Movies On Dvd: Ben-hur -- Collector's Edition
The 4-disk set collector's edition of Ben-Hur contains not only the 1959 version starring Charlton Heston but the 1925 silent film version as well
. And that's not all. Also included are documentaries, screen tests, newsreels and even highlights of the 1960 Academy Awards where the 1959 version picked up 11 Oscars including Best Picture and Best Actor (Heston).
The 1959 version was directed by William Wyler (Best Director), produced by Sam Zimbalist and starred Heston, Jack Hawkins, Stephen Boyd, Israeli actress Haya Harareet, Hugh Griffith (Best Supporting Actor), Martha Scott, Sam Jaffe,and Kathy O'Donnell.
It's called "A Tale of the Christ", and indeed the presence of Jesus of Nazareth weaves in an out throughout the film finally producing both healing and redemption for Ben-Hur and his family. But the main focus of the film revolves around the relationship of two men: Judah Ben-Hur, a Jew and the Roman Messala (Stephen Boyd).
Judah and Messala were boyhood friends. In fact Messala even once saved Judah's life. But as the two youths grew up, their different cultures shaped them. Judah became a prince among his people, and Messala a Roman Tribune.
Messala, in a twist of fate was able to wrangle the post of commander of the Roman military garrison in Jerusalem where he tries to enlist the aid of Judah to help him quell the growing popular resentment towards Rome. Judah tries in his own way but is unwilling to provide Messala with the names of those who feel that violence is the only way to fight the Roman occupation. At Judah's palatial residence in Jerusalem, he tells Messala that he cannot betray his own people.
This effectively ends their friendship and Messala storms out of the house.
When the Roman governor of Judea arrives in Jerusalem at the head of more Roman troops, Judah and his sister Tirza (O'Donnell) observe from the roof of their home which happens to be on the route taken by the governor. Roofing tiles accidentally give way when Tirza leans forward for a better look. The tiles happen to fall toward the governor who ends up injured after being thrown from his horse.
This becomes the chance for Messala to use the incident to further his aim to crush the budding Jewish resistance -- and to get back at Judah for refusing to help him. Judah, his mother (Martha Scott) and Tirza are arrested. Judah is sentenced to the galleys while his mother and sister are imprisoned.
Judah now dedicates his life to surviving the death sentence of serving as a rower on the Roman galleys in order to return home to free his family and to take revenge upon Messala.
This film is a true epic filmed in the old style in the days well before the advent of CGI technology. There is a cast of thousands and massive sets were constructed. Both Heston and Boyd spent weeks learning how to drive chariots for the famous chariot race scene. (The stunt director told Heston that his job was to stay in the chariot -- They'd make sure he'd "win the damn race".)
Ben-Hur was also filmed in the days when epic films were fairly common. There is an overture and an Entr'Acte after intermission (yes, it has an intermission.)
The score by Miklos Rosza (Best Scoring) is magnificent and compelling. The cinematography by Robert L. Surtees (Best Color Cinematography) is stunning.
Ben-Hur is one of the best movies of all time. The special edition features make the whole experience even more worthwhile.
by: James Emery Vigh
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