In the Arena: An Autobiography

by Charlton Heston

Known for both his legendary film career and his political activism, this Academy-Award winning actor shares the intimate story of his life in a moving autobiography that includes anecdotes about some of Hollywood's biggest names. Reprint.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Autobiography, Memoir, Film, History, Media Tie In

592 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Charlton Heston was an American Academy Award-winning film actor.

Heston was known for playing heroic roles, such as Moses in The Ten Commandments, Colonel George Taylor in Planet of the Apes and Judah Ben-Hur in Ben-Hur. Early in his career, he was one of a handful of Hollywood actors to publicly speak out against racism and was active in the civil rights movement. During the latter part of his movie career, he starred in films such as The Omega Man and Soylent Green, which have a strong environmental message. He was president of the National Rifle Association from 1998 to 2003.

Reviews

[Clay Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read about a legendary actor of screen and stage. Very courageous of the author to name names in the entertainment industry.

[Carol Storm · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1973 the movie PLANET OF THE APES aired on television for the first time. I was ten years old. Until that night I thought of movies as a tedious, vaguely sleazy adult pastime -- spy movies, cowboy movies, people kissing, etc.

Then came PLANET OF THE APES. A strange, desert landscape. An astronaut on the run. Ideas clashing with beliefs. Evolution, religious heresy, fanaticism, cynicsm, youth revolt. This was no John Wayne, that dreary macho cowpoke mired in run of the mill bully-boy heroics. Heston was different. He was so deatched, so cold. Icy in his perfection, isolated in his magnificence. This was the ultimate outsider, the ultimate rebel, the ultimate bad-ass.

This is the book he wrote at the end of his life, to explain how he became, as he puts it, "the conscience of a great people, and certainly the greatest American actor of my generation."

It's all here. Heston grew up poor in the woods, killing game to live. He was adopted by the Chippewa Indians because, as he put it, "they got that I was for real. More real than anything they knew." After rising high in the tribe's elite warrior secret society, he hitchiked to Chicago where he became an undefeated bareknuckle boxer, at the same time publishing a book of poems under the pseudonym of Bill Wither. World War II came, and Heston, at the personal request of Franklin D. Roosevelt, was given a direct commission in the United States Army. Assigned to a remote island in the Aleutian chain, he warded off a planned Japanese invasion merely by standing on the shore and saying in a low voice, "think about it, gentlemen. Think carefully."

With the war over, men of godlike physique and unlimited intellect were in great demand. Heston started in LA, modeling nude for artists who were seeking to imagine what God would look like. Soon television and film roles followed. Cecil B. Demille, the legendary director, took one look at the young Heston and said, "This man . . . this . . . this is what I have waited for all my life." Soon after followed the classics, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS and BEN HUR. DeMille literally died of joy on seeing Heston's performance as Judah Ben-Hur, a nobleman so dignified and yet so human that Jesus Christ himself weeps humble tears at having the opportunity to give him a drink of water.

Already the king of Hollywood, by 1968 Heston was looking for new worlds to conquer. Coming off of his classic Western WILL PENNY, ("I played a cowboy whose sadness was that of all mankind. The Western genre was dead after that. Really there was nothing more to say.") Heston ran into Twilight Zone writer Rod Serling in a thruway rest stop. This chance encounter led him to consider the growing Science Fiction market. PLANET OF THE APES cemented Heston's stature, not just as a movie star of unlimited talent and appeal, but a visionary who literally blew people's minds. Following up with THE OMEGA MAN and SOYLENT GREEN, Heston became what Isaac Asimov called "the Babe Ruth of Science Fiction."

Not satisified to be the Humphrey Bogart of outer space, Heston took time off to record two of the greatest audio books ever made, SNOWS OF KILOMANJARO and THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA. In both cases, Heston not only mastered the language of Ernest Hemingway, but spontaneously ad-libbed to make the original text far more profound and meaningful than it would otherwise have been. As research for the OLD MAN AND THE SEA, he actually swam to Cuba and, while swimming along, caught the world's largest marlin with his bare hands, which he then donated to a Cuban orphanage. In return the Cuban people named him "the Great Saint of the North," a title he maintained until his death two years ago at the age of 106.

