Known for Acting
Sebastian Lewis Shaw was an English actor, director, novelist, playwright and poet. During his 65-year career, he appeared in dozens of stage performances and more than 40 film and television productions. Shaw was born and brought up in Holt, Norfolk, and made his acting debut at age eight at a London theatre. He studied acting at Gresham's School and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Although he worked primarily on the London stage, he made his Broadway debut in 1929, when he played one of the two murderers in Rope's End. He appeared in his first film, Caste, in 1930 and quickly began to create a name for himself in films. He described himself as a "rotten actor" as a youth and said his success was primarily due to his good looks. He claimed to mature as a performer only after returning from service in the Royal Air Force during World War II. Shaw was particularly known for his performances in productions of Shakespeare plays which were considered daring and ahead of their time. In 1966, he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he remained for a decade and delivered some of his most acclaimed performances. He also wrote several poems and a novel, The Christening, in 1975.
Born
May 29, 1905
Died
December 23, 1994 (age 89)
Birthplace
Holt, Norfolk, England, UK
Filmography
44 films, 13 shows


The Story of Star Wars
2004 · 1h
country: United States
The Skywalker family is at the heart of the Star Wars saga. Now hear the inside story of Luke and Anakin Skywalker from the characters who witnessed it all: the famous droid duo C-3PO and R2-D2. Episodes IV,V and VI are explored in "The Story of Luke Skywalker," which follows the young man escaping from his daily chores on Tatooine to his becoming a hero in the Rebal Alliance. In "The Story of Anakin Skywalker," you'll go behind the mask of the greatest Star Wars villain and discover how Darth Vader started life as a young Podracing Champ on Tatooine and later became a headstrong young Jedi seduced by the Dark Side of the Force. With clips from the Star Wars films, C-3PO and R2-D2 take you on an hour-long journey through the saga and prepare you for the explosive final chapter: Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith.


Monkey Boy
1992 · 1h 44m
country: United Kingdom
Half man, half monkey, Chad was born in a lab and kept hidden from the world. A journalist, investigating a macabre mass-murder, discovers the mutant boy — a creature with the mind of a child and superhuman strength. But the reporter finds out the hard way that nothing, and nobody, can stand in the way of progress. (Re-titled for its American VHS release, "Monkey Boy" is an abbreviated film version of Lawrence Gordon Clark's 1991 mini-series "Chimera".)


Chernobyl: The Final Warning
1991 · 1h 35m
country: United States
True story about the tragic nuclear power plant accident in Chernobyl.


The Master Builder
1988 · 2h 18m
country: United Kingdom
Ibsen's play is the story of Halvard Solness, Master Builder of a town in Norway. Solness is a successful architect but he's afraid of the being surpassed by those younger than himself. The arrival of a young woman called Hilda stirs up memories and feelings with stories of a promise he made her many years ago.


High Season
1987 · 1h 34m
country: United Kingdom
On the isle of Rhodes, Katherine, an expatriate English photographer, lives with her daughter. A young local wants to encourage tourism, so he commissions a sculpture of the Unknown Tourist for the town square; the sculptor he brings to Rhodes is Kate's ex-husband. Also there to see Kate is Sharp, an aging antiquarian and her dear friend. He has something important to tell her. As Kate, her ex, and Sharp sort out things that go back years, two English tourists bumble about, one thinking he's fallen in love with Kate, his wife thinking she's found her own lover. A rare vase, a spy, old friendships, the statue's unveiling, and off-hand English sorting-out play into the resolution.
Assembled Memories: Jack B. Yeats, 1871-1957
Assembled Memories: Jack B. Yeats, 1871-1957
1985 · 35m
country: Unknown
The life and work of Anglo-Irish painter, Jack B Yeats (1871-1957)


The Weather in the Streets
1983 · 2h 13m
country: United Kingdom
Passion comes calling when a man suffering through an unhappy marriage in 1920s England runs into first love.


Return of the Jedi
1983 · 2h 12m
country: United States
Luke Skywalker leads a mission to rescue his friend Han Solo from the clutches of Jabba the Hutt, the Emperor prepares to crush the Rebellion with a more powerful Death Star, and the Rebel fleet mounts a massive attack on the space station. Luke Skywalker confronts Darth Vader in a final climactic duel before the evil Emperor.
A Bit of Singing and Dancing
A Bit of Singing and Dancing
1982 · 51m
country: Unknown
Freed at last by death from tyranny of an elderly, querulous mother, Esme Fanshaw is persuaded to take a man, Amos Curry, into her house as a paying guest. At first wary of him, Esme becomes increasingly fond of this dapper little man with his mysterious summer occupation. When she finally learns the nature of this occupation she is at first shocked then sympathetic.


