We spent the other evening watching yet another showing of the Ian Fleming thriller with hero James Bond. Sean Connery remains the template, of course.
But I was, as always, most impressed with the lifelong versatility of Robert Shaw. Every new role made this early effort more amazing. It is hard to believe the same actor who later became Nazi Colonel Hessler, mobster Doyle Lonnegan, and crusty old shark hunter Quint so capably portrayed the evil villain trained to kill Bond.
The movie differed from Fleming’s original plot. The cinematic character was an Irish spy employed by an international crime organization dedicated to creating conflict between Western Powers and the Soviet Union.
In Fleming’s book, Shaw’s character was the pretend friend who turned out to be the dangerous agent of Russia, sent to destroy any defense Britain, and ultimately the West, would have against Russian aggression.
Robert Shaw deserved the acclaim he received at the realistic portrayal. Audiences still find it difficult to distinguish between the actor and his subject.
Shaw died in 1978, 38 years too early to witness Mike Pence himself become Vice President of the United States.
current U.S. Vice President Mike Pence
Photographer:
Andrew Harrer
Bloomberg via Getty Images
