Ben-Hur

Next up in “Religious Epic Month” is the 1959 classic, “Ben-Hur.” This film won 11 Academy Awards including Best Picture after it came out. William Wyler directed this epic production with 350 speaking roles and over 50,000 extras. Frederic and MaryAnn Brussat said this in their review, “The long-awaited DVD contains the following special features: commentary by Charlton Heston; the new digitally remastered picture and final soundtrack; screen tests of the cast; the addition of the seldom-heard Overture and Entr'acte music by Miklos Rozsa; a behind-the-scenes documentary, Ben-Hur: The Making of an Epic; the original theatrical trailer; and an on-the-set-photo gallery featuring Wyler, producer Sam Zimbalist, cameraman Robert Surtees, and others.”

The film is told by events in the life of Christ starting with his birth in a stable where the three kings give their gifts and end with a marvelous healing after the crucifixion. The main theme of “Ben-Hur” is forgiveness. Brussat mentioned, “Henri J. M. Nouwen has written: "The only people we can really change are ourselves. Forgiving others is first and foremost to healing our hearts."” That’s true, but with a long process and a painful journey can be when a vengeful person has turned to stone!

Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) is an affluent prince in Jerusalem when his childhood friend Messala (Stephen Boyd) returns as second-in-command with the Roman army in Palestine. This determined young man is a passionate believer in the Emperor and wants to make an impact on him by restoring law and order to the country. When Ben-Hur refuses to give him the names of Jews against the Roman rule, Messala ends the friendship.

When an accident happens during the welcome parade for the new governor, played by Mino Doro, Messala blames Ben-Hur and imprisons him into slavery. His mother (Martha Scott) and sister (Cathy O’Donnell) are placed in a dungeon. His loyal warden (Sam Jaffe) is beaten while his daughter, Esther (Haya Harareet), waits for her master to come back.

While walking through the desert, Ben-Hur and the other slaves reach Nazareth. There a nice and compassionate man gives the dehydrated Ben-Hur a cup of water that energizes his body and restores his soul. During his three years as an oarsman on Roman Ships, Ben-Hur’s want for revenge is what keeps him alive. After rescuing the captain, played by Jack Hawkins, of the ship, Ben-Hur is taken to Rome where he is a successful as a chariot racer. Tiberius, played by George Relph, adopts Ben-Hur as his son, but he decides to return to Jerusalem where he is reunited with Esther. Ben-Hur and Messala face off against one another in a thrilling chariot race in front of the Jewish people in games hosted by Pontius Pilate, played by Frank Thring. Afterwards, he returns the kindness of Jesus of Nazareth, played by Claude Heater, by offering him a cup of water as he is carrying the cross to Golgotha.

“Ben-Hur” is famous for its shows but it is most inspiring in the small moments. The harsh treatment of Jesus is really helpful – we never see his face. Perhaps the most believable scene is when we look over Jesus’ shoulder to the look on the face of a Roman soldier at the well in Nazareth – the man just steps back from his godly presence. Near the end of the film, Jesus being taken to the cross gives a powerful cure to Esther and everyone, and Ben-Hur’s vengeful heart begins to change.

Bear in mind: this film is really long. If you can sit through an over three hour movie, that’s actually a job well done. However, if you watch it in parts, like I did because I was exercising, then that is probably better. People might say this is boring and the chariot race is the only worth watching scene, but that’s wrong. You should see the whole movie.

Look out next week when we look at the next epic in “Religious Epic Month.”