Dell's opinion on Charlton Heston is like that of many firefighters. However, I have a different slant on the subject. Heston was no better or worse than many another actor or public figure when it came to endorsements. He did what he was paid for. I don't know whether he believed in the Right to Work issue or not, and what he did wasn't exactly what I would have expected of the Heston I thought he was. But I have made plenty of my own mistakes and learned long ago that everyone deals with their own demons and I have enough of them that I would be scared to death to judge for fear of getting my tail caught in a crack. Especially for a one-time occurrence. In the rest of Heston's life, his support of an organization that is trying to protect our most important right, etc., I think he did good things, and that is what I remember him for. Just as with Madonna--I try to judge someone by what they do consistently, not a slip they made one time. In her case, of course, she slipped once and did a good song!
Anyway, all that being said, I really enjoyed Heston's work as an actor and still find him very enjoyable to watch. I was just watching Major Dundee tonight, and one of my favorite Westerns ever is Will Penny. He played a good dislikeable guy against Gregory Peck in The Big Country, and of course we can't forget The Ten Commandments. I personally wish he had done more Westerns. Like Buddy, I felt he was great in his last appearance in Tombstone. But the line I remember him best for is, "Get your hands off me, you damn dirty ape." Of course PLANET OF THE APES. My kids laugh every time they hear that.
That is a great Heston line. I cracked up just reading it. Did you know he was in both Planet of the Apes movies? In the recent one with Mark Walburg he was the ape!
It's been interesting reading everyones talk about "new" western movies. I'm a little disadvantaged being from a generation not well acquainted with the older westerns (I was in high school when Tombstone came out). And I admit I haven't even seen the original 3:10 to Yuma, but I have a word to say about the westerns coming out nowadays. To put it shortly, they're all I've got, even though the current standard of vulgarity generally leaks into them. Now I'm not sure how the original one went, but I saw some uniquely good morality in the recent 3:10 to Yuma. The general notion that even the worst of men (Ben Wade) can have a little good in them, can change even, was refreshing to see. Then the line from Christian Bale's character: "you remember your old man walked Wade to that station, when no one else would" (or something to that effect) made me tear up a little, and think about my own Dad telling me to do a hard thing, even though there would be danger and little reward. Certainly, hearing the f-word takes away from all that, and I hate it too. But I can't deny that I have an appetite for more modern western movies. Maybe I ought to try harder at appreciating the old stuff, especially when I can't really say I know what they're really like. I mean, I've seen the old Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid with Redford and Newman and a couple of Bonanza re-runs but other than that... Actually I did enjoy the Sacketts movies (and I haven't seen anyone dirtier than Sam Elliot in the Sacketts). But I do agree that if they are to be made, the moviemakers should respect the format that made the Western something people loved so much. Just so long as they can be as good as Tombstone. When that came out my buddies and went around quoting one liners like "you're no daisy" and "skin that smokewagon and see what happens!" Speaking of Tombstone, the actor that played Jonny Ringo (who was awesome) was in that newer Butch and Sundance movie, which was okay, but didn't blow my hair back.
Hey Casey, You're touching on one of my favorite movies, Tombstone. We just watched it again the other night. I have it on video and DVD. I think it might be an extended version on DVD--not sure. Anyway, other than the one time when Kilmer used the F word, I was pleased they managed to keep it out, and the other language at least sounded like the "old West." What a classic movie, though. Of course there are always things they could have done better, but overall, compared to most Westerns made since 1976, it was pretty darn good. I give it two thumbs up!
I also liked Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid with Newman and Redford. There has never been a better match up in my opinion, not even Selleck and Elliot.
Of course I AM one of that more "middle generation," though, and I am familiar with all the old shows. I've often entertained the idea of having a page put up of all my favorite Westerns. Maybe we could start out by listing a few here. There are still a lot of them available for rent on video.
Kirby, That is an excellent idea! I assume you mean western movies, so I will start things out.
1. The Searchers
2. Red River
3. Open Range
4. Miracle at Sage Creek
5. Dances With Wolves
6. My Darling Clementine
7. The Sacketts
8. Conagher
9. Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid
10. Major Dundee
Buddy
That is a good idea, it's interesting to see different people's list of their favorites. Here are some of mine, and again, it reflects the fact that I've seen mostly modern westerns.
1. Tombstone
2. Jeremiah Johnson
3. The Young Guns series (probably not very authentic, but the characters were awesome, also lots of sweet one-liners)
4. Open Range
5. Lonesome Dove
6. Broken Trail
7. The Sacketts
8. Quigley Down Under
9. An Unfinished LIfe (very modern, but a good story with Redford and Freeman)
10. 3:10 to Yuma
Hey Gina! Wow, stranger. I wondered what happened to you.
Well, I couldn't find the Madonna song I was talking about when I looked through her list of songs. I guess I don't know the title. But I found another one I like, "La Isla Bonita."
Wow Kirby! You actually like TWO Madonna songs! I'm so proud of you!
You are getting so progressive (and wise) in your old age! :)
You know I'm just teasing.
Hope all's well.
G