LOS ANGELES - Nancy Reagan was heartbroken over Charlton Heston’s death. President Bush hailed him as a “strong advocate for liberty,” while John McCain called Heston a devotee for civil and constitutional rights.
Even Michael Moore, who mocked Heston in his gun-control documentary “Bowling for Columbine,” posted the actor’s picture on his Web site to mark his passing.
Heston, who died Saturday night at 84, was a towering figure both in his politics and on screen, where his characters had the ear of God (Moses in “The Ten Commandments”), survived apocalyptic plagues (“The Omega Man”) and endured one of Hollywood’s most-grueling action sequences (the chariot race in “Ben-Hur,” which earned him the best-actor Academy Award).
Better known in recent years as a fierce gun-rights advocate who headed the National Rifle Association, Heston played legendary leaders and ordinary men hurled into heroic struggles.
Now there have been a quite a few postings and commentary on The Daily Kos, which quickly moved into discussing the issue of Charlton Heston and staunch support for gun ownership. And some of the comments have been particularly harsh against Heston. The way I see it, Heston had strong viewpoints and chose to express those viewpoints in his own way. It is no different than having a liberal actor or actress expressing their own strong liberal views--can you say Jane Fonda and her political activism? Heston was president of the National Rifle Association. Jane Fonda took a tour of North Vietnam during the Vietnam War. I could care less about the opinions of any actor or actress--I want to see them play a role in a movie, and hopefully have a great time watching the movie. If they want to express their political opinions, then it is fine with me--regardless of whether I believe their opinions or not. Where I will draw the line is if such actors or actresses become elected in a state or federal political office. Then their views on issues will affect on how they will vote on legislation, and how such legislation may affect my own well being. In that case, all bets are off.
But getting back to Chuck Heston, we've got another great Hollywood actor passing into legend. Heston's acting performance may have been a little wooden at times, but he always ended up playing in some great epic roles, and even the little movies, with memorable quotes:
Take your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape!
You've gotta tell them! Soylent Green is people!
Climb baby, climb.
You're being paid to fly fighter planes, not sit in your bunk and cry over your girl's picture! You better shape up, Tiger, or some hotshot Jap pilot's gonna flame your *ass*!
There's never a cop around when you need one.
I have orders to bring you to God... heathen.
You must suit yourself, Milady. But if in the end you should, do it with a becoming grace.
You may conquer the land. You may slaughter the people. But that is not the end. We will rise again.
You gave me this staff to rule over scorpions and serpants. God has made it a staff to rule over kings.
Damn them... damn them all to hell!
Gordon Street? Ah, yes, Gordon Street. I once knew a girl who lived on Gordon Street. Long time ago, when I was a young man. Not a day passes I don't think her and the promise that I made which I will always keep. That one perfect day on Gordon Street. That's uh, five blocks up, two over.
I think the final quote really sums up Charlton Heston's career. Heston made movies for the fun of it, brining his chiseled jaw and semi-wooden performance into every role he played. You always knew what you were getting from Chuck Heston--even in the cult stinker disaster movies like Airport 1975 or Earthquake, he is still fun to watch. You can sum up Heston's career in a bit part he played as a Good Actor giving Wayne Campbell directions to where the First Presbyterian Church is located in the movie Wayne's World 2. You just knew he is having fun making movies for the audiences' enjoyment. From YouTube:
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