The Sheila Variations

I love Extras. The Ben Stiller episode is off-the-chart funny. Loved Robert Shaw in Battle of the Bulge and, especially, The Deep. The Deep has been one of my obsessions over the years. My current one is the opening scenes of V for Vendetta.

Oh my God - that Ben Stiller one was so so so so funny. I love Kate Winslet, smoking, in a nun's habit. The show is just great.

I'll have to pass on to Jen your suggestion of The Deep - I don't think I've seen that.

My first impression of Robert Shaw was from The Sting. It's one of the first "grownup" movies I saw - I was probably 8 or 9 when I saw it - and he just made a huge impression on me. I didn't even know it was the same actor when I saw Jaws years later.

You haven't seen The Deep? Get thee to a video store.

Shaw was quite the chameleon. He was great as a bad guy in one of my favorite Bond movies: From Russia With Love.

Wait? We're not talking about the Robert Shaw Chorale? I am such a choir geek; I don't even know the Robert Shaw you're talking about!

I've become obsessed with Extras, too. I've Netflixed the first series, and the 2nd disc arrived today. Huzzah! Patrick Stewart!

(Have you seen the Daniel Radcliffe one? You will PEE. YOUR. PANTS.)

I think you mentioned this once, Sheila: Robert Shaw extensively rewrote the monologue he delivered in Jaws. He was quite talented.

Sheila,
Since you mentioned the book about the making of The Misfits I've been on a Gable obsession. I loved that book. Can you suggest a good Gable biography? Would you mind checking your shelves? Much obliged.

My first exposure to Shaw was Jaws... and my second was Henry VIII in Man for All Seasons. "Your Majesty overwhelms me," indeed. Later on I discovered that he was Grant in From Russia With Love, and was gobsmacked.

I own Sylvia Plath. She belongs totally to me.

I also thought Robert Shaw was great in From Russia With Love. He was a serious and worthy adversary for Bond. BTW, he was two sheets to the wind in that scene from Jaws. Unfortunately, he had a horrible drinking problem--one of the reasons he wasn't in more movies. I remember reading somewhere that Roy
Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss were astonished he could drink so much and still walk, much less act so well. He was great in The Taking of Pelham One Two Three(a really good movie that is underrated), and The Sting, too--"Ya follow?"

Lisa--I live in Columbus, OH, and YOUR Robert Shaw was Artist in Residence(or something like that)at Ohio State for several of his last years. He died in 1999, but I got to see him twice for free--it was great.

Years ago I read a book about the making of Jaws, by Carl Gottlieb (I think). According to Gottlieb, the producers (Zanuck and Brown) originally wanted Sterling Hayden for the role of Quint, but he couldn't do it (may have been something to do with having to stay out of the U.S. for tax reasons; I'm not certain). As others have said, Shaw was brilliant in the role and the rest is history.

Hayden himself was another multi-talent, ironically (well, I think it's ironic, anyhow). I really enjoyed his Voyage: A Novel of 1896. I think it was his only novel (I'm too tired/lazy to go look it up), though I think he wrote several books.

This whole "safe with obsessions" thing is so cool, Red. You need to have a word with my ex-girlfriend, who got a bit miffed that I watched the first four seasons of 24 in 22 days. 96 episodes. YOU can relate, on some level, right?

Was I so wrong?

Sigh.

Dearest--I'm sure you know that Robert Shaw was alosan accomplished playwright. we saw one of his done in Boston years ago [Glass booth? something]. Beautiful thick snow this morning! love dad

Mitch - I am here for you!! Never forget that!

Gimme the ex-girlfriend's email. I'll set that broad straight about obsessive personalities. :)

Dad - no snow here yet!!

Yes - I did know that about Shaw's plays - but I've never read them. I should check them out - definitely.

OMG. There was a long comment discussion over on my friend's livejournal about Extras and what the funniest bits are and what makes them so funny. The show is absolutely genius! The craft services scene with Daniel Radcliffe had me laughing so hard I was nearly in tears. Kate Winslet teaching them how to talk dirty was fun, but not nearly as quotable as Patrick Stewart. "And then all her clothes fell off. She tried to cover up, but it was too late! I'd seen everything!" Tack that to the end of any good story and it immediately gets five times better! Substitute He for She when applicable. Hilarity ensues. Somehow, and I don't know how it's possible, I missed the Ben Stiller episode. I think I might have to go to the library and see if they have last season's DVDs in stock. Ashley Jensen is fantastic, and who wouldn't want a friend like her character on Ugly Betty?

"The Deep".

Beautiful, brilliant film. Shaw was a fantastic actor. I loved him for many, many years. I LOVE that people still obsess about him.

Along with my usual obsessions (which go into the thousands) my newest one is Uta Hagen. I'm devouring every book she wrote, every quote, every piece of information I can find on her. I can't get enough. I'm literally crawling in her soul and sleeping there for a while.

I

Cannot

Stop.