robert Shaw Day TCM

Aug 23-24 2024

Never Heard of Robert Shaw till today, of course seen some of his movies, but didn’t know it was him.
Yea some I seen previously, Battle of Britain 69. Force 10 from Navarone 78, Battle of the Bulge 65.

Some new ones, The Sting 1973 That was really good probably my favorite today, had Paul Newmanm and Robert Redford, Robert Shaw played the bad guy mark.
The Luck Of Ginger Coffey 1964, interesting film set in Montreal, it was slightly stylish, but mostly boring., It was kinda artsy fartsy but not too much, more of a drab office, ghetto poor lookin montreal. I was happy to have seen it, but It didnt leave much of an impression on me. I was maybe hoping for a more Leonard Cohen Poetic style, and instead got a 60s office poor man. I think Im thinking of Mr Leonard Cohen 1965 lol.
Anyways thats teh film Ive seen before so I was kind of expecting that..
Moving on I saw the Taking of Pelham One two three, 1974, that was totally awesome. He plays another bad guy hijacking a train. That film included, Walter Matthau, which I know as Mr Wilson from Dennis the Mennis fame. And, a young Jerry Stiller! Which I know affectionally as Frank Costanza, or Arthur Spooner, Carrie Heffernan’s father from King of Queens. Hes a funny actor this time hes a serious transit cop, funy actually cause I know him well from later career but not so much this era.
Anyways the film is a fun heist movie I never seen before thought it was pretty cool. Robert Shaw does this crazy electrocution scene touching the third rail, had myself a little chuckle he was smoking and sizzling lol. Wasnt expecting that.
nah all in all some cool films and cool characters, hes known for more that that, but Thats my little experience with TCM today..
Now Im watching his last film Avalanche express. Its about Cold War some officer defecting to the West and they on a train action. Actually his last film and the director they both had heart attacks. Pretty much months apart. Mark Robson is a interesting personality, with background in Montreal, LA, 20th Century and RKO. Interestingly he edited some of Citizen Kane O. Welles. Another Character I recognize from Avalanche expree is Lee Marving, I think from Dirty Dozen. Maybe Paint your Wagon ? Big Red One sounds familiar, but don’t think I seen it entirely. Although am familiar with the Unit not so much ww1, but ww2, North Africa, Sicily, Dday, Vietnam. Anyways, hes just in a movie entitled that Unit. I think I remember learning about that in a ‘Nam Marvel Comic.

Author: clayton

Clayton L. CD 85