It seems fitting to mention Mr. Heston

[spqrblues]

I just saw that Charlton Heston, king of epics and B-Movies, died last night at 84. And during Ten Commandments season, too.

The best parts of Ben-Hur: the chariot races and the slash (hey, it's really in there). Soylent Green scared the living daylights out of me when I saw it as a wee thing. Sshh--don't tell the ending.

Now who will play Felix as an octogenarian in the movie version of SPQR Blues?

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_w_o_o_d_/]

YOU MEAN FELIX ISN'T KILLED BY THE VOLCANO ?

[meritahut.livejournal.com]

Don't worry, that is just a little red herring of misdirection to keep people wondering.

Or is it??

[http://users.livejournal.com/_w_o_o_d_/]

SOYLENT GREEN IS PEOPLE.

Or is it ?

[ndgmtlcd.livejournal.com]

Non c'est de la sauce de poisson!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_w_o_o_d_/]

SOYLENT GREEN GARVM EST ?

[prettydragoon.livejournal.com]

o/~ People who eat people are the happiest people... o/~

[ajodasso.livejournal.com]

Hurrah for co-stars who cleverly sabotage the plot with subtext!

[meritahut.livejournal.com]

I always say, what's the fun of a plot without subtext?

[amedia.livejournal.com]

The best parts of Ben-Hur: the chariot races and the slash (hey, it's really in there).

Re-watch this movie I must. It's one of those I've only seen in bits and pieces, many times each, over the years, but never sat down and watched from beginning to end. Like It's a Wonderful Life.

[meritahut.livejournal.com]

Some parts are a little tedious, I have to admit, but a lot of it crackles.

And it isn't ever as much of a snore as El Cid (sorry, GR). Or Heston's turn as Mark Antony in the 1970 Julius Caesar. When we watched that in the dorm, we all agreed the only possible explanation for the movie was that all its incredible high-powered stars got four-sheep-to-the-wind at a gala party the night before, decided it'd be really fun to do a new film version of Shakespeare's JC, then woke in the morning with roaring hangovers discovering they were contractually obligated but unable to stand loud noises, bright lights, or iambic pentameter.

Charlton Heston must go down as the worst Antony ever. And yet, it's a great movie for watching in a dorm. Recommended viewing. Bring alcohol, and a remote with a good fast-foward button. >:D

[b2creative.livejournal.com]

four sheep to the wind?

I take it that's even more drunk than three sheets to the wind (is that possible)?

Iambic pentameter can be fatal when you're hungover, so that explanation seems quite likely.

I've never watched all of Ben-Hur either. It's on my to do list.

[meritahut.livejournal.com]

It's the next step after three sheets. When you're sliding off your bar stool trying to remember that phrase... the one with the sheets or the sheep or the something...

:)

[xanath.livejournal.com]

I have to say I'm sad he's gone. I didn't agree with his latter-day politics (although he did march with Martin Luther King), and his reaction to Gore Vidal's revelation of the Ben Hur subtext still gives me the giggles. But I love The Planet of the Apes, and I still watch Ben Hur and The Ten Commandments when they're broadcast.

But for a sheer ham-fest, I recommend The Agony and the Ecstasy. Rex Harrison tries to out-glower and out-ham Charlton Heston with little success. And Rex was quite petulant about it; he snarled that "I wasn't playing one of Michelangelo's boyfriends; I was playing the Pope!" One wonders if Vidal ever sent him a nice bouquet of posies for that one.

[meritahut.livejournal.com]

What I mostly remember about that movie is Harrison and Heston snarling at each other for... what is it, about six and a half hours? Ten days? It's a long movie. And something about Michelangelo mooning over a girlfriend. Of course, it's been a long time since I've seen it, the memory is foggy... Maybe I'll find new appreciation for it on another viewing :D

[ndgmtlcd.livejournal.com]

I think Heston would have refused the role of octogenarian Felix. Much better to have him played by Kenneth Branagh. He's such a good actor that he can play him old, and he can play him middle-aged too. Unless you were planning to use Branagh for Mus?

[meritahut.livejournal.com]

I think I'd use Branagh for anything he wants :) Maybe Mus can be played by a talented newcomer as yet to be discovered, currently in acting school. He'll be catapulted to fame!

Just have Branagh's people ring my people. We'll do lunch. And... whatever else it is the power people do.

[dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com]

Then there's Chuck as the Player King in Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet, if you want Heston and Shakespeare.

Dr. Phil

[mummpizz.livejournal.com]

De mortuis nihil nisi bene. Regarding his merits in the American Rifle Assoc. I say: nothing.

[kyleen66.livejournal.com]

It's kind of funny that Mikey-chan insisted we watch the Omega Man after we had seen I Am Legend last week.

Omega man was okay, sorta. But totally all Heston.

Will Smith's portrayal WAY WAY more believable.