Charlton Heston: Alpha Male/Omega Man
By Ann Magnuson
I very much enjoyed Carina (The New Pauline Kael!) Chocano's article on recently deceased movie legend Charlton Heston that appeared today's L.A. Times. A grand assessment of Heston's heroic old-school grandiosity, the piece also painted an evocative picture of what movie-going used to be -- grand events in even grander movie palaces. In other words, it was the multiplexes that got small (no doubt shrunk to fit the caliber of movie stars). But I have to say, I was disappointed that the L.A. Times obit of Heston did not mention one of my favorite childhood movies, The Omega Man. (Clips above and below -- good stuff.)
I actually got to meet the alpha-and-omega man when the newly renovated Egyptian Theater had their grand re-opening. He was walking unaccompanied through the lobby (back from the restroom I believe) when I seized the opportunity. "Mr. Heston, " I gushed. "Even though our politics differ I must say I loved you in The Omega Man. He smiled wide and chucked, "Oh yes, that was a good one." He was so gracious and well-mannered -- which is more than I can say for Michael Moore's and George Clooney's treatment of him. No, I haven't turned Republican but I have to say I laughed out loud this morning when reading this bon mot from one of Heston's numerous letters to the L.A. Times (which you can read here).
"...the Hollywood liberal is still with us, but that's a different bread of cat entirely, alive and well, content to be the arbiter of taste, political correctness and the search for the next Great Restaurant."
Put that in your Balsamic Breeze and spray it, Mr. Dreamboat! I also loved this letter Heston wrote to the Times editors, circa February 1999:
"The cultural and social fabric of the country is fraying around the edges as we split up into separate little Gypsy camps, each with a different agenda, heading in different directions. A while ago, I was at one of those silly "A-list" parties and fell into conversation on all this with a stunningly beautiful, famous star (not a bad actress, either) who said, "Well, look what it says on the dollar bill: 'e pluribus unum.' From one, many." "Actually, you've got the Latin backward," I replied. "It translates, 'From many, one.' As in one nation . . . indivisible?" "No kidding?" she said, amazed. "Well . . . whatever." And there you have it. We live, increasingly, in a "well, whatever" nation. God help us all."
Besides loving him in Touch of Evil, we recently enjoyed Mr. Heston as John the Baptist in George Steven's underrated Biblical epic The Greatest Story Ever Told. Heston's self-righteousness and beefcake physique have never been put to better use (well, except maybe for Planet of the Apes. Rest in Peace Omega Man. The end of the world won't be the same without you. (Wow, no wonder he loved guns!)
Your Comment
Posted at 3:01 on Apr 11, 2008
I can care less for any movie stars politics because thats exactly what it is,someones opinion.That said, I think Heston was widely misunderstood,and that possibly his feelings on political correction were similar to mine in that it only divides people and does not unify them.Heston was a rare breed of man who does not get much publicity,at least not in liberal Hollywood as my father would say.I could care less about right to bar arms,but maybe the NRA really needed him as a spokesperson, I don't really think its the gun that does the killing myself.His spark of intellect as you so greatly showed,illustrates to us that not all Republicans are ignorant white people(only george Bush).I really do not know though how you can have such disregard for the great "Planet of the Apes" ...or better yet "Beneath the Planet of the Apes",these were great social commentary films,and yest ye forget his masterpiece "Soylent Green".Sometimes I wonder who did a better impersonation of Heston,Heston himself or Phil Hartman from SNL.
Posted at 1:08 on Apr 15, 2008
Randy! Where did you get 'disregard' for Planet of the Apes from that post? I LOVE POTA!!!!! Even if I was kinda turned off by Heston when I was a kid (even then I couldn't stomach Hollywood pairing up middle aged men with young babes) I was completely captivated by the film! Kim Hunter and Roddy McDowell were wonderful! Maurice Evans? Genius! Anyone who can emote inside an ape suit deserves an bananna boat full of Oscars! And yes, BeneathPOTA was even better (if only because I think James Franciscus and Linda Harrison had the more age appropriate relationship).
Hmmmm...better make a search on YouTube for Phil Hartman's Heston!
Posted at 4:46 on Apr 16, 2008
Sorry guess I misread yr planet of the apes statement... there is a SNL skit where Phil Hartman does Heston in Soylent Green ...hilarious....
Posted at 6:29 on Apr 17, 2008
Here are a few of my tributes to Charleton Heston ,...while I did not agree on all of his political stands....I heart fully believed him whenever he said something on screen
Posted at 3:24 on Apr 21, 2008
My friend liked "Omega Man" better than "I Am Legend".
Posted at 11:39 on May 01, 2008
Who can better express
contempt for the
zombified? But special
credit should be given
to The Last Man On Earth,the original
inspiration for both
Omega and Legend. Vincent Price wandering
like a burnt out Man
In A Grey Flannel Suit
through ugly 60s Italian architecture-
that's alienation!
Posted at 12:53 on May 07, 2008
A thoughtful entry on Mr. Heston, whose politics (at least in the last quarter-century of his life) I didn't care much for, but who was nonetheless a marvelous actor who did so much for both the film (and stage) community.
I never knew the man, but my parents did (in the late '40s, before he became famous), and he and his wife sent us Christmas cards for decades. For more about this, and an appreciation, please visit http://community.livejournal.com/carole_and_co/92580.html