Farewell Charlton Heston -Sad PotA day

[plasmid303]

Avoiding the politics and American flag waving going on in this thread, I gotta say my favorite Heston film wasn't among critical heavy hitters like Touch of Evil or Ben Hur. No, my favorite was Soylent Green.

 

[galactiboy]

Soylent Green is a classic...

And not to steer into politics, but I always separate the celebrity from their personal life. There are a lot of people who I might not like on a personal level... but no denying they make great contributions, but are kinda jerks in real life. But, I try to not let that taint my views of films that I love... Top Gun is a great example

 

[Doomhammer]

Doomhammer, that headsculpt on your Heston figure is exactly what we on this board should be talking about now! It's terrific, and I hope many of us will consider customs that salute this actor. What can you tell us about that head?

I'm sorry to say that it's not my figure, but a custom posted on OSW. The headsculpt comes from Frontline aka Heroheads, the company that did the well known Apone. I believe there's 2 versions.
Lonnie sells them on ebay once month I think, he's got one up now.

 

[DarthNeil]

Soylent Green is a classic...

And not to steer into politics, but I always separate the celebrity from their personal life. There are a lot of people who I might not like on a personal level... but no denying they make great contributions, but are kinda jerks in real life. But, I try to not let that taint my views of films that I love... Top Gun is a great example

Tom Cruise has forever damaged whatever markability he had-- as well as Mel Gibson. Where once their names meant box-office gold now their names are radioactive.

In terms of Heston's films besides the obvious Ben-Hur or POTA, I've always been partial to The Omega Man-- but that's just my sci fi/horror sensibilities. Of course my favourite Heston cameo is when he plays the gas station attendant in Mike Myers' Wayne's World (2 was it?)... Can we get a real actor?.. I mean, I know it's just a small part...

He was also funny when he hosted SNL back in the early 90's.

If you haven't seen his speech as the First Player in Kenneth Branagh's HAMLET then I'd strongly suggest you take a look.

 

[bwills]

True dat. He was a gentleman and a scholar. And I too liked his "politics."

 

[screamingmetal]

Heston had so many great films, but being a Sci-Fi junky those films of his have stayed with me the most. My favorite of them is Planet of the Apes.
I'm very sad to see him go.

 

[IronFingaz]

Another legend is gone.

Don't really care what he did in his private life, that's his ^^^^. All i care about is what he did in movies and dude was one of the best. It's been so long since i've seen Wayne's World 2 that i forgot that he was the guy at the gas station

 

[woodsy]

I applaud his acting AND his politics.

 

[gideon]

In the case of Heston, its fairly easy to build a wall between his right wing politics and his acting. Lets face it, 95% of his better acting jobs were done before he turned conservative and became a spokesperson for the NRA. His acting career was pretty much on its last legs by that time. It is interesting that early in his career he was much more liberal even serving as the president of the actors union. Like many other people, the more money he had to protect, the more conservative he became. I loathed his politics but respect him greatly as an actor.

 

[woodsy]

In the case of Heston, its fairly easy to build a wall between his right wing politics and his acting. Lets face it, 95% of his better acting jobs were done before he turned conservative and became a spokesperson for the NRA. His acting career was pretty much on its last legs by that time. It is interesting that early in his career he was much more liberal even serving as the president of the actors union. Like many other people, the more money he had to protect, the more conservative he became. I lotathed his politics but respect him greatly as an actor.

That's a ridiculous statement. He had plenty of money when he was a liberal, and he had plenty of money when he smartened up and realized socialism doesn't work.

 

[gideon]

Hestons heyday as an actor came in the days well before the $5+ million dollar paydays that actors get today. The key to Hestons wealth was NOT the income he earned in the 50's and 60's as an actor but what he did with that money. It was his investments of those monies which multiplied several times. His connections with the monied elite of California and the corporate interests paid off for him.

The same can be said for many other Hollywood actors who became very wealthy including Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and a few others. Sure they made a very good living in the movies. But their fame preceded the really big paydays that are around today.

You talk about ridiculous statements. Socialism has nothing to do with anything here.

In interviews I have seen with him, Heston never repudiated his days as more liberal when he campaigned against McCarthyism, marched for Civil Rights with Dr. King and spoke out against Richard Nixon when he was president. He said he never changed fighting for freedom which he thought the NRA was doing.

So he clearly did not think of himself as a socialist or realize his socialist views were not working. He never had to "smarten up" as some here put it. To characterize him as such is false.

 

[Anzik]

I don't think he became more conservative at all. Both parties have moved left over the last forty years. If you look at JFK and his policies and decisions he wouldn't be considered liberal by todays standards.