No matter his politics, Charleton Heston was a very kind man. I went to school with his son Frazier, who happened to be in one of my classes that I was the teaching assistant on.
One day there was a buzz around campus that one of the film classes was showing Touch of Evil that evening and Charleton Heston might show up. I decided to grab a few friends and "sit in" on the class. We arrived and no sight of Mr. Heston, but I figured "hey, a free screening of Touch of Evil, I'm staying". When the lights went up after the film, there he was sitting in the front row. I saw Frazier also and he sort of gestured to come up and meet his Dad. My friends were "no way", but I'm a game girl and up I went. He introduced me and his Dad took my hand in his hand and leaned over and said "what a pleasure it was meeting me". Now, I'm not normally the faint of heart type, but I swear my legs almost went out from under me. He was so gracious and so handsome and so charming (and so tall), that all my feminist strength went right out from under me. (Oh well, I still take notice when a man opens a door for me, don't shoot me!!) I swore to my friends that I would never wash that hand again (that didn't last long as I am a clean nut). That was about 1974. I did have the occasion to see him a couple of other times at studio functions, but I hold dear that first time of meeting someone I had always admired on film. While my political beliefs were different, I was able to delineate his beliefs from his craft and admire him for his work. Many of us here on the group have very different value systems and opinions than others, and that comes up sometimes very vocally on certain subjects. However, that doesn't mean that we can gauge the whole volume of a person by opinions on certain subjects that differ from ours. While I, too, did not like the way Michael Moore went after Mr. Heston in his film, Michael Moore does bring up a lot of good information and, I think, makes films that are thought provoking. He makes them in a way that adds humor and sometimes that is the only way to get certain people to even watch the movie. So, because I didn't like his approach with Mr. Heston doesn't mean, for me, that I can negate all of the work he does, because I think some of it is worthwhile. Anyway, just a few thoughts. I was saddened to hear of Mr. Heston's passing but I believe he had a great life and he touched this old girl's life in that one little moment. Sue www.hollywoodposterframes.com<http://www.hollywoodposterframes.com/> ----- Original Message ----- From: channinglylethomson<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU<mailto:MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU> Sent: Sunday, April 06, 2008 7:45 PM Subject: [MOPO] I met Charlton Heston. . . . . . in London in 1985. I was on a vacation and went to see a production of THE CAINE MUTINY COURT MARTIAL in which he played the Captain. Afterwards, I went backstage and was allowed with a few other "hounds" to go into his dressing room. I got to shake his hand and also had my program autographed. Charlston Heston was gracious that night as I suspect he always was with his fans. Like the classier stars of yore, he respected his line of work and the quality of his craft AND he knew that it didn't happen without the audience. Consequently, he showed tremendous consideration toward the public as well. I think today's Hollywood could really use more of his ilk! RIP. Channing thomson Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com<http://www.filmfan.com/> ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
