Charlton Heston

Charlton Heston, not a very good actor but in his way a great one, has died. To me, Planet of the Apes is vital, though your mileage may vary. His political trajectory was a little silly, but also in a very fitting way utterly typical of the larger trajectory of American history. His death, we hope, comes at a time when the great backlash of which he was a part is finally receding. Rest in peace.

This article available online at:

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2008/04/charlton-heston/44200/