Charlton Heston Remembered

I grew up on rangy, masculine movie star Charlton Heston, who loomed large in the 60s big-screen spectacles my father loved to take me to, like El Cid, Khartoum, The Planet of the Apes and 55 Days at Peking. Heston finally succumbed after a long battle with Alzheimers Saturday. Here's the LA Times, Green Cine's wrap-up, and Dave Kehr. UPDATE: Richard Corliss tributes Heston in Time.

My favorite Heston movie, which showcases his skills as a stalwart, sexy leading man, is Orson Welles' 1958 border mystery Touch of Evil. Heston plays Mexican cop Vargas, just married to Janet Leigh; the movie takes them both down some nasty twists and turns before its conclusion. Was Heston underrated, or overrated? I was fond of him as a movie star, more than a great actor. But he acted in the style of the period.

Here's Variety's photo gallery, and the famous opening long shot:

Comments

[Perry Lane]

Like other screen icons of the day, his was an incalculable mix of charisma and talent that we don't see the likes of any more. Mr. Heston will be missed.

[tom abrahams]

i had the opporuntity to interview charlton heston a few years back, and from it i took away a valuable lesson. my story is below. i hope it brings a smile to your face.

http://thevote.abc13.com/2008/04/nice-socks.html

[E. Scott Carpenter]

In 1989 we at KABC Radio in Los Angeles made arrangements for Charlton Heston to fill in for the then top talk host Michael Jackson. When the show was over I introduced myself to Mr. Heston and asked him if he would record a short promo for a new show that was set to launch in a few weeks, and, with a smile, he agreed.

I was hoping he’d read a few lines I had written for the new Wink Martindale Show, but the more I looked at the copy, the more I didn't like it, in fact, we both agreed we could do better. I said, "You know, I don't mean to type-cast you, but " He looked up and said, "I know where you're going.” He moved closer to the mic. “Are we rolling?" "Yes," I said. Then, in his very big, commanding, Biblical voice, he said, "Hi, this is Charlton Heston, with the Eleventh Commandment: thou shalt listen to Wink Martindale or I'll take my stick and part your radio!"

I felt like someone had just handed me a million dollars. I touched the switch and said, "It's a take  wow." He said, "Maybe I’d better do another?" "No," I said, "you're strictly take-one!!" I incorporated his line into a promo for the show, and it got raves, even some ink.

He must have gotten quite a few comments as well, because when he returned to "fill in," he'd wave and on the talk-back mic he'd say, "I'll part your radio!”

By the way, he was a hell of a talk show host. Every time he filled in, the phone lines would light up. Heston was a gentleman and a real pro, easy-going and friendly, and happy to talk to anyone, from the interns to some guy on the radio he'd never heard of.

E. Scott Carpenter