Great actor, too much of a gun freak for me

I'm not a big fan of his, particularly of the biblical movies, which are his best known work.

There's no doubt that he was a competent actor, and he is excellent in several roles, most notably Badge of Evil.  Later in his career he was reduced to very minor parts, I suspect by choice, and still brought a level of skill to his time on screen.  (Think the Commissioner in Any Given Sunday)

In a career of some 90-plus movies, Heston's characters most often became involved with the largest of issues possible. Rare was the part that involved the intimate, romantic ones. Among the latter were director King Vidor's 'Ruby Gentry,' William Wyler's 'The Big Country,' Anthony Mann's 'El Cid,' Franklin J. Schaffner's 'The War Lord' and some rare such as Welles' 'Touch of Evil' or Tom Gries' 'Will Penny.' This might explain why, despite Heston's professionalism, the epic productions - not the least of which is Basil Dearden's 'Khartoum' - might have worked against our acknowleding his screen legacy. He does rate a relevant place in motion picture history.

Why on earth was Charlton Heston not rated among the American Film Institute's greatest movie stars is an absolute sham! Is it because of Heston's politics? Hmmm? Whether or not this was the reason, Heston has been one of the great actors of all-time. A man known for his commanding presence and acting skill, Heston has also been intentionally ignored and maligned by supposedly unbiased critics. But if arguments are based on politics and not on the pure ability of an individual, no one should be offended if, for example, it is said that Sean Penn is nothing but a thoroughly revolting prima donna. No one would deny that Penn is a great actor. Yet, the same standards do not apply to Heston who is/was just as talented an actor as Penn is. The bottom line is that judging someone because you don't agree with them sets an outright dangerous precedent because it clouds others from knowing the truth which they ought to figure out for themselves. Such is the case of Charlton Heston and critics who are intentionally biased against him for no legitimate reason other than for differences in political beliefs. It is simply embarrassing, and speaks volumes of those who cannot separate their political beliefs from the simply obvious, which is Heston's place in the all-time upper echelon of acting.

UPDATE: Whether people agree or disagree with his politics (and there are so many), there should be no doubt about how fine and brilliant an actor he was.

Mr. Heston, may you rest in peace and thank you for some of the silver screen's greatest moments. God bless you.

My feelings about Heston had little to do with his politics: the NRA advocacy was a little loopy, but let's face it--if we turn to actors because we're for or against their politics, we're not going to get very far, because they're not paid to think. I'll take Mel Gibson's Hamlet over Laurence Olivier's (sacrilege, I know) even though I would vote for the corpse of a dead English bard in an American presidential contest before I voted for Gibson. What I had a problem with was Heston's presence on film, which was extremely overbearing. There was a time when being larger than life was okay on the big screen, but Heston never adapted his style to the part. He just kept playing the same prophet role in every movie, even when he was done with the Christian/Nietzschean epics like The Ten Commandments and Planet of the Apes (which I do admit I like). He committed the actor's unforgivable sin of butchering his Shakepeare over and over again. His overwrought acting was better at achieving laughs than the suspension of disbelief.

Yes, obviously he consistently got great roles in great movies and won an Academy Award because he is wooden and has no skill. All this time I thought he was one of the finest actors of his or any other generation. As far as his politics, he was an activist for ALL civil rights, not only serving as president of the NRA but also marching on Washington.

R.I.P. 

UPDATE: My aren't the liberals broad minded?   They are so tolerant of diversity in opinion.  They cherish other doctrines.  (chortle)

Look at the comments and how the leftos on this site gave him a one or a two! These ratings are given to an actor who starred as the lead or important roles in films directed by such "lightweights" such as Cecil B. DeMille, King Vidor, Franklin J. Schaffner, Orson Welles, William Wyler, Anthony Quinn, Anthony Mann, Nicholas Ray, Sam Peckinpah and oh, so many more, "nonentity" directors in Hollywood. I sure that they all wanted a "wooden" actor to play these imporant partes. HILARIOUS! ORIGINAL COMMENT:He is a great Actor. Why isn't he rated higher? Politics?

