We celebrate the life of Charlton Heston, one of the last great Hollywood icons, with a sampling of reviews from his legendary career. They weren’t all great roles, nor were they all successful films, but his presence in each left a lasting impression on us all. Sleep well, Chuck.
Peer Gynt (1941)
“There are moments in the film when he looks extremely uncomfortable (e.g. the “skipping scene”), moments when he’s just a bit uncertain, but there are moments when you can see the strength of the actor that he will become.”
– Judge Eric Profancik
Julius Caesar (1950)
“Watching this film, it is not hard to see how Heston went on to become famous; even in this ancient and somewhat amateurish film, his rugged looks and commanding presence blow any of his co-stars off the screen.”
– Judge Erich Harper
The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
“Square jawed Charlton Heston works well in his role as the seasoned circus boss Marc, though his acting often comes close to being a parody of himself (I kept imagining Phil Hartman as Heston yelling out ‘Soylent Green is PEOPLE!’)” — Judge Patrick Naugle
Arrowhead (1953)
“There’s little depth in the shots, a technique that tends to emphasize Heston’s intense, if slightly overstated, performance.”
– Judge Paul Corupe
The Naked Jungle (1954)
“It’s hard to imagine a better casting choice than Heston as Leiningen. Many other stars of the era played such man’s men, but Heston brings a steely toughness to the role that is unmatchable. His machismo is so powerful it’s almost palpable, his arrogance truly breathtaking”
– Judge Amanda DeWees
The Ten Commandments (1956)
“Heston commands the screen and while his acting is sometimes wooden (as are many in the film), he’s still an imposing force to be reckoned with.”
– Judge Patrick Naugle
Three Violent People (1957)
“This is the last movie Heston made before establishing himself as a Hollywood icon. In two years he would race chariots in the title role of Ben Hur, and a year after that he would be curiously cast as a Mexican police detective in Orson Welles’s incredible Touch of Evil. By then, Heston’s place in cinematic history was assured.” — Judge Steve Evans
Touch of Evil (1958)
“Heston was originally signed before the Vargas part became the Mexican lawyer that Welles rewrote it to be—hence the unlikely scenario of Heston playing a Mexican. But he does very well with it, even if he never attempts any sort of Mexican inflection to his speech—something he later wished he had done.” — Judge Barrie Maxwell
Ben-Hur (1959)
“Heston’s Oscar win is a well-deserved one; he is in almost the entire movie, and carries it magnificently.” — Judge Ryan Keefer
The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)
“One case that’s not a concern is Charlton Heston as John the Baptist. Heston is one of the best things in the film, for his sequences are filled with passion that make them stand out from the passivity of many of the others.”
– Judge Barrie Maxwell
Major Dundee (1965)
“Heston once became so infuriated with the director he galloped toward him waving a saber. But when the studio threatened to replace the director, Heston told them he’d quit. He also reimbursed his salary when the film started going over-budget.” — The late Judge George Hatch
Khartoum (1966)
“In one of his best portrayals, Charlton Heston provides us with a General Gordon who is suitably heroic and inspirational, but he also successfully hints at Gordon’s weaknesses—his unwavering belief that Britain will do what’s right and his almost megamaniacal reliance on the power of his own force of will.”
– Judge Barrie Maxwell
Planet of the Apes (1968)
“Aside from Heston’s chin-level acting, and the less-than-effective explanation for the obvious Earth-like clues, it is a thoroughly engaging example of the ‘what if’ genre.” — Judge Bill Gibron
Will Penny (1968)
“Not only did Charlton Heston recognize the quality of the script, he managed to translate that excellence into a high quality performance on the screen. Every note about his portrayal of Will Penny rings true.”
– Judge Barrie Maxwell
Julius Caesar (1970)
“This marks the second time Heston played the role on film, the first being a creative but impoverished 1950 indie production. Heston, like Vaughn and Rigg, succeeds in delivering Shakespeare’s language in a way that sounds like human speech, not just rote regurgitation.”
– Judge Erich Harper
The Omega Man (1971)
“Heston plays Colonel Robert Neville with the same macho bravado he brought to every role. He was the archetypal hero of the period; a streamlined, thinking man’s Schwarzengger playing an Americanized version of Sean Connery’s James Bond. Suave, quick witted, astoundingly resourceful, and unflinching when faced with a fight.” — Chief Justice Michael Stailey
Soylent Green (1973)
“Heston made a real mark for himself in the sci-fi genre, and it’s easy to see why-—he has a natural, action hero quality to him.”
– Judge Patrick Naugle
Earthquake (1974)
” The chisel-jawed Heston is a man’s man and tosses personal safety aside in deference to rescuing others.”
– Judge Dennis Prince
