RIP Charlton Heston

Sherifu

"Charlton Heston, who won the 1959 best actor Oscar as the chariot-racing "Ben-Hur" and portrayed Moses, Michelangelo, El Cid and other heroic figures in movie epics of the '50s and '60s, has died. He was 84."

Link.


A true great imo.

Rovi

Indeed, RIP.

"You Maniacs! You blew it up! Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!"

Amz

While I do admire a lot of his film work, I believe he was quite a divisive character, primarily due to his actions and statements with the NRA.

Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine really villified him, I feel, and I think it damaged his public image quite a lot. I know I was initially very dismissive of him as a result of it.

Loved Ben Hur as a kid, must watch again now.

RIP Mr. Heston

mike65

"Take your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape"

Probably underestimated as an actor but always could be relied upon in a crisis!

Mike.

gordon_gekko

mike65 wrote: »

"Take your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape"

Probably underestimated as an actor but always could be relied upon in a crisis!

Mike.

underestimated , the guy was a chair , he was the most wooden actor
could never understand all the top roles he got

faceman

Heston was a bit of a legend when it came to all the old epics.

I dont in any way agree with the NRA or heston's views on gun laws in the US but i do feel that Moore bullied an old frail man in that movie.

none the less, 2008 is definitely proving to be a year for great loses.

Galvasean

While I don't agree with some Heston's political policies, at least he carried himself in a dignified manner. Inviting Michael Moore in for a sit down conversation showed genuine class.

We should remember him for his films though. He was a true screen great and showed a good sense of humour when sending himself up in things like Wayne's World and Friends. R.I.P

BostonB

Galvasean wrote: »

While I don't agree with some Heston's political policies, at least he carried himself in a dignified manner. Inviting Michael Moore in for a sit down conversation showed genuine class.

We should remember him for his films though. He was a true screen great and showed a good sense of humour when sending himself up in things like Wayne's World and Friends. R.I.P

Seconded.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

he should have shot moore, didn't have too long left for the world and it would have been one last favour he could do for humanity.

pixelburp

Whilst he was an old-school actor from yesteryear, he was either dreadfully wooden, or a total ham actor with Shatner-esque delusions of grandeur. And that's before we got into the sticky situation of his pro-gun lobbying. Though at least he had character I guess.

RIP.

budner1

r.i.h.

rot in hell

he advocated people buying guns and inflicting untold damage to people.SCUM.

eamon234

I wonder if they took the gun from his cold dead hands!:D

slave1

Mr Omega Man, damn shame, a definite great loss, made some cracking movies including one of my all time favs the aforementioned Omega Man

faceman

budner1 wrote: »

r.i.h.

rot in hell

he advocated people buying guns and inflicting untold damage to people.SCUM.

no he didnt.

Sherifu

I hope budner1 is a troll.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

budner1 wrote: »

r.i.h.

rot in hell

he advocated people buying guns and inflicting untold damage to people.SCUM.

die.

soon.

Bubs101

budner1 wrote: »

r.i.h.

rot in hell

he advocated people buying guns and inflicting untold damage to people.SCUM.

You're an idiot. The NRA doesn't advocate doing untold damage people to people and cince I'm assuming you inherited all you're views from Bowling for Columbine than you should realise that not only is Moore a member to but as one of the leading members of the N.R.A. he has to defend their position even in more extreme circumstances, after all, guns don't kill people, rappers (or other people) do.

As for Heston, truly great in Ben Hur and I think his woodeness added to his charisma. One of the first true man's man

Pigman II

He was like the white Will Smith.

RIP

(check him out in Hamlet, v.good).

Damn shame to see him go. There really is nothing I enjoy more than sitting down and watching an post apocalyptic/futuristic Chuck Heston film. He has quite a diverse CV and anyone who writes him off as someone who "advocated people buying guns and inflicting untold damage to people" is quite obviously deluded and uneducated. The NRA are pro gun yes, but they merely believe that every American is entitled to own a firearm in line with the American constitution.

