Ian McShane Movies
Another distinguished product of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, Lancashire-born Ian McShane made his professional stage, film and TV debut all in the same year: 1962. McShane's subsequent stage credits were as extensive as they were impressive, ranging from centuries-old classics to Tennessee Williams and Joe Orton. His TV resumé includes any number of TV-movies and miniseries: he played Judas in the internationally produced Jesus of Nazareth (1977) and was seen as the title character in the British "mini" Disraeli (1979). In America, he was a regular on the 1989-90 season of Dallas, playing Don Lockwood. McShane gained an international fan following as a result of his starring role in the widely-distributed TV series The Lovejoy Mysteries, originally filmed in 1986, then brought back by popular demand in 1990.Throughout the 90s, McShane was mostly absent from both the big screen and the small one. However, in 2000, he received recognition for playing a tough crime boss in the critically acclaimed Sexy Beast. It was certainly this hard-edged persona that attracted the producers of HBO's Deadwood to McShane. In 2004, he found himself with a regular gig on the foul-mouthed Western series, starring as an unscrupulous tavern-owner in a lawless 19th-century American prospecting town. He stayed with the show for its entire run, soon moving on to star as Max in the Broadway revival of Harold Pinter's The Homecoming, before signing on to star in the NBC drama Kings in 2008. Loosely based on the story of King David, the show followed the story of a dynastic family in present-day America, but was cancelled after just a season. He went on to appear in the quirky thriller A 44 Inch Chest, before joining the likes of Donald Sutherland in the fantasy mini-series The Pillars of the Earth in 2010. Sticking with the fantastical theme, McShane next signed on to play the legendary pirate Blackbeard in the 2011 Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.
In years to come, McShane would appear in several films, like Snow White and the Huntsman, as well as the mini series Pillars of the Earth.
From 1965 to 1968, Ian McShane was married to actress Suzanne Farmer. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1986
A middle-aged dentist who is frustrated and bored with his commonplace life looks for greater adventure. This appeared on the PBS "American Playhouse." ~ Rovi
Edgar Allan Poe's classic 1841 detective story Murders in the Rue Morgue was adapted for television by David Epstein. Two women--a mother and a daughter--are brutally killed in their tiny Paris apartment. There are no eyewitnesses, and the earwitnesses are wildly contradictory. The evidence points to a man of superhuman strength: perhaps it was the girl's jealous fiance. Enter consulting detective C. Auguste Dupin (George C. Scott), who with a methodical application of logic solves the mystery. The younger of the two unfortunate ladies was played by Rebecca De Mornay, still in her ingenue phase. Murders in the Rue Morgue was originally telecast December 7, 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1985
This TV pilot film stars Carl Weathers as Harry Braker, an ex-Marine who is his city's only African American police lieutenant. Tough but tender, Braker bends the rules to help the helpless. Braker's team of co-workers is the usual cop-show manifest: The gonzo (Randall "Tex" Cobb), the green newcomer (Joseph Bottoms) and the drop-dead gorgeous babe (Ann Schedeen). Their assignment this time out is to find the killer of a prominent producer and director, both of whom were engaged in the manufacture of porno films. Braker was telecast back to back on April 28, 1985 with another busted pilot, Brothers in Law. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1985
- R
This uneasy mix between a slasher film and a police story focuses on a series of murders in a luxury Manhattan apartment building and the main suspect in the case, an eccentric doorman (Ian McShane). The chief detective sent to unravel the crimes, Lt. Dinardo (Mike Connors) is involved with Kate (Anne Archer), an undercover cop who installs herself in the apartment building to lure the killer into action. This makes the lieutenant particularly interested in the outcome of Kate's ploy. Although potentially prone to high suspense and dramatic turns, the story is not quite as tension-filled (or gory) as its outlines suggest. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Connors, Anne Archer, (more)
- 1985
Filmed in Tunisia on a budget of 30 million dollars, the five-part, 12-hour miniseries A.D. was the final installment in a historical trilogy which included Moses the Lawgiver and Jesus of Nazareth. Covering the years 30 to 69 A.D., the teleplay, co-written by Anthony Burgess, chronicled the political intrigue which plagued the Roman Empire, with such key players as the emperors Tiberius (James Mason in his final role), Caligula (John McEnery), Claudius (Richard Kiley), and Nero (Anthony Andrews) calling the shots. Meanwhile, the death of Jesus Christ (played by Michael Wilding, son of Elizabeth Taylor) not only sparked a widespread monotheistic religious movement, but also resulted in devastating factionalism amongst the various Jewish sects of the era. Offsetting the true events are a number of fictional subplots, among them the romance between Jewish slave girl Sarah (Amanda Pays) and Roman soldier Valerius (Neil Dickson), and the tempestuous relationship between male and female gladiators, Caleb (Cecil Humphreys) and Corinna (Diana Venora). The huge cast included Ava Gardner, making her TV-movie debut as the scheming Agrippina. The winner of an Emmy award for Best Film Editing, A.D. was broadcast by NBC from March 31 through April 4, 1985. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Anthony Andrews, Colleen Dewhurst, (more)
