personal information
Robert Shaw playing Donald ‘Red’ Grant
Born in Westhoughton, Lancashire, England on 9th August 1927
Died 28th August 1978
Starred In From Russia With Love (1963)
film information
Donald ‘Red’ Grant played by Robert Shaw is the first Villain of From Russia With Love. During the pre-title sequence Grant and Bond are seen trying to track and then kill each other.
After Grant successfully kills Bond using his Garrotting Wire Watch, it is revealed that the man killed was wearing a mask to look identical to Bond, all part of a training exercise. Grant, working for SPECTRE, is assigned the task of assassinating Bond and Tatiana Romanova after they have recovered the Lektor. Throughout the early scenes in From Russia With Love, Grant takes on the role of Bond's protector to make sure he could deliver the Lektor.
During Bond's trip back to England with Tatiana aboard the Orient Express the train stops briefly at Zagreb where Bond meets Captain Nash. However, unknown to Bond, Grant has killed Nash and taken his identity to get closer to Bond. After Grant lures Bond into a false sense of security, he gains the upper hand and holds Bond at gunpoint promising him a slow and painful death. Grant's downfall is when Bond cunningly gets him to open his Attaché Case incorrectly, exploding a tear gas cartridge in his face. During the vicious fight that ensues, Grant attempts to strangle Bond with his wire garrotte. Bond manages to narrowly escape by using one of the flat throwing knifes hidden in the Attaché Case.
character information
Donald ‘Red’ Grant is a homicidal paranoiac, convicted murderer, and after escaping from Dartmoor prison, he was recruited to SPECTRE as an assassin. At peak performance both physically and mentally, Grant is chosen by Rosa Klebb to track and assassinate Bond and Tatiana. Grant is silent throughout most of From Russia With Love speaking in only a few scenes. However Grant shows his ruthless and cunning side whilst holding Bond captive. It is clear Grant enjoys taunting Bond about how much of a fool he has been.
other information
Whilst Robert Shaw played the character of Donald ‘Red’ Grant excellently, he is better known for his role in Jaws and for being an accomplished writer. §
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