TCM Schedule for Thursday, August 28 -- Summer Under The Stars: Charlton Heston

[Staph]

Today's star is Charlton Heston, former vice president of the National Rifle Association and all-around reactionary Republican. He's never been one of my favorite actors, even before I was old enough to understand his political leanings. He always seemed too over-the-top, I'm-not-just-playing-Moses/John-the-Baptist/God--I-am-Moses/John-the-Baptist/God. Nonetheless, enjoy!


4:00am -- Paris When It Sizzles (1964)
A Hollywood producer hires a beautiful secretary to keep his drunken screenwriter on track.
Cast: Audrey Hepburn, William Holden, Noel Coward.
Dir: Richard Quine.
C-110 mins, TV-PG

According to her son Sean Ferrer's memoir, this was Audrey Hepburn's least favorite of the films she made during her years as a star, this despite the fact she called it "a joy to make". Ferrer wrote that it taught Audrey a lesson, "just because the film was easy to make doesn't mean it's going to be very good."


6:00am -- Bad for Each Other (1954)
A doctor returned from the Korean War must choose between setting up a glamorous practice and helping the poor.
Cast: Charlton Heston, Lizabeth Scott, Dianne Foster.
Dir: Irving Rapper.
BW-82 mins

Originally a Democrat who campaigned for Presidential candidates Adlai Stevenson and John F. Kennedy, Heston gradually switched to becoming a conservative Republican during the 1960s.


7:30am -- The Buccaneer (1958)
French pirate Jean Lafitte tries to redeem his name helping the U.S. in the War of 1812.
Cast: Yul Brynner, Charlton Heston, Claire Bloom.
Dir: Anthony Quinn.
C-120 mins, TV-PG

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Costume Design, Black-and-White or Color -- Ralph Jester, Edith Head and John Jensen

Facts were changed to protect 1950s sensitivities. Lafitte did have an affair with a Claybourne lady, but it was the Governor's wife, not his daughter.


9:32am -- Short Film: One Reel Wonders: Wrong Way Butch (1950)
A comic safety awareness video by Pete Smith. Wrong Way Butch just never seems to be able to grasp basic safety guidelines, but if he can't learn from his mistakes, at least we can.
Cast: Pete Smith, Dave O'Brien.
Dir: Dave O'Brien.
BW-10 mins

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Short Subject, One-reel -- Pete Smith


9:51am -- Short Film: One Reel Wonders: Egypt Speaks (1951)
This People On Parade series entry visits with the people of Alexandria, Egypt.
Narrator: James A. FitzPatrick.
Dir: James A. FitzPatrick.
C-8 mins

The film features the band of the University of Alexandria, a talk with some of the first females to study at the university's law school, and a soccer game.


10:00am -- Khartoum (1966)
Epic story of the British general who fell to the Arabs in 1885.
Cast: Charlton Heston, Sir Laurence Olivier, Sir Ralph Richardson.
Dir: Basil Dearden.
C-136 mins, TV-G

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay - Written Directly for the Screen -- Robert Ardrey

Near the end of the movie, when the Madhi's followers return to his tent after taking Khartoum, the Madhi looks up at something--and we assume he is looking at Gordon's head on a tall pole. A TV Guide article tells that the producers actually filmed a shot of Gordon's head (modeled after Charlton Heston's image) on a pole, but then the censors insisted that it be cut out (remember this was back in the 60's). So all we see in the movie is Olivier looking up at something in horror. Afterwards, the producers gave Heston the fake head used in the shot. He kept it in his house and used to use it to startle visitors.


12:30pm -- The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)
All-star epic retelling of Christ's life.
Cast: Max von Sydow, Dorothy McGuire, Claude Rains.
Dir: George Stevens.
C-199 mins, TV-G

Nominated for Oscars for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color -- Richard Day, William J. Creber, David S. Hall, Ray Moyer, Fred M. MacLean and Norman Rockett, Best Cinematography, Color -- William C. Mellor and Loyal Griggs, Best Costume Design, Color -- Vittorio Nino Novarese and Marjorie Best, Best Effects, Special Visual Effects -- J. McMillan Johnson, and Best Music, Score - Substantially Original -- Alfred Newman

Telly Savalas shaved his head bald for his role as Pontius Pilate. He kept his head shaved for the rest of his life.


