ORBzine - Book Reviews June 2000

Yes, Mr Bronson: Memoirs of a Bum Actor [Michael Sheard] Michael Sheard is one of the nicest people that this reviewer has ever met, though he has portrayed some of the most evil characters in history. He has featured in a wide variety of films and TV shows from the early 70s onwards [some but not by any means all of which are listed below], usually as a villain. This book gives insights into the making of those films and shows, and casts a less than flattering portrait for several so-called stars. The foreword is by Roger Moore, who Mr Sheard worked with in the opening scene of Live and Let Die [later cut from the finished film] and played subordinate to in Escape from Athena. That should give some idea of the author's depth of experience, and his close links with some of the biggest names in the film industry. Get your own copy HERE! Selection of Michael Sheard's Movie Appearances The McKenzie Break To Encourage The Others Holiday On The Buses Frenzy The Hiding Place Soft Beds, Hard Battles England Made Me Force 10 From Navarone Escort Service Escape to Athena Riddle of the Sands All Quiet On The Western Front The Empire Strikes Back From A Far Country Green Ice High Road To China Dirty Dozen: The Next Mission Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Selection of Michael Sheard's TV Appearances Colditz Madigan The Persuaders Sweeney Space 1999 Minder Dr Who Auf Wiedersen, Pet Space The Outsider The Dark Side Of The Sun Grange Hill 'Allo, 'Allo Yes, Admiral: Sci-Fi, Friends and Further Memories [Michael Sheard] While the first volume of his autobiography had a foreword by Roger Moore, and detailed the author's wide experience in the acting profession, this volume centres on his adventures as a cult SF star. The forewords are by some of the many friends he has made over the years: Jeremy Bulloch [Boba Fett] Kenny Baker [R2D2] Nicholas Courtney [Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart] Peter Mayhew [Chewbacca] Mr Sheard revels in the warm glow of fandom and SF conventions. For example, he does not use the term fan [an abreviation of fanatic] - he instead uses the much more appropriate term appreciator. We should contrast this with the attitude of Sir Alec Guinness. Guinness' name may be an anagram for genuine class, but his attitude to SW fandom leaves a lot to be desired. In his own autobiography Sir Alec made disparaging remarks about Dave Prowse, especially his habit of signing photos Dave Prowse IS Darth Vader. Guinness' reply was that is because Vader was the most he ever was. Guinness has been an actor of oscar-winning stature since Bridge on the River Kwai in 1959, but without the work of supporting thesps like Mr Sheard and Dave Prowse his many films and stage-plays would not have been possible. Get your own copy HERE!

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