Bowling for Columbine is Michael Moore propaganda which abused the genuine decency of a true gentleman. Heston invited Moore into his home for civilised debate and Moore just took it as another opportunity to whore himself to the camera. The fact that Heston was obviously sick at the time of the interview made Moore's actions only more despicable.

Mr E

Well said, Darko.

Charlton Heston RIP.

estebancambias

I liked some of his films.


Arrogant dickhead though.

johnny_ultimate

It'd be a shame if people ignored Heston's iconic status: he was an excellent Hollywood actor, and one whose performances will live on.

But I think sometimes I have to seperate the actor from the man. I never agreed with his conservative stance on gun ownership, and strongly disliked his constant arrogance and use of his iconic status to argue for politics I opposed. Sure, Moore's badgering of him was undoubtedly excessive, but that doesn't really give me any more sympathy for him.

Its kind of like Tom Cruise: I don't agree with his religious beliefs (and general insanity), but that doesn't take away from the quality of his performances in films like Magnolia, Minority Report etc... Charlton Heston was an iconic actor of his time and will be remembered as such, but I for one cannot forget his negative characteristics too.

Jack B. Badd

To be fair to Heston, ultra-conservatism seems to be something that set in in later life. It's a pity imo because it has overshadowed a brilliant career.

G-Dogg

A tribute...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvKjbfaPR7Y

G'luk Chuck.

Pride Fighter

He seems to get a hard time off people after bowling for columbine. WHat he should be remembered for is his open advocation of civil rights in America long before any other actors openly supported minority communities in America.

Memnoch

Deleted User wrote: »

Damn shame to see him go. There really is nothing I enjoy more than sitting down and watching an post apocalyptic/futuristic Chuck Heston film. He has quite a diverse CV and anyone who writes him off as someone who "advocated people buying guns and inflicting untold damage to people" is quite obviously deluded and uneducated. The NRA are pro gun yes, but they merely believe that every American is entitled to own a firearm in line with the American constitution.

Bowling for Columbine is Michael Moore propaganda which abused the genuine decency of a true gentleman. Heston invited Moore into his home for civilised debate and Moore just took it as another opportunity to whore himself to the camera. The fact that Heston was obviously sick at the time of the interview made Moore's actions only more despicable.

I love the over-simplification of the over-simplified. Michael Moore's silly antics aside, the NRA isn't some sort of benign ideological organisation that is merely concerned with the "constitutional rights" of the American people, though they certainly try to present themselves as such.

What they ARE, is a pro-gun lobby backed by weapon's manufacturers for the sole purpose of increasing profits for said manufacturers regardless of the human cost of the essentially free and unchecked proliferation of lethal weapons in the U.S. of A.

Heston's backing of the NRA is nothing short of despicable, especially since he was a person who's opinion carried weight with the general populace, and he used that to further such a corrupt agenda.

As for seperating the actor and the man, once he decided to use his fame as an actor to propogate his opinions as a man, the two ceased to be seperate.

I couldn't care less what films he acted in, but I'll echo the sentiment that the world is a slightly better place with him gone.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

I love the over-simplification of the over-simplified. Michael Moore's silly antics aside, the NRA isn't some sort of benign ideological organisation that is merely concerned with the "constitutional rights" of the American people, though they certainly try to present themselves as such.

there are alot of american citizens who see it as a constitutional issue and they tend to choose the NRA to represent them in this issue, just fobbing them off as working for 'big gun' is just lazy.

FearDark

Planet of the Apes was probarbly the first time i said "WOW!" at the end of a movie... I was young and at the time I had never seen a twist at the end of a film before, class. R.I.P.

Memnoch

Memnoch wrote: »

I love the over-simplification of the over-simplified. Michael Moore's silly antics aside, the NRA isn't some sort of benign ideological organisation that is merely concerned with the "constitutional rights" of the American people, though they certainly try to present themselves as such.

What they ARE, is a pro-gun lobby backed by weapon's manufacturers for the sole purpose of increasing profits for said manufacturers regardless of the human cost of the essentially free and unchecked proliferation of lethal weapons in the U.S. of A.

