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Charlton Heston Was No Bette Davis

Posted by SHAUN MULLEN, TMV Columnist in At TMV.
Apr 6th, 2008 | Comments

I was saddened to learn of Charlton Heston’s death right after seeing a rerun of Stardust: The Bette Davis Story, a Turner Classic Movies documentary on the life of the extraordinary if troubled actress.

While any comparison between the gorgeously handsome Heston and the gorgeously strange Davis may seem inapt, one leaped out at me:

As actors, Heston did pretty well with what he had through a career of big but not particularly challenging roles in which he repeatedly played to Hollywood stereotypes while Davis did brilliantly with what she had through a career filled with offbeat and demanding roles in which she repeatedly shattered Hollywood stereotypes.

Anyhow, may he rest in peace.

Photo by American Music Classics via The Associated Press

Marlowecan

I disagree. This is a simplistic view of Heston's abilities.

I saw Heston in "The Caine Mutiny Court Martial" in London's West End in 1985.

Heston both directed and starred in this play, in the role of Queeg made famous by Bogart.

Bogart played the role to a T, his off-beat appearance accentuating his character's breakdown.

However, Heston brilliantly played AGAINST his appearance - the handsome, square-jawed military officer that would be an ideal recruiting poster stereotype - as the audience watched, spellbound, as this seemingly perfect man and officer slowly deteriorated mentally onstage over the course of the trial.

It was an incredible performance, for which Heston was critically acclaimed by London's notoriously vicious critics...who loved to savage Yanks with the pretensions to act in the land of Olivier and Richardson.

All props to Davis, who was herself brilliant. But Heston, when he wanted to, could be equally iconic.

After all, could we believe Tony Curtis coming down Mt. Sinai...or Victor Mature...or any of the epic stars of that era?

Yah, he did some shite parts...but dear god, look at the crap Davis did in the 50s and early 60s.

Heston was magic. A damn fine actor by any measure.

runasim

Comparing Heston to Davsi is like comparing apples to oranges. Neither could have filled the other's shoes.
To each his own, I say.
Not being a big fan of the Hollywood epics, I was hever thrilled by Heston, but that's a question of personal taste in entertainment, not quality.

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