Brief Encounter

Or British?

suzepulcheria

Yes, Steve, but he's cute, though...

"I've come a long way you know!" "Equally long way to go back..."

scholes

Doesn't say much for Charlton Heston then does it?
"Get your hands off me you damn dirty ape"

Steve Crook

Oddly enough, he doesn't do anything for me

Steve

Edward G

Heston has appeared as the male lead in some of the greatest epic stories ever filmed : Ben Hur, The Ten Commandments, and El Cid. He was also versatile enough to appear in accomplished sci-fi films like Planet Of The Apes, Soylent Green and the Omega man - innovative movies that have aged pretty well (we won't mention the blonde wigs in Omega Man). In his time Heston has managed his own theatre and performed on stage (including much Shakespeare) on both sides of the Atlantic.

Gladiator is a seriously impressive movie. It's spectacle, scoring and set pieces make it a natural progression from the likes of Ben Hur. But even here Crowe plays a "spaniard" strangely devoid of a spanish accent! It's way to early to assess Russell Crowe as an actor but I doubt whether he will create the kind of lasting legacy that Heston has done. Having said that Crowe has chosen his roles well to date in the likes of Beatiful Mind, Master and Commander and LA Confidential.

Still, Heston is one of the greats. Maybe people who lazily dismiss him as "wooden" are as thick as a plank!

:

I'm as mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore!

Cooper S

Always thought Heston was great in Khartoum - showed he was more than just a 'Hollywood' actor.

'I've only got one spare'

'Well, borrow one !'

stevie boy

Ah the beauty of this board is varying opinions, for once I disagree with you Steve I think that Crowe is a fine actor (perhaps not in Livesey's class) but I have seen him in a few roles which show his range.

scholes

Okay I'll chop off one of my arms and use it for the log burner tonight!
I actually like Chuck Heston, he was in a very good film called Dark City made in 1950, about a man who's cheated by a gambling syndicate and the vengeance taken on it by his psychic brother.
Thankyou Stevie Boy

TimR

It looks very nice.

I would think you would have have quite a large turnout.

Edward G

Cheers Scholes.
Will have to look up "Dark City" after reading this.

Best regards,
Edward G

I'm as mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore!

TimR

I agree regarding both Ben Hur and Charlton Heston. That really is the sort of film that is just not made anymore - and it requires the big screen for full enjoyment.

batman

Dark City is a film I can also recommend, it is a really good noir thriller with bags of atmosphere and a fine performance from Chuck. I don't think it has had a legit release but you can pick up a good dvd-r off ebay.

Apart from him being a gun nut I like Chuck. He has given good performances in many films, apart from those listed above he is very good in Major Dundee, Touch of Evil. The Mountain Men, Diamond Head and Ruby Gentry.

I think Heston suffers in some roles by being what Orson Welles called a 'king' actor. Not the best in the cast, but the actor most suitable to be playing the king. When cast in some non-epic roles his performances tend to overpower the other actors and come across as hammy, when in fact his playing is exactly what the character needs, but Heston is simply too 'big' for the role.

"Do you know why fattries are called fattries .... it's because they are big and people make things in them."

TimR

It's interesting to read this - Heston was one of the biggest names in film when I was growing up, and he was one of the few larger-than-life actors who brought a heroic spirit to the epic.

I did not know whether or not he was popular in Britain. I know that he is mocked today - in the US - for the very reason he was popular in those iconic roles - he is perceived as a straight-arrow type, without shading and ambiguity. I would still rather watch him than almost any other actor.

Gladiator is impressive, but I don't enjoy watching Crowe. He has a creepy, weird quality that I find repellent - like a lower key jack Nicholson, but without Nicholson's sense of humor. He is a talented actor, but strange.

Agreed. El Cid and Khartoum are just two examples of Heston's range.

TimR

I thought that was an unexpectedly rich film. There is a horrifying scene in it that remains one of the most disturbing scenes I have ever seen.

What do all of you think of Heston playing a great British hero? Is he a convincing Gordon?

Steve Crook

The numbers have been growing over the years. Sometimes there are only 20 or 30, occasionally there have been much closer to 100!

There are a few regulars who are at every walk but there are nearly always a few new faces as well. And as I said in the interview, everyone seems to have a different reason for being there.

Steve