Yes the NRA is funded by various gun companies, but to claim that the NRA is little more than a propoganda machine for these companies is a bit of a stretch. The vast majority of American people who own guns are members of the NRA. The reason for this is quite simple, the NRA stand up for what these people believe in. Look at how often Americans are attacked for gun ownership and every time, one organisation defends them and stands up for the right to bear fire arms.

Memnoch wrote: »

Heston's backing of the NRA is nothing short of despicable, especially since he was a person who's opinion carried weight with the general populace, and he used that to further such a corrupt agenda.

Heston believed in the right to bear firearms and much like Geldolf or Bono does for world hunger he used his celebrity to bring certains issues to light. Do Bono's actions make him despicable?

Say what you want about Heston, but the man was never afraid to stand up for what he believed in. In the weeks after Columbine while everyone was shying away from the big issues and blaming Marilyn Manson and guns for what happend Heston stood in the face of adversity and never once backed down.

Memnoch wrote: »

As for seperating the actor and the man, once he decided to use his fame as an actor to propogate his opinions as a man, the two ceased to be seperate.

I couldn't care less what films he acted in, but I'll echo the sentiment that the world is a slightly better place with him gone.

I take it that you also dislike Steve McQueen, Tom Cruise, Sam Peckinpah and Mel Gibson due to their actions and beliefs.

Memnoch

Mordeth wrote: »

there are alot of american citizens who see it as a constitutional issue and they tend to choose the NRA to represent them in this issue, just fobbing them off as working for 'big gun' is just lazy.

i'm not fobbing of the people who actually believe it's their right to bear arms as working for big gun, they aren't... though various other adjectives spring to mind... but...

I won't get into my opinions of them because this thread isn't about the gun control debate and I don't want to derail it any further.

same reply to darko's post above also.

lostexpectation

blockbuster king

pixelburp

Deleted User wrote: »

Heston believed in the right to bear firearms and much like Geldolf or Bono does for world hunger he used his celebrity to bring certains issues to light. Do Bono's actions make him despicable?

I take it that you also dislike Steve McQueen, Tom Cruise, Sam Peckinpah and Mel Gibson due to their actions and beliefs.

I don't understand the logic - to condemn one celebrity for having a view is to condemn them all? And I don't think that Bono's essentially humanitarian agenda (albeit with questionable methodologies) can be equated with Heston's championing of an association linked with probably one of the biggest social problems in the US.

Tom Cruise we can laugh at because, psychological blackmailing aside, Scientology is a big joke. Heston spoke for a cause that wants to put guns in people's homes. Or at the very least, protect the right to.

I know the phrase "Don't speak ill of the dead" is a common one, and allows for the waxing lyrical of the likes of Charles Haughey, but to defend Heston's film work? Fine, it makes for a good film debate; but I don't think a justification should be sought for his dodgy political / social work.

johnny_ultimate

pixelburp wrote: »

I don't understand the logic - to condemn one celebrity for having a view is to condemn them all? And I don't think that Bono's essentially humanitarian agenda (albeit with questionable methodologies) can be equated with Heston's championing of an association linked with probably one of the biggest social problems in the US.

Tom Cruise we can laugh at because, psychological blackmailing aside, Scientology is a big joke. Heston spoke for a cause that wants to put guns in people's homes. Or at the very least, protect the right to.

I know the phrase "Don't speak ill of the dead" is a common one, and allows for the waxing lyrical of the likes of Charles Haughey, but to defend Heston's film work? Fine, it makes for a good film debate; but I don't think a justification should be sought for his dodgy political / social work.

Great post. When someone dies, you can't just change your opinion of them out of 'respect'. Darko mentioned Mel Gibson and his like - it is the same scenario. People using their fame to obnoxiously push agendas that easily offend people. Look at Gibson's anti-semetic remarks - can you ignore them just because he has made some good films? And Bono is regularly in your face about things, even if his cause is more worthy - the fact he is pushing humanitarian agendas does not make him any less obnoxious.

Everyone has the right to defend what they believe in. But when people like Heston or Cruise continually defend ideologies one might not support, an ill taste is left. Why can't they support their respective movements in a more subtle way - I'd imagine every celebrity has some organisation they support, but they don't go around bragging about it all the time.

