Private Screenings - Charlton Heston

Dang! I missed most of it. Just catching the end now...

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The Private Screenings episode with Ann Miller is on tomorrow morning at 9 am Eastern time. Don't miss it if you haven't caught it before. It's a wonderful look into her life and career.

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Mamie--that's fascinating. It's one of the most memorable scenes for me too... and I took it as "incidental." I had no idea how much they labored over it.

It show's you how brilliant Wyler was... to know exactly when a comparatively insignificant moment mean's everything.

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Besty - He said he didn't think the scene was anything important. He just entered the empty house and walked across the courtyard. No dialog, no fancy tricks. He did it once and Wyler told him to do it again. He gave him no guidance at all about how he wanted it played - he just wanted it done again - and again, and again. Finally on the 10th take he begged Wyler to let him know what it was he was looking for. The director said - "the first time we filmed it, you stepped on a broken tile. It made an interesting sound and I wanted to see if you could do it again." I remember the first time I saw the scene, the darkened courtyard almost seemed haunted by the ghosts of the happy people who had once lived there. Then that sharp sound of the broken tile being kicked across the floor brought you back to the present and spoke volumes of the changes the house had undergone since Judah Ben Hur had last been there. It also was a direct reminder of what had happened to cause the devastation. It was very simple - and very powerful.

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I love all those little things too. And tonight while I was watching that scene after the chariot race with Massala about to die, I marveled at the great acting coming from both men, especially Heston.

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Grrrr... I'm so sorry I missed it! (I had rehearsal until late.) I wish I'd known; I would've recorded it.

They should really release a collection of "Private Screenings" on DVD.

They do include it from time to time on a Warner Home Video release. But not nearly as often as they should.

Just like the AMC "Backstory" shows end up on Fox DVDs. There's a tie-in.

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Updated On: 4/12/08 at 08:48 AM

That was great! She didn't disappoint. Every time I see something like this I start missing the old studio system. (Then I remember Judy Garland and others and get back to earth.)

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Erika--The studio system took over actors' lives. They did everything for them, from find them a gardener to teach them fencing lessons, to loan them a gown and chauffeur for the Oscars. Everything (all on loan). For those who were able to manage things on their own, it was a good thing. A very helpful thing. For those who couldn't manage their outside lives by themselves, and relied upon this kind of help and support 100 percent, it was both essential and potentially dangerous. That's why Garland got into so much trouble.

Her mother wasn't raising her, she was "managing" her. The studio raised Garland, and that's where the trouble started. Movie studios aren't mothers. They're businesses.

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As I recall I caught some of it a while back, when it first aired. I don't recall seeing the whole thing though.

I remember Ann talking about filming Shakin' the Blues Away with a broken back. I can't even fathom that. But she knew it was her big chance at MGM, so she hid the injury and went for it.

I think the word "trooper" was invented for Ann Miller. So incredible.

EDIT: I should probably jump out of the Heston thread, and put this comment on the other one!

My apologies for the thread-jack.

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Updated On: 4/12/08 at 11:44 AM

It was just a general comment, directed at you only because you mentioned the studio system and how good and bad it can be.

I haven't read Davis's book, but I know the gist of the ongoing story from the inside. My grandfather was there during this time. He was the Exec. VP and Treasurer of Warner Bros. On the board of dir. and ran the NY office with Albert Warner. He controlled the star's salaries, the budgets of the films, and was consulted on the hiring and firing of everyone under contract. He was also in charge of all worldwide distribution.

He was not a fan of Davis (as a person). He liked Crawford, though.

There's an interesting "objective" book available called "Inside Warner Bros." that is made up of all the inter-office memos going back and forth between the executives at Warners. My grandfather is one of them, mentioned a few times. And it's very eye-opening to read what was discussed, and to see the behind-the-scenes opinions of the antics and politics. It ain't glamorous, or kind. But it's real.

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P.S. Thanks for the book recommendation!