Timon of Athens
1981 · 2h 8m
country: United Kingdom
Timon loves to give parties and objects to friends, but when he cannot pay his creditors, his "friends" refuse to help him, and he becomes a misanthropic hermit.


Fothergill
1981 · 1h
country: Unknown
John Fothergill, aesthete and scholar, becomes the proprietor of the Spread Eagle, in Thame, Oxfordshire, with the intent of turning it into the most celebrated Inn in England, catering to the brightest lights in London's literati.


Liza
1978
country: Unknown
Lavretsky returns to Russia from Europe and joins the group of admirers of his beautiful young cousin Liza.


A Choice of Evils
1977 · 1h 15m
country: United Kingdom
Cardinal Volponi tries to save his old friend, a priest-turned-militant communist, from being executed by the Nazis alongside 334 other hostages but struggles to reason with either the Vatican, the Nazis or his friend.


A Midsummer Night's Dream
1968 · 2h 4m
country: United Kingdom
Peter Hall's film adaptation of Shakespeare's comedy, filmed in and around an English country house and starring actors from the Royal Shakespeare Company.
All's Well That Ends Well
All's Well That Ends Well
1968
country: United Kingdom
An adaptation directed by Claude Whatham for the BBC's Theatre 625 slot. Essentially a recording of John Barton's acclaimed Royal Shakespeare Company production starring Catherine Lacey (the Countess), Ian Richardson (Bertram), Lynn Farleigh (Helen), Clive Swift (Parolles) and Sebastian Shaw (the King), it was broadcast on 3 June 1968.


Walk's End
1966 · 50m
country: United Kingdom
Dr Saint's offer of a free place in his comfortable old-folks' home appears entirely philanthropic to Miss Claythorpe. However, he is suspiciously vague about the treatment that goes with it.


It Happened Here
1966 · 1h 41m
country: United Kingdom
World War II, 1940. When the Nazi hordes invade and occupy Great Britain, the English citizens are soon divided between those who choose to submissively collaborate and those who are willing to fight.
Laxdale Hall
Laxdale Hall
1953 · 1h 17m
country: United Kingdom
A starchy parliamentary delegation is sent to a remote Scottish Highlands community, where the residents are protesting the poor condition of their road by withholding their taxes, and spend a few days among the locals.


Landfall
1949 · 1h 26m
country: United Kingdom
A British coastal command pilot is charged with neglect when it is thought that he has sunk a British submarine rather than a German U-boat. Unable to live with his actions, he volunteers for a deadly mission. His girlfriend meanwhile tries to prove that he is innocent.


The Glass Mountain
1949 · 1h 28m
country: United Kingdom
An aspiring composer, in the British Air Force for WWII, is downed in Italy and rescued by an Italian girl. He returns home to his wife, inspired to write an opera and aware that he's fallen in love with his rescuer.


Journey Together
1945 · 1h 35m
country: United Kingdom
Two Englishmen train with the Royal Air Force, ending with a bombing raid on Berlin.


East of Piccadilly
1941 · 1h 15m
country: United Kingdom
A series of murders in the West End of London baffle the officers of Scotland Yard and draw the interest of a crime reporter to the case.


The Flying Squad
1940 · 1h 4m
country: United Kingdom
Inspector Bradley of Scotland Yard is on the trail of the murderous ringleader of a smuggling organization in London.
Bulldog Sees It Through
Bulldog Sees It Through
1940 · 1h 17m
country: Unknown
The armaments production programme is being sabotaged by a gang of Germans. A few arrests are made but the destruction of a vital plant goes on. Test pilot 'Bulldog' Bill Watson plunges headlong into the mystery.


Three Silent Men
1940 · 1h 12m
country: United Kingdom
An inventor of a deadly weapon to be used against the allies is injured in a crash. Surgeon, Sir James (Sebastian Shaw) saves his life but learns of the inventors plot.


Now You're Talking
1940 · 12m
country: United Kingdom
Commissioned by the Ministry of Information and specifically target working class audiences; ‘Now you’re talking’ follows a plant worker, who lets slip vital information about some overnight research on a captured enemy aircraft. This inevitably leads to this most important of secrets falling into the lap of the enemy.