[Dean Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A couple of years ago, a friend of mine came into our house and saw my poster of "The Omega Man" and he said, "I can't stand that man" referring to Charlton Heston.
It's amazing how in his last years, Heston became a polarizing political figure, hated by the left for his work for the NRA. But the same Heston marched with Martin L. King. Many of his films took quite liberal stances. "Soylent Green" advocated population control with a nearly hysterical ecological message. "Planet of the Apes" was critical of religion and "Omega Man" was anti-military.
And there are people critical of him as an actor for his, shall we say, larger than life performances.
I love his big performances. And he didn't take himself too seriously, as can be seen in "Wayne's World II" when he is brought to play a gas station attendant.
The science fiction films mentioned above are among my favorites. And he did two of the great religious spectacles, "The Ten Commandments" and "Ben Hur". And one of the great westerns in "The Big Country". And he put Orson Welles to work when no one else was willing to for "Touch of Evil".
And he was a Hollywood guy married to his only wife for 64 years. I don't understand the "can't stand the guy" attitude. He was pretty awesome.

[Dale Pearl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good autobiography is one in which you can hear the author audibly speaking out the book in your head as your read. Certainly you have that in the Arena. It will be a long time before I get the voice of Charlton Heston out of my head.

Summary: This book does have some politics in it but it is far from politically correct. One thing is certain about Charlton Heston: He speaks candidly about his opinions, and holds no punches for doing so. With that said this is not a book about politics. The final chapter is fabulously written pointing out the facts and ending strong words of encouragement for America.

I picked up this book to learn insight into the background of some of the movies that he had performed in. Not only did I find that but I also found a man rich in conviction and commitment. How many men stay with their first love, and how fewer are those numbers counted as individuals in the entertainment industry? Heston's commitment to his wife Lydia shows his real character.

The only negative that I can find in this book is Chapter 20. For some odd reason Heston breaks his chronological order for only this chapter. This chapter is primarily about his stage plays and it tends to ramble on over 40 pages, I can almost imagine that somehow this chapter missed the editors cut. This chapter isn't as well written as the others and is difficult reading in that the storyline jumps around quite a bit. In all honesty, you could skip this chapter all together and go right to 21.

Breakdown Review:
Storyline: I give 4 out of 5 stars simply because of the inconsistency of chapter 20.

Writing style: 5 out of 5 stars. It is written in the way that you would imagine Charlton Heston speaking. Rich and free.

Depth/Inspiration: 5 out of 5 stars. This was only a 3 ranking until chapter 22. I would have preferred he put more information in about his personal relationships and religious beliefs. If you only read one chapter read 22. Very inspirational for the American reader.

Entertainment/Education value: 5 out of 5 stars. Definitely an entertaining novel, one that is quite difficult to put down once you get into it. This book is educational not only on Mr. Heston's life but also on how movies are directed and a slight insight into the internal workings of the motion picture industry.

[Richard Perry80 · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favourite actor ever. Got letter from him once too! :)

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Arena was the autobiography of Hollywood actor Charlton Heston and it was pretty interesting. Two things made this a stand out book. First, the writing was vivid and bursting with descriptions. Second, the powerful narration brought across Hestons' thoughts and feelings about each of his experiences. At times, I wondered how he even recalled all the details in this book! 

He provided a detailed account of working on each picture complete with his own personal viewpoints and reactions. Heston started off as a stage actor in his youth with a background in Shakespeare. Good parts carried him to bigger venues and more prominent roles until he finally landed a part in a movie. Ultimately, his acting skills cemented him as a respected actor who never lacked for parts. Heston really found a niche in the movie business when he did Moses and Ben Hur.

My first exposure to Heston was in Planet of Apes, so I was dying to read about his experience on that film. Unfortunately, it was brief, and wished that he would have discussed that movie a bit more than he did. However, the descriptions of his role in the movie was interesting. Heston gained my respect throughout the novel when he unabashedly stated his views on social and political issues. He was anything but politically correct and he made no apologies for his positions. He even criticized some of the people who worked on the films with him. Absolutely no one was off limits here.

Heston was a bread of actor who acted because they loved acting and took roles that would help him be a great actor. I loved that he loathed the words "celebrity" and "star", and did not consider himself either. He just felt fortunate to be able to earn a living doing what he loved doing. He loved his children, and devoted time to charities and entertaining servicemen.

This was a great read that was full of immense details and descriptions that really brought to life the Hollywood experience of big studios. His narration seemed to be honest and I appreciated learning about him and his experiences.


[Alexandra Richland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was never really a fan of Heston's movies. I mostly knew of him because of his strong political views and his participation with SAG and the NRA. However whether or not you agree with his personal views on various issues, this book will draw you in. Not only is his writing style captivating, but Heston goes into such detailed accounts of his Hollywood days, his family and even the technical details surrounding his greatest and weakest performances. He is a very likable man. His family meant everything to him and he clearly seemed to find a wonderful balance in his life between being the superstar leading man and the devoted husband and father. He and his wife Lydia were married for 60 years before Heston's passing in 2008. It sickens me when all people can discuss about this man is his association with the NRA. He was a decent guy and he openly shares his stories of working with Orson Welles and Cecile B DeMille, (and many many others) in some of the biggest films of the 20th century. Heston's desire to share his thoughts and accounts taken from his personal journals will leave you with a much greater understanding of this complex man and provide you with a wonderful new appreciation for him.