I have not seen a lot of Charlton Hestons movies. The ones I did were the big bockbusters of the fiftes. The Ten Commandments. and Ben Hur.He was good as Moses I think he was the ideal actor for playing the hero types from centuries ago. I also remember him in Planet of the Apes as one of the only humans.I think he is a good actor who has done some memorable roles.    RIP Mr. Heston

i agree with the guy below me NO SKILL ALL

Almost no skill as an actor really- ham-fisted and very wooden. I personally don't agree with his politics at all, but as for his ability - put it this way: it wouldn't matter if he was the head of the Weathermen or the Symbionese Liberation Army- or the Grand Dragon of the KKK or head of the John Birch Society, because let's face it, he sucks! As for his movies, he's one of those lousy actors who nevertheless made a few very good films, like Touch of Evil, the original Planet of the Apes, and the uninentionally hilarious, over the top, 10 Commandments, where he was outshined by Brynner and Edward G. Robinson.

Over-acts consistantly.

Superb actor, disgusting person.

Great Actor. Yes, he became Moses just as Vivian Leigh became Scarlet. I love his great soul. One of the few that has not been consumed by Hollywood. He is such a powerful presence. If you haven't seen Gideon, you should. If is one of the few movies that he has done that I know of later in his life.

He's not an actor. He is a walking version of mythology - he actually believes himself. Nearly as bad as Victor Mature (or Manure, as we say.) Let this poor old fart fade away.

THE ACTOR Charlton Heston is quite good (lets not get into a partisan war over the NRA). He has been amazing in Planet of the Apes and Ben Hur. Great actor.

Kind of amusing in a hammy sort of way, but everything about the man is completely odious, from his megalomania to his politics. I hope he dies in a fire.

Ben Hur.

I change my mind! After seeing Bowling For Columbine, I was appalled at his racist and disgusting comments! I also wasn't too fond of his pissy fit with Michael Moore when he just gets up and walks away like a widdle tyke just because Moore didn't agree with his views! He has become a disgrace!

John Wayne must have been very happy when this shovelhead came along, in that there was at least one actor in Tinseltown with less talent than The Duke. Heston was totally wooden, histrionic or unbelieveable in virtually very single role he disgraced. Totally undistinguished screen debut in "Dark City." Absolutely laughable as Vargas in "Touch of Evil." Unrelentingly stilted, yet self-impressed in those dreadful Biblical epics that just make you want to vomit. If all this wasn't bad enough, the old douchebag became an ultra apologist for the rightwing twerps after he was washed up in Hollywood, most notably with that death-worshipping and carnage-affirming criminal conspiracy known as the NRA. Every time you see a news story on TV about some armed-to-the-teeth loser going postal or some armed-to-the-teeth child shooting up his teachers and fellow students, you have, in large part, the NRA and Numbnut Heston to thank, folks. This guy, so sanctimonious and self-righteous (must have taken his crappy Biblical roles too seriously, friends), actually has blood on his hands, like it or not. But the droolers are in total denial, decrying the messages sent out by supposed liberal Hollywood, but quick to put up as conservative icons, as exemplars of What's Right With America irresponsible violence-purveyors and death-glorifiers like Heston, Stallone and that positively horrible Schwartzennegger.

Certainly a zed in the acting department, but he has his claim to fame being the turkey in the travesty the NRA has foisted on our country. Too bad he couldn't have wrapped his cold, dead hands around something of value.

Best Performance - Bowling for Columbine. If you haven't seen Heston in that, you don't know him at all. Forget "Damn Apes" how about, "The problem with America is this mixed ethnic thing" or "From these cold DEAD hands"

he engenders evil

What a good old guy -- defender of civil rights of blacks in the 60s, defender of 2nd ammendment rights in more recent years! And man was he good as Moses in TEN COMMANDMENTS. And is there a better line in movie history than "You stinkin' apes!!"

