'Shove it. Shove it. Shove it!'
Robin Shelby
When it comes to New Year's Eve themed movies, the pickings are pretty slim. Most are romances, with New Year's occupying just a scene or two. There is one film however, a movie that made quite an impression on me, and may others, where most of the main action takes place just after the stroke of midnight. It was the mid-eighties, about 12 or 13 years after 1972's The Poseidon Adventure was released in theatres.
I was about 8 or 9 and the movie was playing on the late show on TV. On that first viewing, I only got to watch about a quarter of the film. I was sent to bed by my parents just after the SS Poseidon had it's run in with a 99-foot tsunami formed tidal wave.
There was something the film that fascinated me, and as I have learned, many others. The 70's disaster film has become a cult favorite, a campy flick full of memorable, and often laughable scenes and plot devices. From Shelley Winters famous underwater swim through Stella Stevens shirt dress, everything was a bit over the top. Speaking of over the top, even as a 9 year old (still not out) gay kid, Stella Stevens breasts, were immensely fascinating.
5,4,3,2,1 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
One of the movie's 'hooks' was seeing which of the famous cast members were going to make it to safety at the bottom of the ship. One by one, celebrity after celebrity fell, drowned or, in the films most famous scene, crushed by a giant Christmas tree. One of the mystery's for me about the cast, is why after the success of this film, we didn't see more of actor Eric Shea.
On deck with The Captain (Leslie Nielsen) and crew
Shea played Robin Shelby, who was traveling with is sister Susan. (Pamela Sue Martin) Shea was great in the role it surprised he didn't go on to more success in the business. Shea has a strong early resume, movies along side Lucille Ball and James Garner and TV guest shots on some of the 70's most popular shows. Shea had a unique quality, earnest and likable, and worked steadily in his short time in the lime light.
Gene Hackman sporting an 'off the shoulder' look for New Years
Shea had family in the business, both of his brothers were actors, his brother Christopher voiced the role of Linus in A Charlie Brown Christmas.' Shea tells HollywoodChicago.com that when his older brother got an agent, they signed all three brother up, and all began to get regular work. At 18 however, Shea decided that show business, was not where he wanted to be.
The Castaway Cowboy (1974)
In Disney's 1974 flick, The Castaway Cowboy, Shea played 'Little Mac' who rescues Texas Cowboy James Garner out the Pacific ocean when he washes ashore in Hawaii.
HollywoodChicago.com: You abruptly left the business in 1978, right as you were transitioning into adulthood. What was behind that decision, had you just had enough?
Shea: It was a little bit of that, but also I just didn’t make the transition. At the same time, I was losing interest. I moved to St. Louis and learned the electrical trade, and I’ve been doing that ever since.
Little House on the Prairie (1976)
Reunited with movie sister Pamela Sue Martin
The Cast of The Poseidon Adventure
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