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was written in the late nineties (just for myself), and it was buried in amongst my things until today, when I uncovered the journal it was written in. I have transcribed it verbatim (although square brackets indicate some additional information for readability) from all those years ago. It is one of my lost reviews.

The most important part of Heston's book -- and his life -- is his ability to speak his feelings with no remorse. He is not a racist, as far as I can tell he is not a sexist, but he is also not politically correct (God, bless him).

Heston's writing is superb, and it forced me to re-evaluate the man whose acting I've enjoyed, albeit with a sense of mockery (it's late...i wonder if this will make any sense later). He is not only entertaining, he is smart, talented, courageous, loyal and a loving father/husband (according to himself).

But the one thing he game that eclipses my enjoyment and newfound respect was my first glimpse of a long future with Michelle. It is more than a dream. It is something that could happen. Thanks for the early look into your life, Chuck.

[Chuck Neumann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlton Heston's autobiography "In the Arena" was an excellent book and a great look at his life and career. Mr. Heston gave a very detailed look at his life from his wonderful boyhood in Michigan until his mother left his father when he was ten and moved to the Chicago area, through his college days where he met his future wife Lydia, and on to his acting career. He tells the story with humor and great insight into the behind the scenes goings on of the film business. He is never shy about giving his opinions on people and events. The very detailed review of his life becomes a more general review by the early 1970's, which is understandable as it is a quite large book as it is. While I think he spent too much time talking about his Shakespeare plays and movies (He really loves doing Shakespeare), it is his life and he can talk about what he wants too. I enjoyed reading about his personnel/family life as well as about his films. An excellent book, I highly recommend it to everyone interested in films or just in a great American story.

[Peter Tolladay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlton Heston’s autobiography is an engrossing read. He gives a candid peep at his life and career. For movie buffs, like me, it provides not only invaluable insights on his acting style but plenty of anecdotes about his fellow actors. For a screen icon Heston writes surprisingly well.

[Katherine S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read in small chunks, usually only a few minutes at a time. (that's why it took me 6 mouths to read!) It worked great for this. it included a lot of fun background information on classic movies.

[Abigail Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! The writing style was very interesting and Hestons personality shines through. Provides many insights into his films and directors/actors he worked with. I love how he is firm in stating his beliefs too, but not preachy. Didn’t know he marched with Dr King, awesome!

[Bob Maniet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding and prescient comments on where culture is headed. Charlton is a genuine talent who perfected his craft and raised a fantastic family. The copious notes he kept helped make this a detailed and rich reading experience.

[Robert Priest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written and informative book. The insight to the hollywood film industry during the 20th century is very amazing. Heston's linkage to film decisions and his love for plays.

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't agree with a lot of the politics or positions he championed, but the man had an amazing, fascinating life, and he writes about it well.

[Howard Brooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

A disappointing read. Snippets were interesting, but large parts of the book were not. Was especially disappointed that his coverage of the making of Ben Hur was limited.

[Florence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written, interesting, informative, and detailed. Excellent.

[Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

After having struggled for months to finish this autobiography, I decided on reading it for fun, and not just another to-read, to get through. I chose to invest my time in discovering Heston's life, his work, his family, his faith, and his passion, which was more than worth it in the long run. Having grown up watching Planet of the Apes, The Ten Commandments, Khartoum, and of course the epic, Ben-Hur, I knew who the man named Charlton Heston was, albeit vaguely. His passion for acting, and portraying Biblical men in such a captivating way prompted me to read of his outlook on life, and what he held most dear through his successes, and also his struggles.

There has not been a more realistic autobiography that I have come across in terms of Hollywood actors of the Golden Age; this account that does not bash other actors or is full of pride, but it is of a man recalling his various experiences, most of those learning opportunities, and some having been glorious moments such as Ben-Hur's incredible release. Heston explains his political views, blunt and straightforward, but does not attempt to convert his audience. He owns up to his failures, lack of judgements, and views, and comes across as a man of faith and honesty, and strives to improve with each experience.

There is also a good amount of name dropping in this tome, and is sure to be a pleasurable read!