- 1985
Based on the novel by Belva Plain, the three-part NBC miniseries Evergreen covered a time span from 1909 to 1959. The story begins in New York's Lower East Side with the arrival of Polish-Jewish immigrant Anna (Lesley Ann Warren). At first employed as a humble seamstress, Anna is whisked into a whole new world when she becomes the wife of the enterprising Joseph Friedman (Armand Assante), who eventually becomes a wealthy Westchester contractor. Even so, Anna's heart belongs to Paul Lerner (Ian Shane), the son of the prosperous Fifth Avenue family which employs her relatives. In 1918, Anna gives birth to Paul's daughter, allowing Joseph to believe that he is the father. The secret surrounding Anna's child will lead to a daunting and frequently heartbreaking chain of events, culminating decades later in the newly formed state of Israel, where Anna's grandson Eric hopes to "find himself" -- and ends up finding more than he bargained for. Also in the cast was Richard Burton's daughter, Kate Burton, as the wealthy Gentile wife of Anna and Joseph's son Maury (Tony Soper), a woman whose very presence causes a near-irreparable rift in an already fragmented family unit. Running a total of six hours, Evergreen originally aired on February 24, 25, and 26, 1985. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1984
Based on the novel by Agatha Christie and set in the late 1950s, this unevenly told film starts when Dr. Arthur Calgary (Donald Sutherland) comes back to England after two years on an Antarctic expedition and discovers that the man he is searching for has been executed for murder. At the beginning of his expedition he had given a ride one night to a hitchhiker and accidentally ended up with his address book. To his horror, the hitchhiker's mother was killed on that night, and he had been the alibi that would have saved him from execution. Spurred on by his sense of shock and guilt, Calgary makes contact with the family and is put off by their disinterest in finding the real killer. It seems that the mother had many enemies among her close family members: her husband was having an affair, there was a blackmail scheme in the works, and many felt that she had already excluded them from any inheritance. Although the acting is uneven and the plot may seem predictable or contrived to non-Christie readers, the story retains interest, and Dave Brubeck's jazz score adds a special dimension to the proceedings. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Donald Sutherland, Christopher Plummer, (more)
- 1984
- R
Not quite reaching as far as its storyline would permit, this film on the addiction and downfall of an otherwise successful married man is not always successful itself. Lillian (Pamela Sue Martin) is commissioned to do a painting for Jake Gregory (Steve Railsback), who owns a Los Angeles construction firm. As they proceed up to the top of a project in a cage elevator, the attraction between them rises even faster, and after the usual romantic and personal interludes, the two of them decide to marry. On their first anniversary, Jake gives Lillian diamond earrings, and a painful ear-piercing ensues, played out with sexual undertones. The couple have no major problems until one day they meet the villainous Sidney (Ian McShane) who invites them to his home where he introduces them to freebasing cocaine. In the long run, Lillian backs away, but Jake quickly becomes addicted, though their initial reactions to the drug are the opposite. During the remainder of the film, Jake's life deteriorates steadily, as no one and nothing is able to come between him and the cause of his destruction. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Pamela Sue Martin, Steve Railsback, (more)
- 1983
- R
Exposed is the film in which concert violinist Rudolf Nureyev grabs his bow and "plays" the lissome body of Nastassja Kinski. This may well stand as the silliest bit of erotica in screen history, but in the context of the film it's a model of restraint. We're asked to believe that Kinski is Elizabeth Carlson, a Wisconsin girl who has come to the big city to make it as a pianist or model. We're also supposed to be convinced that Nureyev is part-time espionage agent Daniel Jelline, who is determined to bring terrorist Rivas (Harvey Keitel) to justice. Much of the film takes place in Paris, where at least the scenery is lovely. The various plotlines and characters never quite congeal. Despite the fact that director James Toback is given sole screenplay credit, the film seems more like a "committee" project. To its credit, Exposed is never dull; with that cast, how could anyone fall asleep? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Nastassja Kinski, Rudolf Nureyev, (more)
- 1983