The Spy in Black
1939 · 1h 22m
country: United Kingdom
A German submarine is sent to the Orkney Isles in 1917 to sink the British fleet.
Prison Without Bars
Prison Without Bars
1939 · 1h 25m
country: United Kingdom
1939 BBC studio production of Peggy Barwell’s play Prison without Bars, set in a girls’ reformatory, which was adapted from a German play by Gina Kaus and Otto Edgar Eis. An inmate of a girl's reformatory competes with its superintendent for the affections of its young doctor.
Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar
1938 · 1h 41m
country: United Kingdom
The growing ambition of Julius Caesar is a source of major concern to his close friend Brutus. Cassius persuades him to participate in his plot to assassinate Caesar but they have both sorely underestimated Mark Antony


The Squeaker
1937 · 1h 17m
country: United Kingdom
London's jewel thieves are under the thumb of a mysterious fence, who ruthlessly exposes any thief who crosses him. Desperate, Scotland Yard re-hires ex-Inspector Barrabal who, as a known drunkard, is ideally suited to go undercover with a faked criminal record (which may spoil his chances with lovely Carol Stedman).


Farewell Again
1937 · 1h 25m
country: United Kingdom
Farewell Again is a multiplotted British comedy/drama about soldiers on leave and the people they've left. Given a six-hour pass after a tour of duty in India, several British Tommies (among them Robert Newton, Sebastian Shaw and Anthony Bushell) try to unravel their domestic tribulations before having to ship out again. American expatriate Tim Whelan was the directorial hand who kept the various plot threads from entangling, while another Hollywood vet, James Wong Howe, manned the cameras. The film became instantly dated with the advent of World War II, but in its own time Farewell Again was a box-office smash. The film was issued in the US as Troopship.


Men Are Not Gods
1936 · 1h 23m
country: United Kingdom
Actor Edmund Davey becomes a star overnight when his wife and co-star teams up with the secretary of a noted stage critic to produce a glowing review of his 'Othello'.


Tomorrow We Live
1936 · 1h 12m
country: United Kingdom
Financier Sir Charles Hendra, on the brink of ruin, contemplates ending his own life. After pondering the difficult decision, Charles decides to invite twelve similarly desperate individuals to dinner so they can all discuss their problems. Will his generosity change the course of their lives?
Birds of a Feather
Birds of a Feather
1936 · 1h 10m
country: United Kingdom
A sausage-making tycoon rents a castle from an impoverished aristocrat.


Jury's Evidence
1936 · 1h 14m
country: United Kingdom
The Foreman of an Old Bailey jury refuses to accept circumstantial evidence and helps solve murder case.
Department Store
Department Store
1935 · 1h 5m
country: United Kingdom
The heir to a London department store must learn the business by working his way through various menial jobs incognito first. However, a crooked manager has arranged for a cracksman, just out of prison, to join the staff. Each is mistaken for the other.
The Way of Youth
The Way of Youth
1935 · 1h 6m
country: United Kingdom
The manager of a gambling club tries to swindle the owner.
Adventure Ltd.
Adventure Ltd.
1935 · 1h 10m
country: United Kingdom
A British adventure film directed by George King


Three Witnesses
1935 · 1h 8m
country: United Kingdom
At a firm of contractors, a partner is accused of murdering his brother following a takeover bid.


The Lad
1935 · 1h 12m
country: United Kingdom
An ex-con searching for a hidden jewel is assumed by a group of people to be investigating them.


The Ace of Spades
1935 · 1h 6m
country: United Kingdom
The wife of a candidate for Parliament is having an affair with the brother of her husband's rival. Her lover is running for election on a promise of building a railway that the community needs, but a wealthy landowner won't give permission for the railway to be built over his land. When the landowner is later found dead, suspicion falls on the adulterous candidate.
Brewster's Millions
Brewster's Millions
1935 · 1h 20m
country: United Kingdom
Jack Brewster is a pennyless English lad who learns that he has inherited 6 million pounds sterling from a recently deceased relative. But soon learns that he must spend 500,000 pounds in 60 days to inherit the rest of the money, or forfeit the entire inheritance.
Little Miss Nobody
Little Miss Nobody
1933
country: United Kingdom


Caste
1930 · 1h 10m
country: United Kingdom
The daughter of a Cockney drunkard marries a young aristocrat who is presumed killed in action in WWI. When she gets the news she goes to stay with her aristocratic in-laws.