History

Drama

Adventure

Ben-Hur

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

United States of America

English

Charlton Heston

Stephen Boyd

Hugh Griffith

Jack Hawkins

Haya Harareet

Martha Scott

Cathy O'Donnell

Sam Jaffe

Finlay Currie

Frank Thring

George Relph

André Morell

Terence Longdon

Ady Berber

Lando Buzzanca

Giuliano Gemma

Marina Berti

Robert Brown

Liana Del Balzo

Enzo Fiermonte

Richard Hale

Duncan Lamont

John Le Mesurier

Ferdy Mayne

May McAvoy

Aldo Silvani

Ralph Truman

Claude Heater

Joe Canutt

Richard Coleman

Antonio Corevi

David Davies

Mino Doro

Michael Dugan

Franco Fantasia

José Greci

John Horsley

Howard Lang

Stevenson Lang

Tutte Lemkow

Cliff Lyons

Tiberio Mitri

Remington Olmsted

Laurence Payne

Aldo Pini

Diego Pozzetto

Stella Rho

Edwin Richfield

Hector Ross

Maxwell Shaw

Gianni Solaro

Pietro Tordi

Raimondo Van Riel

Dervis Ward

Joe Yrigoyen

Nazzareno Zamperla

Jerry Brown

Eddie Jauregui

Gianni Di Segni

Armando Fracassi

Osiride Pevarello

Renzo Pevarello

Amerigo Santarelli

Artemio Antonini

Aldo Cecconi

Mario Meniconi

Terzo Monachesi

Giorgio Ubaldi

Umberto Alivernini

William Wyler

Karl Tunberg

Sam Zimbalist

Miklós Rózsa

Robert Surtees

John D. Dunning

Ralph E. Winters

Edward C. Carfagno

William A. Horning

Hugh Hunt

Elizabeth Haffenden

Charles E. Parker

Edward Woehler

Sergio Leone

Alberto Cardone

William Steinkamp

Sash Fisher

Gabriella Borzelli

A. Arnold Gillespie

Robert R. Hoag

Lee LeBlanc

Lew Wallace

Piero Portalupi

Harold E. Wellman

Franklin Milton

Majestic in scope and story telling.

The truth is, is that Ben-Hur deserved every award that was showered upon it. It's a titanic film both in structure and scope. It doesn't need me to go over old ground about how much the film cost to make, the number of extras, the number of sets and etc, it's now folklore that this film could have bankrupted MGM such was the investment, but they needn't have worried since the film went on to make 40 million and still counting.

Every cent spent was worth it because it's a magnificent film, the kind that you can get swept away with, the minute the overture starts you feel little tingles as the hairs on your arms stand up on end, you are aware that for over three hours director William Wyler and lead actor Charlton Heston are going to own you.

The story centres around Judah Ben-Hur (Heston) who through his staunch loyalty to the Jewish race falls out with his dear Roman friend Messala (Stephen Boyd). He is dispatched to be a slave in the galleys and swears revenge on Messala. After pirates attack the ship he is slaved on, he manages to escape and in the process he saves Roman Admiral Quintus Arrius (Jack Hawkins) and this sets Juda on his destiny to enact revenge on his old friend as Quintus makes him a citizen of Rome.

It sounds so simple yet it's a story of the highest order because crucial to the film's core strength is Judah's encounters with Christ, and it's only during the harsh and upsetting final reel that we realise the whole point of the film. There's also strong themes involving family love and loyalty, friendships formed or broken under race and creed banners, and of course religious beliefs and all that comes with that kettle of fish... 

It's epic, it's simply beautiful, it's actually essential viewing for any serious cinema fan, the film's set pieces are still wondrous even today. You will marvel at the chariot race (a stunning 20 minutes long), you will hoist the flag during the pirate attack, and if you have the emotion in you? You will be hit with sombre silence as Christ is crucified. Come the closing music I personally feel like clapping such is the appreciation I have for this truly wonderful film, if you haven't seen it then make a point of doing so because everything that is great about cinema is right here. 10/10

What can be said about this film that hasnt already been said?  
I could (justly) use every superlative known and it still does not cover just how amazing this film is.  It is the essence of EPIC (and not just historical epic).  
It is easy to see why it was not matched in the number of Oscars given for 50 years (and those 'equals' did not include any acting oscars and had more categories to choose from).  

I first watched this as a kid and struggled to stay awake to see the end late at night.  And despite it not having the spectacle of say the Ten Commandments, it became a favourite which I have watched over and over again.  

I adore everything in this film - from the gritty stoic-ness of Heston's acting and cockiness of Boyd's, the fleshed out minor characters, the jaw-dropping sets, stirring score from Rozsa, the stunning costumes and of course to the incredible set pieces.  

This is film perfection that does not feel like its (nearly) 4 hour run time.

CinemaSerf

It will probably be remembered for it's chariot race long after all of the rest of it has faded away, but this is more than just that. It is a story about friendship, religion, power and opportunity - it is also about sheer bloody-mindedness and cruelty. It resonates all the more because these are all human traits that abound in all of us to some extent. The film looks truly amazing and Miklós Rósza is on top form with a score that encapsulates the Imperial grandeur of the Roman State in all of it's Tiberian pomp. The story, though, is a less impressive affair. Charlton Heston and Stephen Boyd demonstrate how love can turn to hate splendidly when on screen together, the rest of the time neither performance really delivers much beyond the script. Jack Hawkins tries hard, but again doesn't quite hit the mark as the Consul. Hugh Griffith is a star as the mischievous, avaricious Sheik Ilderim and Sam Jaffe is also a good addition to this cast. It is way too long; after the chariot race it turns a little too much into the "tale of the Christ" referred to by author General Lew Wallace at the very start and for me, somehow loses it's way. The battle scenes at sea are great and the sumptuous costumes, cinematography and sound all well deserving of their golden statuettes. A very good, but not quite great, cinema epic.

Best Movies

Ben-Hur

Cast & Crew

Videos

Cast

Charlton Heston

Stephen Boyd

Hugh Griffith

Jack Hawkins

Haya Harareet

Martha Scott

Cathy O'Donnell

Sam Jaffe

Finlay Currie

Frank Thring

Box office

More Like This

Kalle-Kustaa Korkin seikkailut

Prism Season

The Last Animal

Abigail's Dawning

Mother at War

Rams

Lost Illusions

Madame Claude