MovieChat Forums > Ben-Hur (1959) Discussion > Heston's oscar win - You must be kidding...

Heston's oscar win - You must be kidding me.

posted 8 years ago by iadorepink
32 replies | jump to latest

Heston winning was simply pathetic, Very poor choice, Nearly every nominee was better, James Stewart is easily best for Anatomy of a Murder, Similar to his performance in Mr, Smith goes to Washington.

They gave Heston the award to make history, The first film ever to win 11 academy awards, Laurence Harvey gave a terrific performance in Room at the top, And don't forget about Lemmon's performance Very stupid choice choosing Heston over 3 completely superior performances. At least Heston was better than Muni.

[–] Dagwoodie 8 years ago

Somebody need his di-dee changed?

[–] iadorepink 8 years ago

Someone butthurt that they have a different opinion then yours?

[–] rgibson-20 8 years ago

"Heston winning was simply pathetic, Very poor choice,"

You, sir, are incorrect. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

[–] hachmom-1 8 years ago

Heston's style of heroic lead acting has gone out of fashion, losing to the method crowd. Historical epics have also gone out of fashion, but a good one needs a sturdy lead actor to hang the story on and keep the audience engaged. Heston was superb in such roles. Plus his commitment to the various aspects of the part, especially the chariot race gives his films an authenticity that many other films lack. If you have made the best film of the year, the lead actor propably had something to do with it. The Oscar recognized all this.

It is not our abilities that show who we truly are...it is our choices

[–] seandoylemu 8 years ago

Well put, I agree, the dialogue in Ben Hur reflects the acting style that the movie had, and Heston I feel deserved the Oscar. there always was and will be cases where people will agree or disagree that a particular actor/actress should have won or not. Art Carney winning over Al Pacino in 1974 was considered an injustice, but was it really?. Godfather 2 was certainly superior to Harry and Tonto as movies are concerned, but I feel Art Carney deserved his, anyhow this is just an opinion

[–] hachmom-1 8 years ago

I was pleased that Art Carney won the Oscar as well. Sometimes an actor who is mostly known for comedy or mostly known for television gets a great part and gives his all to it, and that is just as worthy of recognition as a "great movie actor" like Al Pacino. The best movie of the year doesn't necessarily produce all the best performances let alone the best tech awards.

It is not our abilities that show who we truly are...it is our choices

[–] Branais (73) 7 years ago

Great post, hachmom. Eloquently put. :-)

I can't think of a single actor who I believe could have done as good a job with Heston's more noted roles as Heston himself did -- especially when it comes to Ben-Hur and The Ten Commandments. Max von Sydow came close on occasion, I think, to Heston's grand declamatory style, but even at the height of his powers he couldn't match Heston's powerful physical presence. (He is my preferred screen Jesus, though.)

[–] iadorepink 8 years ago

Eloquent choice of words, But i am correct cause i know when i see bad acting, Thank you for your false reply to this thread.

[–] Iron_Giant 8 years ago

Now you're just trolling.

Please don't call someone a _____tard.

[–] James_Byrne 8 years ago

iadorepink

Calling Heston's win "simply pathetic" is a very strange statement, even for the weird and wonderful IMDb!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhSPcAyCgwE

[–] Navaros 8 years ago

James Stewart plays the same guy in the same way in every role. He has no versatility in his acting ability.

[–] iadorepink 8 years ago

You're another numbskull who doesn't know acting, If you think It's a Wonderful Life didn't show his acting ability you're very incorrect, Go back to Dicaprio.

[–] doctorltm 8 years ago

Does your mother know you are on her computer? This has to be the most ridiculous and ignorant threads I have ever seen. Even, Jimmy Stewart acknowledged in his autobiography that Heston deserved it and was magnificent. Your small minded opinion is noted and dismissed as nonsense.

[–] iadorepink 8 years ago

Typical simple minded reply.

[–] Rolltide (964) 4 years ago

You never saw Vertigo?

[–] spencerc2217 8 years ago

By his standards Heston was respectable in the role. It must have taken endless hours for Wyler to get this performance out of him. But I think he is better in El Cid, where director Anthony Mann has him underplaying.

[–] mercury4 8 years ago

I think Charlton Heston deserved the Oscar for Best Actor. And to the OP, as much as I love Jimmy Stewart as an actor, he shouldn't have gotten Best Actor for Anatomy of a Murder over Charlton Heston for Ben-Hur. You mentioned Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Jimmy Stewart was amazing in that. I wish he did win an Oscar for that. I also believe he should've won Best Actor for It's a Wonderful Life. Frederic March was a great actor, but I'm sorry, Jimmy Stewart should've won for his incredible performance as George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life. In my opinion, it was his best performance ever and it was even his favorite role. Sadly, he won for The Philadelphia Story. I didn't think he was that great in that. Jimmy Stewart gave his two greatest performances in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and It's a Wonderful Life.

[–] James_Byrne 8 years ago

Charlton Heston should have won an Oscar for THE TEN COMMANDMENTS in 1956.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhSPcAyCgwE

[–] mercury4 8 years ago

Charlton Heston should have won an Oscar for THE TEN COMMANDMENTS in 1956.

I can't believe he wasn't even nominated that year.

[–] mariakelly-04164 8 years ago

Anyone who looked as good as Charlton Heston in a loincloth deserved an Oscar.

[–] bazt-93964 8 years ago

Its all about opinion so there was is no outright winner like a race. And then as now, media hype is 90% responsible for shaping opinion.

[–] Martoto (5024) 8 years ago

Heston is the best thing in the film.

[–] jasonbourne (1027) 7 years ago

What a sore loser!