He's hardly the only conservative Hollywood star out there, despite that town's liberal image. Look at Willis, Schwarzenegger, Gibson, et al -- they're conservative, but they at least have the good sense not to alienate "their public" with excessive public stridency. (Same goes for most politically active Hollywood liberals, though there are a few who go too far.) Heston has gone way too far, rubbing his views in the faces of grieving Columbine parents, for example. He has presided over the NRA at its worst. The NRA was once a useful organization, committed to training and safety. They taught me how to shoot when I was 12, and I have the junior sharpshooter's badge to prove it. But lately they've been mired in the worst kind of political advocacy -- belligerent, paranoid, defensive, and anti-community. When two kids blow away a bunch of their classmates (and themselves--so much for stiffer sentences as a remedy for gun violence) with guns they brought to school, the community has a right to be concerned. Heston's response to that concern? He holds a rally a few miles from Columbine High, waves a gun in the air and says, "Five words: From My Cold Dead Hands." Such tactics do no service to NRA members, the second amendment, the community, or the nation. Time for Heston to leave the stage.

fascist

C'mon. . .Chuck is funny. Why are people offended by a senile old man? Who cares about his politics? You have to love an actor that built a career out of over-acting every scene to the Nth degree. I shake my head when I think of him, but he is an American Icon.

I find it hard to speak too much ill of someone with Alzheimer's disease, which is just about the worst kind of slow death. But I can't say I've ever seen him do anything I've liked, on screen or with the NRA.

As an actor, he rates maybe a three, although his technique doesn't really hold water in these more naturalistic times. He relies too much on his looks and his stentorian voice, and invests his characters with a generalized attitude and intensity rather than living truthfully in each moment as modern actors are trained to do. He's a product of a certain era, and not bad for that era, but his time is past. ---- As a public figure, he rates a one. His performance as head of the NRA has been shameful. I think anyone, even among thinking NRA members, who sees his dismal performance in BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE would have to be at least a little embarrassed. He is of course entitled to his opinions, and to the free expression of same. But to bring his NRA circus to Littleton and to Flint Mich. in the immediate aftermath of gun-related calamities in those towns is at best insensitive, and in horrifically bad taste--an excellent example of the maxim, "just because you can, doesn't mean you should." When asked about his rationale for such behavior, all he can do is spout platitudes. Clearly, he has not done the intellectual legwork to support his position--there are perfectly sound arguments to be made in favor of gun ownership and the second amendment, but he seems incapable of making them. He's all catchphrases and belligerence. Sad, really.

He's a fine actor, and a good man in real life. It takes an individual with a lot of character to go against the tide in Hollywood.

I don't think moses would have been too pleased with the NRA. Guns really don't fit in well in the bible, mr. heston has the right to speak his mind, but certainly not the right to be taken seriously.

Three letters: NRA!

WHAT a nutter. an unbelievable ham as well. except for his Richelieu in "The Three Musketeers" (perhaps because he is on the screen for relatively short periods of time).

Cerebral, celebrated actor.

Heston's a third rate ham of an actor with a big mouth. Keep your politics to yourself, nobody cares what you think.

Unforgettable in the old epics like "The Ten Commandments", "Ben Hur" and many other films. Excellent speaking voice, he seems sincere and has strong, "politically incorrect" personal convictions that he is not afraid to express. I just can't get completely past this lack of humility I see in him that seems to border on arrogance.

I have nothing nice to say about this person.

Heston at a 3.4? Come on people. He's possibly the greatest, and most powerful actor to ever live. A one line cameo by Heston in the worst movie of all time would make it worth watching. This man is one of the few flawless actors.

Few people exude the confidence this man does.

A great talent. Memorable performances and I love this man because he has passion for what he believes in. He doesn't buckle under pressure. He is an extremely likeable person. I respect him very much.