Grace Kelly, the high-society beauty who became an Oscar-winning actress and then a European princess, is the subject of this TV biopic. Cheryl Ladd has the looks and poise of the original Grace, though she isn't quite as charismatic. The early portion of the film retraces the stormy relationship between Grace and her gruff Philadelphia millionaire dad, Jack Kelly. The script suggests that Grace went through life looking for a strong father figure, finally finding one in Prince Rainier of Monaco (Ian McShane), whom she weds. Several "celebrity look-alikes" parade through the film, pretending to be the film personalities with whom Ms. Kelly worked during her brief Hollywood career. Grace Kelly tones down the darker aspects of its subject, and the film is infinitely more tasteful than most other TV biographies of the same period, even when dealing with Princess Grace's untimely death. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1983
Bare Essence, based on a novel by Meredith Rich, began as a two-part TV movie, premiering October 4 and 5, 1982. General Hospital alumnus Genie Francis stars as Tyger Hayes, the daughter of a powerful movie mogul. When Tyger's father dies, her much-married mother Lady Bobbi Rowan (Linda Evans) invites the girl to come to work for the perfume company that had financed her dad's last movies. Learning to play the dog-eat-dog survival game in a hurry, Tyger rises to the top of a sweet-smelling compost heap. Bare Essence was subsequent spun off into a short-lived series. Telecast April 29, 1983, the "final chapter" leaves the fates of Tyger, her mother, her business, and hit-and-run victim Niko Theophilus (an Onassis clone played by Ian McShane) up in the air. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1982
In this drama, adapted from a W. Somerset Maugham novel, a philandering wife is accused of killing her lover. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1982
Thirteen months and ten million dollars were lavished upon this ten-hour, four-part TV miniseries about legendary globetrotter Marco Polo. Newcomer Ken Marshall played the title character, a 14th century Venetian explorer who, among other accomplishments, firmly established the "silk route" between Europe and the Orient, introducing such precious commodities as spaghetti and fireworks to the Occidental world. In addition to featuring the usual polyglot of major British and American stars in cameo roles (including Denholm Elliott, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud, Leonard Nimoy, and Burt Lancaster), the production represented the first Western production to be filmed on location in China since WWII -- not to mention the first English-language appearance of celebrated Chinese stage and film actor Ying Ruocheng, superbly cast as the mighty Kublai Khan. An American-Italian-Austrian-French-British co-production, Marco Polo received its first U.S. showing when it was telecast by NBC from May 16 through 19, 1982. A "condensed" version, running approximately 270 minutes, was later made available in Europe and South America. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ken Marshall, Denholm Elliott, (more)
- 1982
A rare virus known as African Hemorrhagic Fever has quarantined Magnum and Higgins at Robin's Nest. Their enforced stay coincides with the arrival of Higgins' former comrade-in-arms Edwin Clutterbuck (Ian McShane), with whom he served in Africa during the bloody Mau Mau uprising of 1955. Now, it seems that the members of Higgins' and Clutterbucks' regiment are being murdered one by one--and the killer may have slipped into the Masters Estate before the quarantine signs went up! After several minor roles in previous episodes, Gillian Dobb makes her first appearance as Higgins' English lady friend Agatha Chumley. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1981
Beautiful film star Erin Wolfe (Cathie Shirriff) apparently kills herself in a manner resembling the script of her latest film, "Paradise Found". Erin's producer--and ex-lover--J.J. Stein (Ron Masak) hires Magnum to find out if her death indeed a suicide, or murder. Driven by a feeling of guilt over not having prevented the actress' death in the first place, Magnum signs on to the case--which takes a variety of dizzying twists and turns before climaxing on a remote island, where our hero is bedevilled not only by the danger at hand, but also by terrifying flashbacks to the Vietnam war. This episode is dedicated to the memory of cameraman Robert Van Ker Kar, who was accidentally killed in mid-production. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1980
- NR
Inspired by author P.M. Hubbard's novel of the same name, this intense installment of ITV's "Armchair Thriller" series stars Ian McShane (Deadwood) as a recently-paroled ex-con seeking to solve a deadly mystery. Four years ago, Peter Curtis (McShane) killed a man. Before slipping away, his victim uttered the words "High Tide's at 9.53." Haunted by the mystery of those final, fleeting words, Curtis travels south after serving his sentence, and checks into a West England hotel to search for answers. Chillingly, the only other occupant of the hotel seems to know everything about Curtis despite the fact that they've never met. Not only that, but the locals know exactly why he's there, and they're not about to let him solve the mystery first. Now the closer Curtis gets to the truth, the more likely it becomes that he won't live to see another day. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ian McShane, Kika Markham, (more)
- 1980
- R
Marred by prejudice and derogatory stereoptypes of gays and Hispanics, this subpar drama by Ken Annakin does not treat women or men well either. Bill (Mac Davis) is a detective who has just been hired by a tough lawyer, K.D. Locke (Tovah Feldshuh) to check up on some deadbeat ex-spouses who are ignoring their alimony payements. Soon Bill is caught in two complicated investigations, one focuses on a storekeeper, and the other on a sex doctor who just happens to be Locke's husband. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Mac Davis, Tovah Feldshuh, (more)
