Charlton Heston (1923–2008)

In his autobiography, In the Arena, Charlton Heston gives an interesting, behind-the-scenes look at a life and career that spanned the post WWII years, the era of live television, and the vast changes in the movie industry through the last half of the 20th century. For anyone interested in films and film-making, Heston includes many fascinating ancedotes about his work on the great epic films–The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur, and El-Cid–as well as working with the great actors and directors of the time, among them Orson Welles, Laurence Olivier, Cecil B. DeMille, and William Wyler.

Personally, Heston was always one of my favorite actors. While familiar with most of his films, I never knew about his many roles in live television when it was a brand new medium. Also that his first love was the stage, and especially Shakespeare. Throughout his career he acted in and directed many great plays including A Man for All Seasons, The Caine Mutiny (including a stage production in China in the 1980s!) as well as Shakespeare's Julius Caesar and Heston's personal favorite, Antony and Cleopatra.

The book left me with a deeper appreciation of Heston as the consummate actor and family man. Highly recommended for Heston fans and movie buffs.

… (more)