MovieChat Forums > The Bribe (1949) Discussion > Charles Laughton or Robert Shaw?

Charles Laughton or Robert Shaw?

posted 14 years ago by BigJohnPilgrim
3 replies | jump to latest

Just saw this movie for the first time, it is an excellent film noir. The romance (Gardner is hot!), the plot, the suspense, the twists, the filmograpy, everything. But the one thing that struck me the most was Charles Laughton's New England fisherman's accent that Robert Shaw perfected in Jaws. Robert Shaw obviously must have seen this movie and developed the accent and style based on Charles Laughton's performce. The two are too closely matched.

Come see a fat old man sometime!

[–] Ethereal-Cloud 12 years ago

If I were to go back in time and re-cast the movie, I would replace Robert Taylor with Robert Mitchum for the role of Rigby.

Thoughts?

[–] BigJohnPilgrim 12 years ago

I'd probably have to agree. Taylor is more suited for the tough guy western roles, while Mitchum can bring the heat in romantic roles.

Come see a fat old man sometime!

[–] herc_takes_five 10 years ago

yes, would have been great with mitchum (so would a dozen or so other mediocre noirs). taylor is not bad, though. laughton walks away with it, imho. check out taylor and mitchum as brothers/adversaries in 'undercurrent' a 1946 quasi-noir directed by vincent minnelli...not a great film but worth seeing just for mitchum and katherine hepburn's total uncomfortableness with each other.