The Life and Times of Robert Shaw Quiz

Answer: Thomas and Doreen Shaw

Thomas Shaw was a well known doctor in Westhoughton and it was common knowledge that he preferred to spend his free time in the local pubs. Robert's mother, Doreen worked as a seamstress, which was an unheard of act during that time. But, with Thomas hardly ever home and needing to support her children, she was forced to do what she had to do in order to keep food on the table.

When Robert was six years old, the family moved to Stromness, Orkney Islands. When they lived in Westhoughton, Robert was well liked, but he found that the move was not working out for him, and the local children in Stromness began to tease him because of his English accent.

Robert loved to play sports, especially football and was quite good. The other children did not like that the newcomer was stealing all their glory and told young Robert that he could not participate. Not one to be told he could not do certain things, he formed his own football team and found several other children who wanted to join. He was captain, and took complete control of the team and when they were good enough, Robert challenged the other team that refused to let him play. Because of Robert's strong will and his fellow team mates, they defeated the opposing team...by winning the game Robert earned the respect of the other children.

Answer: No

When he was nine years old, he wrote a short story about four men that were stranded in the middle of the ocean and running out of food the men killed and ate their cook. Not something that an average nine year old would write about, but Robert was not your ordinary nine year old.

He loved to create and invent different characters and loved shock value in his stories. His teachers, while upset at the nature of the story, were very impressed with the details and were very amazed at the talent that he possessed.

Answer: False

Everything in the question is true, except that he was not elected to the Royal Academy Of Dramatic Arts. He voted for himself in an election to office of the Toc H Club. When the administrators asked why he did that, his response was short and sweet.."Of course I voted for me. Who else could do it better!" The direct quote can be found at: http://www.robertshaw.freeservers.com/rsbp1.htm

Answer: False

After the "scandal" with the Toc H Club, Robert attended two years at the Royal Academy Of Dramatic Arts, which he noted were the worst two years of his life. He was befriended by John Geilgud, and was offered by him a small part in "Hamlet." Robert accepted the part and was an instant hit with the audience, but Geilgud realized that Robert was too opinionated and strong minded and realized early on that Robert was not the type to listen to anyone.

In 1951, he was offered and accepted, what most actors would consider a nothing part, the character portrayal of a chemist at a police exhibition...he had no lines and was only on screen for twenty minutes, but the movie "Lavender Hill Mob" became an instant hit. In 1952, he wrote "The Hiding Place," and it received rave reviews from critics all over the world. At this point in his life, he was considered an accomplished writer, although he preferred acting. His book "The Hiding Place" was made into a flim that starred Alec Guinness and was retitled "Situation Hopeless, But Not Serious." Shaw dispised the fact that his book was turned into a comedy.

Answer: His daughter, Deborah was born and he met and was befriended by Donald Pleasence

In 1952, he met his wife, Jennifer Bourke, during the production of "A Mid Summer Night's Dream." They were married within the month and in January of 1953, his oldest daughter, Deborah was born. To coincide with the birth of his daughter, Shaw met and was befriended by Donald Pleasence...the friendship between the two men would last until 1978, when Shaw died.

Answer: Because Macy's thought it would be a great idea to have a British actor in the parade

In 1954, he was offered and accepted the part in the British show "The Buccaneers," which was a pirate show. Robert hated the show, but the show was a huge success and before he knew it, he was a popular star and his autograph was wanted where ever he went. But, this amount of success was not enough for him...he wanted more. "The Buccaneers" was popular in the United States and Macy's wanted Shaw in their annual Thanksgiving Day Parade, because they felt having a British person, whether he was famous or not would be great publicity.

Although I doubt if he were not famous that he would have been in the parade? For the parade, Shaw was situated between Roy Rogers and Basil Rathbone.

Answer: The priest

"A Town Called Hell," was based upon Shaw's novel "A Town Called Bastard." A novel that he was sorry for writing because he thought that it was not his best work. The movie was directed by Robert Parrish and Irving Lerner, and starred Telly Savalas as Don Carlos, who along along with a few of his friends, kill the town priest (Shaw) and his Christian followers.

Answer: Sheriff of Nottingham

"Robin and Marian," was directed by Richard Lester and is about an older Robin Hood, who returns to see his friend Little John. The Sheriff of Nottingham (Shaw) is hot on his trail. While this is perhaps one of Shaw's more notable performances, the American viewing audience was none too thrilled with this version of Robin Hood, because the film had too much depth.

Shaw however, was about to hang up his acting sword, when he was offered and accepted the part in the James Goldstone's 1976 film, "Swashbuckler." In the film, Shaw portrays Ned Lych, who along with a noblewoman try to stop a tyrant from ruling Jamaica. This is one of Shaw's more notable performances and one that should not be missed by anyone who enjoys watching him on the big screen.

Answer: Avalanche Express

"Avalanche Express," was made in the early part of 1978, and was never truly finished because Shaw died during the filming. However, the movie was finished with parts that had already been filmed and was released in 1979.

Answer: Heart Attack

During the filming of "Avalanche Express," Shaw was out driving with his third wife, Virginia, when he started to clutch his chest. He pulled the car over, got out, and walked about four or five steps before collapsing. Unfortunately, there was nothing that could be done to save his life and he died within fifteen minutes.

The fame that he never truly found in life, became his in death. His wife received thousands of telegrams and flowers from all over the world, and the townspeople stopped by to pay their final respects to a great writer and actor.