4:00pm -- Ben-Hur (1959)
While seeking revenge, a rebellious Israelite prince crosses paths with Jesus Christ.
Cast: Charlton Heston, Stephen Boyd, Jack Hawkins.
Dir: William Wyler.
C-222 mins, TV-PG

Won Oscars for Best Actor in a Leading Role -- Charlton Heston, Best Actor in a Supporting Role -- Hugh Griffith, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color -- William A. Horning, Edward C. Carfagno and Hugh Hunt (In case of Horning the Oscar win was posthumously), Best Cinematography, Color -- Robert Surtees, Best Costume Design, Color -- Elizabeth Haffenden, Best Director -- William Wyler, Best Effects, Special Effects -- A. Arnold Gillespie (visual), Robert MacDonald (visual) and Milo B. Lory (audible), Best Film Editing -- Ralph E. Winters and John D. Dunning, Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture -- Miklós Rózsa, Best Sound -- Franklin Milton (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer SSD), and Best Picture -- Sam Zimbalist (Postumously. Sam Zimbalist died during filming. Mrs. Zimbalist accepted the award on his behalf.)

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium -- Karl Tunberg

The chariot race segment was directed by legendary stuntman Yakima Canutt. Joe Canutt (Yak's son) doubled for Charlton Heston. During one of the crashes, in which Judah Ben-Hur's horses jump over a crashed chariot, the younger Canutt was thrown from his chariot onto the tongue of his chariot. He managed to climb back into his chariot and bring it back under control. The sequence looked so good that it was included in the film, with a close-up of Heston climbing back into the chariot. Canutt got a slight cut on his chin, but it was the only injury in the incredibly dangerous sequence.


7:44pm -- Short Film: From The Vaults: Ben-Hur: Behind The Scenes With Glenn H. Randall & Yakima Canutt (1959)
Behind the scenes promotional short for Ben-Hur, with Glen Randall, horse trainer, and Yakima Canutt, second unit director, who worked together to film the legendary chariot race from the movie.
BW-7 mins

John Ford hired Yakima Canutt on John Wayne's recommendation to do Stagecoach (1939), where Canutt
supervised the river-crossing scene as well as the Indian chase scene, did the stagecoach drop, and doubled for Wayne in the coach stunts. For safety during the stagecoach drop stunt, Canutt devised modified yokes and tongues, to give him extra handholds and provide extra room between the teams. Ford was so pleased with Canutt's work that he told him that whenever Ford made an action picture and Canutt wasn't working elsewhere, he was on Ford's payroll.


What's On Tonight: SUMMER UNDER THE STARS: CHARLTON HESTON


8:00pm -- The Big Country (1958)
Feuding families vie for water rights in the old West.
Cast: Gregory Peck, Jean Simmons, Charlton Heston.
Dir: William Wyler.
C-166 mins, TV-PG

Won an Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role -- Burl Ives (who knew Burl Ives had an Oscar?!?)

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture -- Jerome Moross

This film is credited with starting the trend for pacifist westerns.


11:00pm -- Major Dundee (1965)
Cavalry misfits cross the Mexican border to destroy an Indian outpost.
Cast: Charlton Heston, Richard Harris, James Coburn.
Dir: Sam Peckinpah.
C-136 mins, TV-PG

Actor Woody Strode was considered for the part that went to Brock Peters. Strode was part Native American and he wrote in his memoirs that he didn't get the part because he was told he looked too much "like a half-breed" by Peckinpah to play the part.


1:30am -- Soylent Green (1973)
A future cop uncovers the deadly secret behind a mysterious synthetic food.
Cast: Charlton Heston, Edward G. Robinson, Leigh Taylor-Young.
Dir: Richard Fleischer.
C-97 mins, TV-MA

SPOILER: When Thorn discovers that he is too late to stop Sol's suicide, he begins to cry. Charlton Heston was really crying - he was the only person on set who knew Edward G. Robinson was dying of cancer. His death scene was the last day he worked in his life; he died just nine days after shooting wrapped.


3:11am -- Short Film: From The Vaults: A Look At The World Of Soylent Green (1973)
Cast: Richard Fleischer, Charlton Heston, Leigh-Taylor Young.
C-10 mins

It's hard to believe that Soylent Green was supposed to take place in 2022 -- fourteen years from now.


