Charlton Heston

Hollywood's Last Icon

By: Marc Eliot

Narrated by: Marc Eliot

Length: 19 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

The first biography of one of the most fascinating, complex, and polarizing legends of cinema's golden age, Charlton Heston, from the best-selling, prize-winning author of Cary Grant, Walt Disney, and American Rebel.

With unforgettable performances such as Moses in The Ten Commandments, the anguished astronaut George Taylor in 1968's Planet of the Apes, and the eponymous Ben-Hur - for which he won an Academy Award - Charlton Heston cemented his place in the pantheon of 20th-century Hollywood royalty. But his fame as an actor was matched by his political activism. A Democrat in his early years, Heston became a staunch supporter of Richard Nixon and Reagan Republicanism. He was also president of the National Rifle Association - an outspoken crusader for gun rights whose incendiary words, "from my cold, dead hands" incensed liberals and became a maxim for Second Amendment supporters.

At long last, New York Times best-selling author Marc Eliot tells the story of Heston's life and six-decade-long career in full detail. Granted exclusive access to Heston's diaries, letters, and personal estate, Eliot skillfully unfolds the complicated story of this iconic actor, illuminating his greatest achievements, as well as his greatest failures and regrets. Eliot examines how a boy from backwoods Michigan became Hollywood's leading heroic actor - a star who not only battled for the plumiest roles, but to maintain his identity in the dreamscape of Tinseltown. As he lays bare this intriguing figure's life, Eliot exposes the dirty world of Hollywood mythmaking and Heston's crucial role in it.

Eliot's moving, artful, and honest biography pays tribute to this movie legend and reveals not only how Heston's famous persona came into being, but why. Shedding new light on one of America's greatest stars, Eliot creates an incisive and compelling portrait for both longtime fans and a generation newly discovering the storied star.

©2017 Rebel Road Inc. (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Charlton Heston, An Endearing, American Hero

My version of an American Hero !
A term, all to often overused, to the point of losing it's true meaning unfortunately !
One of America's best known, and most versatile actors, and strongest supporters of one of our most important Constitutional Amendments,
The 2nd. Amendment !
Perhaps Charlton Heston's most important role of all, is his role at the top leadership of the
National Rifle Association !
One would argue, without it, there would be no 2nd. Amendment left today !
Aside from Charlton Heston's greatest acting roles, his tireless work behind the scenes, working to support the many members of the Screen Actor's Guild, and the many writers, working tirelessly behind the scenes, that would so very often been otherwise have been overlooked !
An old fashioned, old school gentleman, who continued to be a man of his word, never making a promise that he didn't keep !
Charlton Heston, an old fashioned
American Hero !
Well worth the investment of both not only your time, but your hard earned dollar as well !

I learned a lot about one of my favorite actors!

This was an enjoyable book that allowed me to learn a lot about one of my absolute favorite actors. He is a legend of Hollywood. There were some quotes that the author of this book used in telling Heston’s story (not quotes from Heston) that didn’t necessarily add to his story and that were vulgar in nature. Other than that I’ve really enjoyed it and have found a lot more Heston movies to view.

Worth the time

Very entertaining and informative And definitely worth the time
Screw your six more words please

Compelling and intelligent biography

A well written, eloquently spoken biography of one of Hollywood's great stars. Charlton Heston's life is presented candidly in this compelling and intelligent biography. Marc Eliot's books are always page turners, and this may be his best.

Let My People Go!

Great audiobook. Chuck Heston definitely had an interesting life. Three of my top ten classic movies are The Planet of the Apes, Ben-Hur, and The Ten Commandments, and it was fun to read about these movies being made. Also, it was interesting how Mr. Heston drastically changed his political affiliations, which definitely tarnished his reputation towards the end. I never knew that he had marched with MLK Jr and had meetings with him about SAG’s responsibility to include more diversity in the film business. I’m assuming most people of a certain age only remember his gun rants and fights about changes to gun laws (especially the cringeworthy golden gun NRA viral moment, ugh). Definitely a great biography!

Terrific!

Exceptional account about a truly unique and exceptiional man written by a master story teller of the first order. Highly entertaining and informative history of the life and times of Charlton Heston. Bravo!!

interesting Biography

I love biographies. This one was interesting. worth the listen if you like 40s stars.