The Reel Dad Film Reviews
A salute to the late Roy Scheider: His greatest hits


Mar 6, 2008

by Mark Schumann
Father of Three

With all the attention paid to the “will they or won’t they” Oscars in recent weeks, the death of actor Roy Scheider seemed to slip through the media cracks in mid-February. Perhaps it’s because he died, at age 76, so soon after the untimely demise of the much younger Heath Ledger.
Perhaps it’s because his career peaked some 30 years ago and his recent appearances have been limited to small parts in movies and television. Or perhaps it’s because in the new multi-media Hollywood, a solid working actor simply can’t get much attention. Whatever the reason for the oversight, it’s time to pay respects to this fabulous actor who delivered some of the most memorable performances of the 1970s. Here are suggestions for your own Roy Scheider film festival.

The French Connection — 1971
After years of small roles in theater and television, Scheider first gained screen attention in 1971 in a small role in Klute, starring Jane Fonda. By year’s end, he followed that breakthrough by delivering an iconic portrayal of Detective Buddy Russo in the Oscar-winning The French Connection. Tough, yet vulnerable, Scheider reveals an uncanny ability to reach beyond the words in the script to create multiple layers of rich characterization. He makes it clear in this performance that he is an actor to notice and, to no one’s surprise, won an Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actor.

Jaws — 1975
Whatever else Scheider achieved in his career, he will be best remembered for establishing a rock of humanity in this blockbuster film. Forget the special effects or the memorable John Williams music; what makes Jaws work is how Scheider grounds the film in his own contradictory reactions. He is the police captain of an island under shark attack yet he hates the water; he respects the commercial impact of his decisions yet he refuses to play politics; he has a sense of adventure but fears for his safety. When Scheider delivers the film’s most famous line, “We’re going to need a bigger boat,” he brings the impending suspense down to earth and back to shore.

Marathon Man — 1976
A year later, Scheider turned in another chilling performance as Dustin Hoffman’s brother in the classic thriller Marathon Man. It’s a vintage Scheider role as the tough guy who, while trying to resolve the mysteries impacting Hoffman, finds himself a target of the film’s cruelty. Scheider’s final scenes are as chilling as any actor contributed in the 70s. And, take a second look; it all begins with his eyes.

All That Jazz — 1979
Nothing in Scheider’s background — and his roles through decade — would have suggested he could play a Broadway director in Bob Fosse’s autobiographical musical All That Jazz. But, when Richard Dreyfuss left the set in a huff during filming, Scheider stepped in to create a brilliant portrayal of ego, drive and depression in the Broadway musical theater. Although not a dancer, Scheider creatively transforms himself into a completely believable Broadway song and dance showman and won an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. No one who saw the film will forget his classic line, “It’s showtime,” as he pops his pills to start the day.

Sadly, All That Jazz marked the end of Scheider’s strong years on screen. With the 1980s came a series of film disappointments — including Still of the Night and 2010 — followed in the 1990s by such disasters as Russia House, Night Game and Executive Target. Then he trapped himself in the SeaQuest DSV television series before ending his career with such garbage as Dracula III and IV. Only in a small role in the film version of John Grisham’s The Rainmaker in 1997 did Scheider remind us of his ability to create magic. No matter how his career ended, what he contributed in the 1970s are the performances of which legends endure. Thank goodness for the library of film. Because DVDs extend the lifespan of any film, we can celebrate this actor for years to come.



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