Ben-Hur

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Ben-Hur

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Ben-Hur

Charlton Heston, Haya Harareet, Hugh Griffith, Jack Hawkins, Martha Scott

This 1959 version of Lew Wallace's best-selling novel, which had already seen screen versions in 1907 and 1926, went on to win 11 Academy Awards. Adapted by Karl Tunberg and a raft of uncredited write...( read more  read more... )rs including Gore Vidal and Maxwell Anderson, the film once more recounts the tale of Jewish prince Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston), who lives in Judea with his family during the time that Jesus Christ was becoming known for his radical teachings. Ben-Hur's childhood friend Messala (Stephen Boyd) is now an ambitious Roman tribune; when Ben-Hur refuses to help Messala round up local dissidents on behalf of the emperor, Messala pounces on the first opportunity to exact revenge on his onetime friend. Tried on a trumped-up charge of attempting to kill the provincial governor (whose head was accidentally hit by a falling tile), Ben-Hur is condemned to the Roman galleys, while his mother (Martha Scott) and sister (Cathy O'Donnell) are imprisoned. But during a sea battle, Ben-Hur saves the life of commander Quintus Arrius (Jack Hawkins), who, in gratitude, adopts Ben-Hur as his son and gives him full control over his stable of racing horses. Ben-Hur never gives up trying to find his family or exact revenge on Messala. At crucial junctures in his life, he also crosses the path of Jesus, and each time he benefits from it. The highlight of the film's 212 minutes is its now-legendary chariot race, staged largely by stunt expert Yakima Canutt. Ben-Hur's Oscar haul included Best Picture, Best Director for the legendary William Wyler, Best Actor for Heston, and Best Supporting Actor for Welsh actor Hugh Griffith as an Arab sheik.~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Id: 10154017

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Ben-Hur Recent Reviews
  • pier007
    December 31, 2008
    pier007
    The mammoth of cinema that squashed for good the then rising menace of television, proclaiming its superiority in every scale.
    An astonishing, lavish, gigantic display of entertainment and dramatic intensity.
    Also the biggest winner of Academy Awards, when they meant something.
  • sanjurosamurai
    July 11, 2008
    sanjurosamurai
    one of the great epics of all time. re-watchability is effected by its 3 1/2 hour length, but other than this the film is nearly perfect. the chariot race is a stagering feat, the performances, locations, and cinematography are astounding, and the story is inspiring. great rev...( read more)erence is paid to Christ in making him voiceless and faceless and the imagery of his death bringing life is perfectly painted. worthy of its 11 oscars, this film is wonderful.
  • hobster1
    June 10, 2008
    hobster1
    Classic.
  • AgentLexi2132
    May 5, 2008
    AgentLexi2132
    ''Your eyes are full of hate, forty-one. That's good. Hate keeps a man alive. It gives him strength.''


    When a Jewish prince is betrayed and sent into slavery by a Roman friend, he regains his freedom and comes back for revenge.

    Charlton Heston: Judah Ben-Hur

    <...( read more)b>Jack Hawkins: Quintus Arrius

    Ben-Hur won 11 Academy Awards, and deserved all, plus more. The script and Stephen Boyd should have won. Actually everyone in the cast is superb. Boyd gives the performance of a lifetime and makes an excellent adversary, for Ben-Hur.

    Their early scenes, scripted by Gore Vidal, exhibit a most settle homo-erotic behavior, featuring Boyd's eye glances, a "toast" scene where they wrap their arms around each other, culminating in a scene of two arrows in a wall as phallic symbols. Later the relationship sours, Heston is a slave who becomes a hero, but his mother and sister are in prison, and he returns to see Boyd. A towering chariot race ensues, ending their relationship, but sending Ben-Hur on a daring mission to locate his family, now in a leper colony.
    Haya Harareet transcends in and out as a lovely potential love interest, but special mention must be made of Martha Scott, riveting as the mother, and Cathy O'Donnell, a sweet attribute as the daughter.

    Any doubts about Heston's acting abilities are forever erased with his sensitive, gripping portrayal of a man who finds Christ. And it is very touching that he's not looking for love, but his loved and special family.

    The 40-minute race took three months to shoot, in an arena that was a year in the making, and was one of the most ambitious sets ever staged by a major Hollywood studio. It forms the focal point of the movie.

    A powerful masterpiece, beautifully scored by Miklos Rozsa, wonderfully directed by William Wyler and co-starring stalwarts Jack Hawkins, Hugh Griffith, Sam Jaffe. Presumably the best of all the Biblical adventures.
  • EarthlyAlien
    January 16, 2008
    EarthlyAlien
    Perfection in the art of filmmaking. The list of films and directors whose work is influenced by this film is endless...
  • TomBowler
    December 31, 2009
    TomBowler
    An amazing journey. Full review later
  • Mcleanj1
    December 29, 2009
    Mcleanj1
    One of my top five easily. CH is the man and aside from the dumb cop TV show he is golden! Every few monbths I need to watch it even thou its is sooooo darn long! The race, OMFG, can you imaging doing that in 1959? "We keep you alive to serve this ship, so row well and live" ...( read more) There are like 4 movies in one here.
  • filmfanatic1982
    December 26, 2009
    filmfanatic1982
    Marvellously epic. I was worried that the 4 hour timespan would prove boring. Alas, that is not the case. Never once was I bored. :)
  • sillymee3
    December 21, 2009
    sillymee3
    Truelly a classic. In my collection.
  • timeladyinred
    December 15, 2009
    timeladyinred
    Good film but way too long!
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