[Relstuart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heston deserves to be remembered most for two things, being a great actor, and being on the forefront of the civil rights movement. He picketed restaurants in Oklahoma that refused to serve black people. They ended up changing their policy as a result. He was one of the few folks that spoke to the public from the same stage with Martin Luther King Jr. when he gave his "I have a dream speech".

In his autobiography he goes back to his childhood, his college days, meeting his wife, he married and stayed with her all his life, his WWII military service, his acting career on stage and in film. He goes thru what it was like to film most of his greatest films. Along the way he tells it like it was on set.

He relates some of his off screen efforts on behalf of actors taking a leading role in union efforts and dealing with the studios. He also talks about some of his other political efforts and thoughts on our culture. However, very little about anything with the NRA. This book touches on civil rights and politics but focuses on films.

[Peter Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlton Heston's public voice comes through strongly in his autobiography, which is filled with anecdotes from his personal and professional life. But it also appears that he's struggling to be modest about his superiority.

His positive attitude and self-confidence is admirable, yet it's a wonder he doesn't get tired of patting himself on the back for all his many accomplishments. He never hesitates to point out the shortcomings of others, though his own self-confessed faults are minor by comparison; he delights in comparing his strengths with the weaknesses of others.

Still, he covers nearly every aspect of his personal life and professional career, and it's valuable to have his accounting of how hiw many film and stage projects came together. And the book contains a number of beautifully-written passages.

The most revealing story may be that his wife of many years refers to him often playing 'heroic heels.' That may apply to Heston as well, or at least the way that he perceived and wanted to present himself in the mid-1990s at the age of 70-something.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

The death of Charlton Heston was announced today. I do wish that I had never known of the politics that he favoured - it made me like him a lot less than I had previously.

I stand by the rest of my review, written previously, below...

"The book was somewhat spoiled by the politics of this right-wing zealot. Fortunately old-farts such as him are dying out and taking their views with them.

I quite liked Heston before I read the book, but now I dislike him immensely. {Still like some of his movies though.]

I suppose you set him up there with other actor/political greats such as Reagan and Schwarzeneggar."

[Victor Orozco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful! I don't usually read biographies of celebrities. Some are hundred page long advertisements for their movies. But I have to admit while I do want to watch more of Heston's movies I have already seen most of them. This was a behind the scenes look into how he made those movies as well as the most important thing about him, The Man Himself.

Heston was a hardworking, stubborn man who lived his life doing what he wanted and what was right. This was a man who loved to perform his art and was extremely humble about it. Compared to today's "celebrities" Heston was what an actor should be.

Very well detailed, but long though. Still a good book. C+

[Rick Saffery · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a fan of Mr.Heston. Reading this book only solidified by favorable opinion of the man. I learned a bit about the trials and tribulations of the acting craft. A career path for which I'm not knowledgeable whatsoever. My only disappointment was confirmed in that Mr. Heston didn't seem to be a fan of the Planet of the Apes series. I gather this shouldn't be a surprise as his acting chops developed on more high-brow fare were arguably not taxed for his character on Apes.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read on such a sexy subject. I have to be satisfied only reading about him when in fact I should be married to him. Yes, I know he is in his eighties, but I will remain faithful in my affection. The only thing that could have been better is if I had listened to it on tape and he narrated it with his dreamy voice.

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlton Heston is my favorite actor because of his talent, integrity, humanity and style. In his autobiography, Mr. Heston's charcater and talent comes forth. Very well-written, this autobiography is colorful and detailed. He shares his personal struggles, fight for his actor's persona, his civil rights advocacy and faith. I enjoyed this book and will probably reread it again.

[Kay Van Slyke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was an amazing review of the actor's career. The only thing I found a little annoying after a while was Charlton's many uses of the word "happily". I would go so far to say I would read it again.

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlton Heston was a good man. He was a strong advocate of Constitutional rights. From marching with Dr. Martin Luther King in the 60s to leading the National Rifle Association in the 90s, Heston was a man who was never afraid to stand up for liberty.

[Nisha D'lima · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not read the chapters in order and those that I read, I decided to skim read, but inspite of my laziness here, the book revealed the talent, integrity and gentle manliness of an amazing actor and a devoted family man.

[Yolonda · Rating 2 out of 5]

More of a history book about his career. I did enjoy reading about his childhood and how he met Lydia, his wife. Some great photos. I can't say I read it word for word. The writing style was a bit dry. RIP, Mr. Heston. I loved your movies, if not your later political views.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heston is a good writer and he played some of the most important film roles of the 20th century. The story of his early life and how he came to be an actor is fascinating. That's are enough to fill 200-250 very good pages. Problem is the book is 564 pages long.