Access Atlanta > Movies > Blog > Archives > 2008 > April > 06 > Entry
In his day, Charlton Heston was The Man
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In the survivalist, nuclear-waste world of 1971’s “The Omega Man,” a little girl looks up at Charlton Heston and asks, “Are you God?”
Well, of course he wasn’t. But in Hollywood terms, he was about as close to that as any Hollywood actor could get.
In the 1950s and most of the 1960s, the guy ruled movies. Think of Russell Crowe, Denzel Washington, Will Smith and Harrison Ford. Now smush them all together and remold them into one charismatic actor.
Heston was our adventure king, our go-to guy when the world hit fourth down and 20 to go.
Here are my five favorite Charlton Heston movies. In order.
1. “Touch of Evil” (1958). Moody and perfectly rendered film noir from master Orson Welles, with Heston as a narcotics official in a viper-like Mexican border town.
2. “Planet of the Apes” (1968). He’s cynical, cocky and gritty as a space explorer who lands in a simian world.
3. “Ben-Hur” (1959). I could watch the chariot race over and over all day long. It’s probably the greatest action sequence ever filmed.
4. “The Omega Man” (1971). Very 1970s. And sort of a sci-fiploitation film with that little girl asking Heston, “Are you God?”
5. “The War Lord” (1965). The aura of a Heston film was usually so epic, so big (think “The Ten Commandments,” “El Cid,” “Khartoum”). I think I like the Medieval “War Lord” because it’s smaller, its story more compact. Heston, of course, is as big and over-the-top as ever.
What are your favorite Charlton Heston movies? Do you watch “The Ten Commandments” or “Ben-Hur” every year?
Permalink | Comments (12) | Post your comment | Categories: Alan Smithee
Comments
By Grampus
April 7, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this
Your list works. I might squeeze in “The Big Country” for his macho vs. macho interplay with another larger than life icon Gregory Peck.
By Larry M
April 7, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this
Good choice on the War Lord! One of my favorites. The Omega Man is my favorite Heston movie, followed by Ben Hur. He will be missed by all. God grant you rest Charlton.
By Daisy Cutter
April 7, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this
I liked Soylent Green….” It’s made of people!! ”
By Trudy
April 7, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this
Michael Moore’s interview with Heston in Bowling for Columbine showed precisely Heston’s character. I wonder how many people have been murdered with handguns because of him?
By Trudy is Delusional
April 7, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this
If handguns kill people, spoons made Rosie O’Donnell fat. Blaming unecessary and non-sensical shootings on the head of an organization sworn to protect the 2 amendment of the United States Constitution is perfect evidence of your intellect. I will pray for you:)!!!
By MD Cain
April 7, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this
I wondered how long it would take for people to slam Mr. Heston for his defense of lawful gun ownership. Michael Moore is shameless and you are too if you believe his nonsense.
By Al
April 7, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this
Charlton was the Man!
My faves will always be The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur, The Greastest Show on Earth, Planet of the Apes, and Naked Jungle.
I will miss him!
By Dave
April 7, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this
Yeah. Guns kill people. And pencils make spelling mistakes.
By Neil
April 7, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this
The the wisened person above, “guns don’t kill people, people do.” Guns do help. I mean, if I were to walk up behind you and shout “BANG!” I doubt you would fall to the ground and die.
The question should be, can we seperate the actor from the cause? Do we negate Heston’s work based on his gun-toting image in real life. He played Moses does that mean that he is a prophet in real-ife? Heck, in “Touch of Evil” he was a Mexican cop. Am I now suppoesd to believe that the pride and joy of lilly-white Winnetka, IL is Mexican?
By azcat225
April 7, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this
Omega Man was always one of my favorites—-I’ve always been a fan of post-apocalyptic movies and fiction. I would add Major Dundee and Will Penny to your list, Mr. Smithee.
Trudy, a far better indicator of Mr. Heston’s character was his early and very visible support of the civil rights movement, both financially and with his personal presence and involvement. Statements like yours clearly show why a rational approach to gun control which fairly balances every one’s interests may never occur.
By C'mon
April 7, 2008 3:15 PM | Link to this
“The the wisened person above, “guns don’t kill people, people do.” Guns do help. I mean, if I were to walk up behind you and shout “BANG!” I doubt you would fall to the ground and die.”
You can kill someone with nail clippers, a swiss army knife, a kitchen knife, a butcher knife, a crowbar, a baseball bat, a stick of wood, a brick etc. Should all of these things be outlawed or should we as a society focus on preventing “violent intent” from permeating in our culture which it already has to an extreme? Guns just give a convenient target for you inherent bed-wetters that need something to whine about.
Think it through rationally and I promise it will ultimately makse sense. Then again, based on your first post, maybe not.
By Neil
April 7, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this
Headline from tomorrow’s AJC - Three Die in Nail Clipper Attack.