Robert J. Shaw Movies
Not to be confused with the Scottish actor who appeared in The Sting (1973) and Jaws (1975), Robert J. Shaw was a television writer who penned episodes for soap operas and nighttime dramas. He learned his craft at the University of Wisconsin where he studied under such literary luminaries as Wallace Stegner and Sinclair Lewis. He sold his first concept for a radio program, Front Page Farrell, to NBC in 1940. He subsequently went on to work on such popular radio dramas as Stella Dallas, Search for Tomorrow, and Portia Faces Life. With Robert Montgomery Presents, Shaw launched his television writing career. Shaw moved from Los Angeles to Manhattan in the early '60s to work on shows like Hawaiian Eye and Peyton Place. During the '80s, Shaw was a story editor on Dallas, where he was responsible for the "Who Shot J.R.?" story line and General Hospital. During his career, Shaw earned seven Emmys. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1981
The expensive face of the title belongs to Sylvia Kristel, who actually levies a price of $2.5 million upon the fictional cosmetics firm of Glamour Inc. Ms. Kristel's story is but one of the many intrigues within the hallowed halls of Glamour. Tony Curtis stars as the company's CEO, beset with infighting, intrigue and infidelity. Lee Grant costars as a rival cosmetics exec, while Gayle Hunnicutt is Curtis' far from loving young wife. Based on Lois Wyse's novel Kiss, Inc., Million Dollar Face was purportedly the pilot film for an unsold TV series, though one wonders if Tony Curtis would have stuck it out after what he had to put up with in this first (and last) episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
A seaport murder alerts Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) to the presence of Communist spies in the area. Sure enough, enemy agent Conrad Letterman (Michael Rennie) is laying the groundwork for a plan to blow up a military supply ship bound for the Orient. In order for the mission to succeed, Letterman must put pressure on a pair of "sleeper" agents, John and Viv Caldwell (Arthur Franz, Phyllis Thaxter), who are no longer devoted to the Communist cause. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Working on a tip, Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) goes undercover at a Colorado federal prison, where becomes the cellmate of hard-bitten "lifer" Fritz Moline (Joe Campanella). Having spent five years formulating an escape plan, Moline has no qualms about killing anyone who might get in his way--including his new "buddy" Erskine. William Reynolds, who would join the series during Season Three as Special Agent Tom Colley, is here cast as another FBI operative named Kendall Lisbon. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1959
On probation for car theft, young Jimmy Morrow (Peter Miles) tries his best to "go straight", only to be accused of stealing a priceless Spanish cross. Worse still, Jimmy is charged with the murder of the relic's owner, Curtis Runyan (Donald Randolph). Out of sympathy for Jimmy's beleagured parents, Perry (Raymond Burr) agrees to handle the boy's defense. (Trivia note: Peter Miles is the brother of actress Gigi Perreau, who'd played Perry's client in the first-season episode "The Case of the Desperate Daughter".) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
