George Bernard Shaw, In His Own Words
On July 5, 1880, a 23 year old George Bernard Shaw quit his day job at the telephone company to become a full time writer. The result is a body of work that includes novels, short stories, and (most notably) plays that address a variety of serious social issues, though always with a comical slant. Before we meet the man himself, you can watch this discussion of the man’s life and work on Theater Talk:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws-oNJaCxes[/youtube]
Now, take a look at the Bernard Shaw himself, as he appeared in news reel footage from his first visit to the United States:
On a later visit, he didn’t hesitate to share his feelings about how we Americans should have taken his advice:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0Pk0NUiw2o[/youtube]
Bernard Shaw’s political views were not always easy for others to accept, like this time when he defended Hitler’s actions in Germany:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW-iy-9m9SU[/youtube]
Or this time, when he discussed his views on capital punishment:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-Ljkoh_vmE[/youtube]
But he had a manner about him, a certain wit, that came through in his work and made it very appealing to a world-wide audience. The man always knew how to get a laugh. Just watch this toast he makes in Albert Einstein’s honor:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TIt0ITM_RM[/youtube]
If you’re interested in seeing Bernard Shaw’s work performed (drama is meant to be performed more than read, after all), then check out these full-length films.
Caesar and Cleopatra (1948)
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9ELYjU7qvI[/youtube]
Pygmalion (1938)
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfZRWi7aLm4[/youtube]
