Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Detailed insight into complex, talented man, 4 Aug 1999
By A Customer
I found the biography on Robert Shaw a fascinating book. He is my favourite actor, and his complex, intense life made it all the more interesting to read. I noted he was even nominated for an oscar for his role as Henry VIII in 'A Man For All Seasons', but was disappointed that not more was said about his experiences on the making of Jaws; ( I heard that everyone kept well clear of him, and that intense personality ). I was moved especially by the stories later on in his life, when the effects of alcohol crippled him and his abilities on screen more and more. I felt at the end of the book, Shaw was a flawed genius, and although respected as an actor, could have achieved so much more, if he had been able to control his demons inside. Overall the biography was well researched and written.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Robert Shaw More Than A Life, 8 Feb 2006
I have not read this book, since it is long out of print.
However Robert Shaw was one of the most underated great actors and since he died nearly thirty years ago I really want to read about him. He was one of those actors who had the most menacing eyes and voices. Despite his troubled life, he always delivered, even in second rate films.
Please rerelease this book!
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2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
informative book of underrated actor., 14 Aug 2006
as this biography shows and what i also know, robert shaw was as famous for his writing as well as being an actor and a darn good one.
this book is slightly difficult to read to start with, but soon picks up.
the authors go into considerable detail about shaw's life and career; his struggling to be recognised in the theatre, then his break in t.v in "the buccaneers," then gradually ascending to gain some kind of notice and finally stardom.
i can't understand why shaw wasn't given more leading roles in films, because he was certainly a great lead. i certainly rate him as a far superior dramatic actor compared to his contempories sean connery and michael caine. strangely enough, they have both had more success in hollywood than robert shaw did. there is no justice sometimes.
i didn't know that robert shaw had an obsessive, sometimes aggressive competitive streak where he had to win at everything he took part in. by all accounts, he was of seemingly limitless energy until excessive drinking took its toll - hence his premature death.
the photographs selected in the biography aren't that good to say the least.pictures of various films are absent when they should have been highlighted.
it is a shame that he finished his career with some rather poor choices towards the end; "the deep," "force 10 from navorone" and "avalanche express." simply terrible. why he didn't take up sam peckinpah's offer to play sgt. steiner in "cross of iron" i shall never know.
still, as this book points out, shaw has left his mark in plenty of great films; "jaws"(my favourite), "black sunday," "the caretaker," "the birthday party," "from russia with love," "swashbuckler" (my second favourite), "figures in a landscape."
the writers tend to cover shaw novels in slightly too much detail, but informative nevertheless.
a great read of someone who should have achieved far more.
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