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!)