Thoughts on Shatner

[jayrath]

He's not an actor. He's a star.

Really, he long ago decided to play himself playing an actor playing himself. "Free Enterprise" was the best thing that every happened to Shatner. He completely redefined himself.

As for his earlier work, it is absolutely in the style of every other drama on TV at the time. Check out "Bonanza" or "The Big Valley." Almost all shows were broadcast and then rebroadcast only once. That was the expectation, anyway. There was no time for subtleties. The audience needed to be told fast what the story was about.

Is it often hammy now? Sure. But no one, even in the first decade of syndication, ever, ever complained about it. I lived through it all, and while fans complained about certain guests, no one ever criticized the regular cast's performances. Back in the '70s, the most common complaint about Shatner in "Star Trek" was that he was sometimes "fat." (Which I just do not see in TOS. Maybe a few extra pounds, but never fat.)

[Melakon]

Here's one for the ladies!

A pre-Trek Bill takes off his shirt in the failed "Alexander the Great" pilot.

[scotpens]

And here's a young, slim, and impossibly blond (or is that a bad wig?) Shatner in a 1955 live TV production of Billy Budd.

[BoredShipCapt'n]

Green Shirt wrote:

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The expression on Lee Majors' face says it all.

It does, but that was also his only expression.

[TREK_GOD_1]

BoredShipCapt'n wrote:

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It does, but that was also his only expression.

Cold!!

[TorontoTrekker]

I'll see your margarine commercial, and raise you a Loblaw's commercial (Loblaw's is a Canadian supermarket chain):

[A beaker full of death]

Melakon wrote:

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Hells, embedding not allowed. But you can find it at YouTube by searching for Project Strigas Affair. There's at least a second scene with both but don't think it's at YT.

You can also press the YouTube icon above.

Nimoy has a significant role in the full episode. That's Werner Klemperer (future Colonel Klink of Hogan's Heroes) as his boss.

I have another clip from that show here:

[A beaker full of death]

Shatner is a decent actor. There's an interesting clip here where he discusses his method:



By the 1980s theatrical acting was no longer appreciated, and Shatner's reputation had taken a hit because of how pushy he had (necessarily?) been during his lean years. By the 1990s, he took a cue from George Foreman and Leslie Nielson and realized he could reinvent himself. He gave the public what it wanted -- perhaps at the expense of some good performances.

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Whatever it must have been like being a co-star of Shatner's, I do distinctly remember all of the TOS cast saying that being DIRECTED by him, in ST V, was completely different. Strictly as a director, he was totally professional and treated the entire cast with 100% respect. There was none of the baggage that came with being a fellow *actor* during the original series.

That being said:

[Melakon]

He's so much fun, whether in comedy or drama. Canada's answer to Roger Moore.

[1001001]

Mr. Laser Beam wrote:

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Whatever it must have been like being a co-star of Shatner's, I do distinctly remember all of the TOS cast saying that being DIRECTED by him, in ST V, was completely different. Strictly as a director, he was totally professional and treated the entire cast with 100% respect. There was none of the baggage that came with being a fellow *actor* during the original series.

My wife and I were at a convention two weeks ago in San Francisco. Both George Takei and Walter Koenig were there.

Both took time to comment on Shatner (as they usually do). But Koenig did in fact say that as the director of ST:V, Shatner was great.

In fact he did a little impression of him:

"Walter...that..........was GOOD!"

[A beaker full of death]

^ Nichols has a theory about that. She thinks that when he was unquestionably in charge, he stopped feeling like he had to prove something.

[bbailey861]

timelord1010 wrote:

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Speaking of Mr. Shatner, he will be at the US Navy's decommissioning ceremony for the USS Enterprise on Saturday:

http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=777338

I heard, in the end, that Shatner bailed on attending the decommissioning of the USS Enterprise. If this is true, it is unfortunate, but would not be surprising.

[JimZipCode]

Melakon wrote:

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A pre-Trek Bill takes off his shirt in the failed "Alexander the Great" pilot.

Wow. That is a remarkable clip.

Terrible, terrible staging of the action. The pouring water masks some of the dialogue, and the steam completely obscures the great Joseph Cotten as he spearks. It's unprofessional. Shatner's forced laughter and "impetuousness" are grating.

And yet, and yet. There is something there. The interaction between Shatner & Cotten is compelling (even if you can't see it). Despite its drawbacks, the water & steam give the actors some interesting stuff to do. Shatner's gusto when the girl pours the water is eye-opening.

Warts and all, they had some raw material that they could have built a series on. Seems like it needed just a bit more work. Maybe they should have done a second pilot. ;-)

[JimZipCode]

A beaker full of death wrote:

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Shatner is a decent actor. There's an interesting clip here where he discusses his method:

That was super interesting, thanks for posting.

Wow, after the show wrapped, but before the last episode had aired. Fascinating moment.