3:30am -- The Hawaiians (1970)
A wanderer returns home only to find political turmoil, disease and romantic difficulties.
Cast: Charlton Heston, Geraldine Chaplin, Tina Chen.
Dir: Tom Gries.
C-134 mins, TV-14

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Costume Design -- Bill Thomas

Based on a portion of the novel Hawaii by James Michener, another earlier part of the book was made into the film Hawaii (1966), starring Max Von Sydow, Julie Andrews and Richard Harris. Heston's character Whip Hoxworth is a descendant of both Richard Harris' Captain Rafer Hoxworth and Gene Hackman's Dr. John Whipple in Hawaii.

[Staph]

1. Charlton Heston Profile

Stardates: Born October 4, 1924, in Evanston, Illinois; died 2008.

Star Sign: Libra

Star Qualities: Imposing physique, commanding voice and chiseled profile, all perfect for epic heroes.

Star Definition: “So intelligent, so knowledgeable, so professional, so exciting – exploring the full content of a scene and context of the intent.” – Janet Leigh

Galaxy of Characters: Judah Ben-Hur in Ben-Hur (1959), Major Amos Charles Dundee in Major Dundee (1965), General Charles “Chinese” Gordon in Khartoum (1966), Detective Robert Thorn in Soylent Green (1973).

Call him "Chuck." Not "Charlton" or "Mr. Heston." It's something he tells you right at the start, to set the record straight and to dispense with any awkwardness. He also lets you know, just in case you might be headed in that direction, definitely not to call him "Charlie." Only his wife is allowed to do that. It's information our star of the day (August 28th) dispenses in a pleasant, affable manner, although there is the hint that an infraction of the rules could inspire a clap of thunder, a burning bush or a major earth tremor. But why not. He is, after all, a guy who's been known to either cause or survive any number of lightning bolts, earthquakes and other calamities, at least on screen. So why risk it? "Chuck" he is, from that moment forward.

For the record, he was actually born "Charles Carter"; "Charlton" was his mother's maiden name, and "Heston" is the surname of his stepfather, which Chuck took as his own when he was still very young. One of his most embarrassing moments, he recalls, was when he was a kid and, during a roll-call at school, a new teacher kept asking if "Charlotte" Heston was present. Too stunned and shy to say anything, young Chuck just kept turning redder by the moment, sliding further and further down in his seat, trying to disappear. Actually, that shyness he had as a kid is still very much a part of him, although he's learned to overcome it as much as possible. (Moses shy? Incongruous but true.) Meeting Chuck Heston in person also makes you realize immediately that he is, for real, the kind of guy you hoped he would be: a straight-shooter, a thinking man, sturdy, dependable, professional. But it comes as a surprise that self-effacement is also part of the package.

With his sharp profile, impressive physique, booming voice and air of nobility Charlton Heston embodies
heroism. In a career spanning more than 60 films, many of them superspectacles, Heston played larger-than-life characters ranging from Moses to Michelangelo. He achieved his greatest triumph in the title role of Ben-Hur (1959), which won him an Academy Award® for Best Actor. Born in Evanston, Ill., in 1923, Heston began his Hollywood career playing down-to-earth heroes in such movies as The Greatest Show on Earth (1952), Touch of Evil (1958) and Skyjacked (1972). Throughout his career, he has continued to play straightforward leads in such screen adventures as The Wreck of the Mary Deare (1959), Earthquake (1974) and The Hawaiians (1970). But Heston will always be best remembered for his epic roles, including John the Baptist in The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) and General Gordon in Khartoum (1966).

He often kids that stalwart hero image he's acquired since playing such giants of history as Moses, El Cid, Andrew Jackson, Buffalo Bill Cody, et al. A fascinating guy, Chuck, and we invite you to learn more about him on 8/28th when we air nine of his movies including his Oscar®-winning Ben-Hur (1959), the sci-fi classic Soylent Green (1973) and the epic 1958 Western directed by William Wyler, The Big Country.

by Robert Osborne

Films in bold type are featured on TCM on August 28

[Longhorn]

2. I agree with you about Heston.

I didn't like him long before I learned about his politics. I never understood what made him a star. :shrug:

Now, I kinda liked John Wayne -- certainly not for his depth. :rofl: But he had a certain presence and even he didn't seem to think what he was doing was acting. :D