I can only repeat what I said earlier: seperate the man from the films.

Black Swan

Heston dead? Naaaa, he's just auditioning for Soylent Green (the Sequel).

faceman

I dont mean to sound pedantic, but this is the film forum and we should be celebrating Heston's life in film here and leave the debate about this personal life and views to the humanities forum.

Pigman II

Blue_Lagoon wrote: »

Heston dead? Naaaa, he's just auditioning for Soylent Green (the Sequel).

And remember everyone, Soylent Green is pe .... as mushed up into a thick paste.

L31mr0d

wonder if he did have one with him at the end?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0B_UZNtEk4

I agree with faceman, this thread is becoming far to political. If it wasn't for Micheal Moores farse of a documentary we wouldn't even know that Heston was even in the NRA (its the same reason why people now think Cuba has the best healthcare system in the world). Also, it could be due to Micheal Moores poor editing, but bowling for Columbine wasn't purely anti-guns. If it was he should of been campaigning in Canada where there are a lot more guns per person than the US. His main argument was that it was the fear being bread in the US that was pushing people to use guns more often on each other. Arguing the right to bare arms is like the whole pro choice issue, there will always be a divide in people.

I think Heston was a great actor... I loved his wooden demeanor in movies, it became his niche and people grew to expect it in whatever movie he played. He had the presence of a man with an iron fist in a velvet glove. I would of loved for Heston to of turned around and started quizzing Moore on the obesity problem in the US and what he was doing to help that

R.I.P Chuck

Howard the Duck

I'm never happy when someone dies. And i'm still not in this case but neither am i sad. I don't think you have to separate Charlton Heston the actor and Charlton Heston the person when your discussing the man's death.
For me what he did with the gun rallies in the home towns of children who recently died due to gun violence was an unforgivable thing to do and not something i can over look so i can praise his acting ability...which i wouldn't do anyway he was in some films i like but i never thought he was a great actor.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

so could you forgive someone for driving into a town where children had just been run over?

Howard the Duck

Mordeth wrote: »

so could you forgive someone for driving into a town where children had just been run over?

The rallies were organized after the deaths so it's hardly the same thing and do you think Heston would have gone to small town nowhere America if the deaths had never happen?

And in answer to your question yes i could forgive that but maybe i couldn;t forgive them if they were drag racing outside the children's homes.

And i really can;t believe anyone can defend his actions even if you think he was a good actor or even a good person...if you think he was a good person would you not think even these actions were stupid and inconsiderate?

gordon_gekko

Deleted User wrote: »

Damn shame to see him go. There really is nothing I enjoy more than sitting down and watching an post apocalyptic/futuristic Chuck Heston film. He has quite a diverse CV and anyone who writes him off as someone who "advocated people buying guns and inflicting untold damage to people" is quite obviously deluded and uneducated. The NRA are pro gun yes, but they merely believe that every American is entitled to own a firearm in line with the American constitution.

Bowling for Columbine is Michael Moore propaganda which abused the genuine decency of a true gentleman. Heston invited Moore into his home for civilised debate and Moore just took it as another opportunity to whore himself to the camera. The fact that Heston was obviously sick at the time of the interview made Moore's actions only more despicable.

just because you dont like michael moores politics doesnt mean you get to call his films propoganda , propoganda is not based on fact , everything shown in bowling for collumbine is a fact , the usa has 100 times more deaths per yr from guns than the uk etc

fox news is an example of propoganda or chineese state tv

gordon_gekko

gordon_gekko wrote: »

just because you dont like michael moores politics doesnt mean you get to call his films propoganda , propoganda is not based on fact , everything shown in bowling for collumbine is a fact , the usa has 100 times more deaths per yr from guns than the uk etc

fox news is an example of propoganda or chineese state tv

Propaganda: Propaganda is the deliberate, systematic attempt to shape perceptions, manipulate cognitions, and direct behavior to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist.