- 1979
Why is it that some of the most outlandish movie plotlines are grounded in reality? The Great Riviera Bank Robbery is based on an actual occurrence in 1976. A fascist terrorist group, known as "The Chain", joins forces with a gang of professional criminals to pull off a heist. The target: a bank vault in a French resort town, bulging with tourist money. The booty: fifteen million dollars. In the tradition of Rififi, we follow the thieves' progress step by step, inch by inch, from conception to execution to aftermath. Throughout The Great Riviera Bank Robbery, you'll be declaring in dropped-jaw amazement that "this can't be true!"....but true it is. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1979
Jackie Collins screenplay falters in this so-so melodrama about a soccer player and his road to fame and fortune. Rod Turner (Ian McShane) is a has-been soccer whiz who one day gets a second chance to reach for the brass ring. He joins a team owned by a playboy rock star (Paul Nicholas) and managed by Jake (Adam Faith), a vicious, mean-spirited devil. In spite of the manager and a suddenly complex personal life as he gets involved with the rock star's girlfriend (Suzanne Somers), Rod is determined to make this second chance work. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ian McShane, Suzanne Somers, (more)
Deadwood star Ian McShane stars as Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli in this Emmy-nominated period biopic from All Creatures Great and Small director Claude Whatham. His career marred in scandal, Disraeli rose from humble beginnings to become the 19th Century's most scandalous prime minister. Despite having his Jewish heritage exploited libelously by his detractors, Disraeli eventually managed to gain a coveted seat in Parliament. Over time the dubious rake would leverage that seat into a position of global power. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ian McShane
- 1978
This four-hour TV movie is one more of novelist Harold Robbins' "guess who everyone is supposed to really be?" wallowfests (with nary a Jolly Roger in sight). The "pirate" is Baydr (Franco Nero), an anti-Semitic Lebanese oil sheik, who, unbeknownst to himself, is actually an Israel-born Jew fathered by Ben Ezra (Eli Wallach). Baydr marries a haughty American WASP, Jordana (Anne Archer as a blonde), whom he meets at JFK's 1960 presidential campaign, and fathers a son by her. Meanwhile, Leila (Olivia Hussey), one of Baydr's two daughters from a prior marriage, trains to become a PLO terrorist and plots to kidnap Jordana and her son by Baydr. The modern viewer is luckier than those poor TV fans of 1978 who had to sit through two nights of this nonsense: the currently available syndicated version of Harold Robbins' The Pirate (retitled simply The Pirate) runs a mere 150 minutes. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1978
Written by the prolific John Mortimer, the British drama series Will Shakespeare focused on the Bard of Avon's formative years. Deftly mixing fact with fancy, the story concentrates on such elements as the marriage of young Will (played by Tim Curry, no less) to the older and more affluent Anne Hathaway (Meg Wynn Owen) and his hot-and-cold relationship with rival playwright Christopher Marlowe (Ian McShane). Andre Morell provided an amusing turn as Shakespearean actor Edward Alleyn, while Patience Collier was seen as the playwright's erstwhile patron Queen Elizabeth. The six episodes comprising Will Shakespeare were first broadcast from June 13 to July 18, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tim Curry, Ian McShane, (more)
Because director Franco Zeffirelli noted publicly that he intended to depict Jesus Christ as a human being rather than a religious icon, his expensive made-for-TV miniseries Jesus of Nazareth fell victim to protestors long before its April 3, 1977, debut. Despite the pullout of several sponsors, Jesus of Nazareth was aired as scheduled, sweeping the ratings in the process. In avoiding the usual overproduced Hollywood approach to the Gospels, Zeffirelli offers one of the most sensitive and reverent portrayals of Jesus ever seen on film. In the title role, Robert Powell heads a huge international cast, which includes Olivia Hussey as Mary, Peter Ustinov as Herod the Great, Christopher Plummer as Herod Antipas, Michael York as John the Baptist, James Farentino as Simon Peter, Donald Pleasence as Melchior, James Earl Jones as Balthazar, Ian McShane as Judas, Anne Bancroft as Mary Magdalene, Rod Steiger as Pontius Pilate, James Mason as Joseph of Arimathea, Anthony Quinn as Caiaphas, Laurence Olivier as Nicodemus, Ernest Borgnine as the Centurion, and Claudia Cardinale as the Adulteress. Filmed in England, Tunisia, and Morocco, Jesus of Nazareth was scripted by Zeffirelli, Anthony Burgess, and Suso Cecchi D'Amico. It originally aired in two three-hour segments, telecast Palm and Easter Sunday of 1977 as part of NBC's Big Event anthology. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Robert Powell, Olivia Hussey, (more)
- 1977
This made-for-TV espionage drama chronicles the adventures of Hawaiian secret agent Diamond Head, who begins impersonating a notorious gambler so he can get close to those who are planning to steal an extremely lethal chemical capable of wiping out all life. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
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