Rating: G
Genre:
Epic
Release Date: 03/13/2001
SubTitles: English/French/Espanol/Por
Dubbed: English/French
Sound: DD2/DD5.1
Run Time: 212 Minutes
Distributor/Studio: Warner Home Video
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 writers 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
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