One of the most notable actors of all time, Charlton Heston, has a history that goes beyond his career as a movie star. He was also a political activist who was a staunch supporter of the Gun Control Act of 1968.
Hamlet
If you want to know what it feels like to be a Shakespearean actor, Charlton Heston’s Hamlet will give you a good idea. Although he has never played the title role, Heston has starred in several film adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays. From Armageddon to Marc Antony, he has appeared in many films.
Before he was famous, Heston devoted himself to theater. In fact, he bought a quarto copy of Macbeth.
When he was offered the role of Hamlet, Heston said yes. He was similar to Paul Newman and Sean Connery, who are also Shakespearean actors. As an actor, Heston said he was “thrilled” to play Shakespeare roles.
During the 1980s, he had roles in Macbeth and Antony and Cleopatra. But it was not until 1997 that he landed the role of Hamlet in Kenneth Branagh’s film.
The movie is a very visual affair. It uses single takes for most scenes. It depicts scenes that don’t appear in the text of the play. For instance, the gravedigger, the Player King, the Ghost of Hamlet’s Father, and the First Gravedigger are all played by different people.
The story of Hamlet has been told by countless writers. Some versions are racially-blind. Other versions are available for classroom use.
Hamlet is one of the most acclaimed film adaptations of Shakespeare. Although it was not a box office success, it has earned four Oscar nominations. Those include Best Original Score, Writing (Adapted Screenplay), Art Direction, and Costume Design.
Aside from Charlton Heston’s Hamlet, other actors who have starred in the play are Nicholas Farrell, Kate Winslet, Jack Lemmon, Gerard Depardieu, John Gielgud, Julie Christie, and Robin Williams. These actors all had good performances in the film.
Treasure Island
It’s been a while since we’ve had a new Treasure Island movie. The first one, based on the Robert Louis Stevenson novel of the same name, landed on our screens in 1989. Charlton Heston, of course, is the man in charge, but the movie’s other stars include Oliver Reed, Christopher Lee, and Christian Bale. We’re eagerly awaiting the next incarnation of this great swashbuckling tale. And for good reason.
The movie was filmed in Jamaica and Cornwall, and the story follows a young buccaneer, Jim Hawkins, and his equally brave and feisty companion, his mother. Along the way, we meet a host of pirates, from the dashing Black Dog to the evil-minded Blind Pew to the ominous Mr. Smollett, as well as a few bumbling fools.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I’m not sure who actually came up with the film’s title. Nonetheless, there’s no denying that it was a big success. This was also the film where Charlton Heston finally got to put his signature on the dotted line. To top it off, the movie did a swell job of capturing the essence of the original tale.
There are plenty of other Treasure Island rehashes. A few stand out among them include the 1989 film, starring Tom Cruise and James Caan; the 1997 version starring Jeremy Irons, John Cleese, and Michael Caine; and the 2009 reboot, starring the great Denzel Washington. However, none of them match the quality and pacing of the 1990 film. So if you’re looking for something to watch over a few cold ones, you might want to give this one a go. Just make sure you get the DVD version.
Touch of Evil
Originally a workaday thriller, Touch of Evil eventually became one of the greatest film noirs of all time. It was produced in the early 1950s and is still considered to be one of the best examples of the genre. The screenplay is based on a novel penned by Whit Masterson.
It features a star-studded cast. Orson Welles, Charlton Heston, and Janet Leigh are the main stars. The cast also includes Marlene Dietrich and Akim Tamiroff. Despite the mediocre reception of its initial release, it went on to win top honors at the Brussels World Film Festival in 1958. This is largely thanks to its richly detailed mise-en-scene.
Orson Welles was a lifelong liberal. Though he was criticized for being a spendthrift, he saved his money for this project. For instance, he shot thirteen pages of the script on the first day of shooting. In addition, he devoted a significant portion of his time to long takes. His commitment to such things required coordination among actors, technicians, and the camera.
To make matters worse, Orson Welles had a difficult time executing his vision. At one point, he was forced to drop the film in favor of his next project. However, he never forgot about Touch of Evil. Indeed, the film became a hit in Europe, earning its director an Oscar nomination. And it was also an impressive technical accomplishment.
Orson Welles reportedly invented the Vargas character to highlight the complexities of Mexican-American relations. But he did not create the movie’s greatest asset: its most memorable scene.
There is no doubt that Touch of Evil is a great film, but it fumbles on the execution. Unfortunately, it is one of the last great film noirs.
Paintings
One of the most recognizable stars in the Hollywood galaxy, Charlton Heston was also an avid art lover. His collection included several pieces by Andrew Wyeth, who passed away in 2008 at the age of 91. Some of his lesser known works may be up for grabs at Sotheby’s, New York City. If you’re into fine art, you may want to put this gem in your wishlist.
Although his time in the spotlight was brief, Charlton Heston made his mark as a movie star. Some of his most notable films include The Greatest Show on Earth, The Agony and the Ecstasy, and The Big Country. While he’s most remembered for his work in the films, he also served in the military. In 1944 he enlisted in the US Army’s Air Force and became an aerial gunner aboard a B-25 Mitchell bomber. Among his other honors, Heston was awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.
While Heston is not the first Hollywood superstar to be named president of the National Rifle Association (NRA), his contributions have been substantial. Besides his acting, Heston was also a staunch advocate of the NRA and the rights of the individual citizen. For instance, he served as president of the NRA from 1998 to 2003. Interestingly, he also served as a radio operator for his unit.
As a matter of fact, he did not have the honor of being the first president, but it was a close call. He and his wife, Lydia Marie Clarke, were married in March 1944. They were both born in No Man’s Land, Illinois. Afterward, they moved to Brooklyn, New York. Despite their early hiccups, the pair eventually settled into a long and happy marriage.
Supporter of the Gun Control Act of 1968
Charlton Heston was an actor, film director, and civil rights activist. His career spanned the decades. During his film career, he starred in films such as The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur, Planet of the Apes, Soylent Green, and A Man for All Seasons.
In his role as an actor, Heston became an outspoken supporter of the Gun Control Act of 1968. Several other actors also publicly supported the Dodd bill. Kirk Douglas, Hugh O’Brien, and Gregory Peck are among them.
Heston also opposed the Vietnam War. He attended President Reagan’s second inauguration, and was a member of the Screen Actors Guild.
As an activist, Charlton Heston spoke out against political correctness. He supported the Bill of Rights and the Constitution, and he fought against abortion.
Toward the end of his career, he was also an advocate for responsible gun ownership. He became the president of the National Rifle Association in 2000.
However, after the shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado, Heston was criticized by Michael Moore for a pro-gun rally in Denver. When he was interviewed for the documentary Moore’s Crossing, Heston walked out.
It was a surprising moment in the history of Hollywood and the citizen disarmament movement. Until then, no major film or television actor had been an outspoken proponent of a single political issue.
Ultimately, however, Charlton Heston’s legacy will be known for his iconic performance as Moses in “The Ten Commandments.” Whether or not Heston is considered a good role model for young people, his activism is a testament to his integrity and dedication.
While Heston was a pro-gun advocate in the late 1960s, he shifted his allegiance to the conservative Republican party in the 1980s. This caused an uproar on the left.
