Remembering Charlton Heston (1924 – 2008)

Jim Hill

17 years ago

I was sorry to hear that Charlton Heston passed away this past weekend.

Mind you, that wasn’t because I thought that this Academy Award winner was a particularly good actor. But rather … Well, because — for the past few weeks — I’ve been doing some research for an article that I’ve now got in the works for JHM. One that will talk about the unusual film genre that “WALL * E” falls into. One in which the movie’s story doesn’t really begin ’til the world comes to an end.

And Heston … He made a lot of these sorts of movies back in the late 1960s & early 1970s. Whether he was tangling with talking orangutans in “Planet of the Apes” …

… battling albino mutants in “Omega Man” …

… or investigating cannibalistic bureaucrats in “Soylent Green” …

… Charlton really knew how to handle himself in a post-apocalyptic environment. Where it was usually wisest to shoot the futuristic bad guys first and ask questions later.

And as I watched this trio of Heston films … I have to admit that I came away with a renewed appreciation for Charlton’s sort of scenery chewing. That larger-than-life quality that Heston brought to virtually every role he ever played.

“But, Jim,” you say. “JHM is basically a Disney info site? So why should I bother with reading an article about an actor who — over his 50+ year career in show business — had little or nothing to do with the Walt Disney Company?”

Well, that’s not entirely true. Back in 1986, Charlton was one of a slew of celebrities who taped brief birthday greetings which were then inserted into the “Walt Disney World’s 15th Birthday Celebration” television special. Then in August of 1990, Heston starred in the Disney Channel Premiere film, “The Little Kidnappers.”

In 1993, George Cosmatos hired Charlton to appear in Hollywood Pictures’ high profile western, “Tombstone.” Heston played Henry Hooker, the Arizona rancher who gave shelter to Wyatt Earp and his deputies when — in the wake of the shootout at the O.K. Corral — they were being pursued by the notorious “Cowboys” gang.

Then in 1997, Charlton recorded some dialogue for the opening sequence of “Hercules.” And Disney execs were so pleased with Heston’s performance in that animated picture that — when Michael Bay was looking for a celebrity to narrate the opening of his 1998 special effects extraganza, “Armageddon” — those same suits immediately nominated Charlton for this Touchstone Pictures gig.

On the theme park side of things, Heston was one of the Hollywood legends who took part in those handprint ceremonies that used to be held in front of the Chinese Theater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Though Charlton is the only celebrity to have ever misspelled their own name while signing that cement.

In addition to Henston’s handprints, as you tour the “AFI Showcase” area at that studio theme park, you’ll also find another significant piece of Charlton-related memoribilia. It’s the staff that Heston used when he played Moses in Cecil B. DeMille’s 1956 classic, “The Ten Commandments.”

Speaking of Mr. DeMille … Perhaps the most intriguing / bizarre aspect of Charlton Heston’s Disney-related career can be found in the first film that he made for Cecil, 1952’s “The Greatest Show on Earth.”

This Best Picture winner was only Heston’s second Hollywood picture. But — that said — Charlton still holds his own against such Tinseltown greats as Jimmy Stewart (He’s the actor under all that clown make-up in the photo below) …

… and Dorothy Lamour (Who’s shown here with circus legend Emmet Kelly) …

… Not to mention blink-and-you’ll-miss-them cameo appearances by Ms. Lamour’s “Road” picture co-stars, Bob Hope and Bing Crosby.

But the real reason that “The Greatest Show on Earth” holds a special place in many Disney fans’ hearts is this picture’s “Cavalcade of Song” sequence. Where — in recognition of the many great songs that have come from Walt Disney’s films — Mickey Mouse and the Three Little Pigs are shown parading around the big top …

Not to mention Pluto and Donald Duck …

… the March Hare and Alice from “Alice in Wonderland” …

… as well as the Mad Hatter.

Now what’s kind of intriguing about these “Alice in Wonderland” characters appearing in this Cecil B. DeMille film is that — while “The Greatest Show on Earth” was released in December of 1952 — it was shot from January to May 1951. And since Disney’s version of “Alice in Wonderland” wasn’t released to theaters ’til July of 1951 … Well, these character costumes actually predate that animated feature.

Mind you, the folks at Walt Disney Productions were always doing stuff like this. Finding unique new ways to get the word out about their upcoming films. Take — for example — the very first television program that the studio ever produced, “One Hour in Wonderland.” Truth be told, this Coca Cola-sponsored Christmas special was also just another elaborate promotional vehicle for “Alice in Wonderland.”

Speaking of that rather surreal animated feature … I doubt that Lewis Carroll himself could have dreamed up that genuinely bizarre moment in “The Greatest Show on Earth,” where first we see a number of Disney character heads outside on spikes …

… Followed by this flurry of little people who run into this scene. They then put on these Disney character heads and race off-screen. Ready to take their places in that parade under the big top.

Getting back to Mr. Heston’s passing now … Given that ABC acquired the broadcast rights to the other film that Charlton made for Cecil B. DeMille, “The Ten Commandments” …

… with the idea of making the annual rebroadcast of this biblical epic an Easter tradition on that network … It looks like Charlton Heston will continue to be associated with the Walt Disney Company for years yet to come.

But what about you folks? Do you have any Charlton-related memories that you want to share? Any favorite moments from Heston’s films that you wish to recall?

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