Michael Moore doesn't deal in facts, he distorts them to suit his own agenda. In his film, Roger and Me he says that the manager of general motors refused to give an interview, which is completely untrue. Roger B. Smith did in fact meet with Moore, only it served Moore's arguement better if he distorted the facts and instead claimed Smith refused to meet with him.

Bowling for Columbine is exactly the same. Take a look at it's most iconic moment. The footage of Heston saying "From my cold dead hands!". We''re led to believe that it came form the conference in Columbine but in fact it was from a speech he gave almost a year later.

My main problem with Moore is that for a documentary film maker he sure is biased. He offers one side of an arguement, completly ignoring the other.

If you want a good documentary film maker then I highly recommend Louis Therox.

Memnoch

Deleted User wrote: »

Propaganda: Propaganda is the deliberate, systematic attempt to shape perceptions, manipulate cognitions, and direct behavior to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist.

Michael Moore doesn't deal in facts, he distorts them to suit his own agenda. In his film, Roger and Me he says that the manager of general motors refused to give an interview, which is completely untrue. Roger B. Smith did in fact meet with Moore, only it served Moore's arguement better if he distorted the facts and instead claimed Smith refused to meet with him.

Bowling for Columbine is exactly the same. Take a look at it's most iconic moment. The footage of Heston saying "From my cold dead hands!". We''re led to believe that it came form the conference in Columbine but in fact it was from a speech he gave almost a year later.

My main problem with Moore is that for a documentary film maker he sure is biased. He offers one side of an arguement, completly ignoring the other.

If you want a good documentary film maker then I highly recommend Louis Therox.

Not all arguements have two sides. There is absolutely no necessity in the modern world for people to go around carrying guns. The other side to "lets not allow the limitless proliferation of lethal firearms" is: "We aren't making enough money supplying weapons to corrupt dictators in third world countries, lets find some way to get every stupid American to buy a gun as well" &/or "I'm a stupid American who thinks that keeping a gun around the house will make me and my family safer," until of course the burgler finds the gun in the drawer or some dumb kid gets a hold of it and goes and blows up a classroom full of other kids.

You might as well start saying that rape has "another side." Hey let's get the rapists point of view! Some women are just too sexy. I'm sure all rapists have a good reason. It's propaganda to say that rape is an act of malice/evil.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

......

wow

navin.r.johnson

Pigman II wrote: »

He was like the white Will Smith.

RIP

(check him out in Hamlet, v.good).

Funny you should say that. They both played Robert Neville in adaptations of Richard Mathesons I Am Legend! Does this mean that Will Smith is a black Heston though?

RIP

armour87

Mordeth wrote: »

......

wow

+1

:eek:

bill_ashmount

Rip

pixelburp

Mordeth wrote: »

......

wow

I'll see your "wow", and add a "jaysus"
:eek:

Memnoch

Memnoch wrote: »

Not all arguements have two sides. There is absolutely no necessity in the modern world for people to go around carrying guns. The other side to "lets not allow the limitless proliferation of lethal firearms" is: "We aren't making enough money supplying weapons to corrupt dictators in third world countries, lets find some way to get every stupid American to buy a gun as well" &/or "I'm a stupid American who thinks that keeping a gun around the house will make me and my family safer," until of course the burgler finds the gun in the drawer or some dumb kid gets a hold of it and goes and blows up a classroom full of other kids.

You might as well start saying that rape has "another side." Hey let's get the rapists point of view! Some women are just too sexy. I'm sure all rapists have a good reason. It's propaganda to say that rape is an act of malice/evil.

Think you completely missed the point.

Mordeth wrote: »

......

wow

pixelburp wrote: »

I'll see your "wow", and add a "jaysus"
:eek:

I rereraise with a Jebus.:eek:

Memnoch

Deleted User wrote: »

Think you completely missed the point.





I rereraise with a Jebus.:eek:

I got you're point. I just don't think it has any validity with how we should/shouldn't view Heston's actions. Michael moore's documentary antics notwithstanding, it doesn't change Heston's actions as proponent of the NRA.

grames_bond

lets not remember him for his political views which many disagree with, but lets remember him for his best movie role ever:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI6IlXfUdPE

RIP man!!