Back home

Ben-Hur

2979 votes

Producing House

In 26 AD, Judah Ben-Hur, a Jew in ancient Judea, opposes the occupying Roman empire. Falsely accused by a Roman childhood friend-turned-overlord of trying to kill the Roman governor, he is put into slavery and his mother and sister are taken away as prisoners.

movie

Status: Released

Released Date: 1959-11-18

Runtime: 212 mins

Director: William Wyler

Spoken language: English

Genres: History, Drama, Adventure

Original title: Ben-Hur

Production Companies: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Production Countries: United States of America

Reviews

G

Geronimo1967
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.
2024-06-01

s

sykobanana
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.
2021-04-24

J

John Chard
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
2018-12-24

Recommendations

Reconstruction
3.4

Reconstruction

2003-05-17

Late one evening Alex suddenly abandons his girlfriend, Simone, to pursue the beautiful Aimee. In hi

Cut-Throats Nine
3.3

Cut-Throats Nine

1971-10-23

A group of ruthless convicts is led to prison through an inhospitable mountain range by a small cava

Milenio, el principio del fin
2.8

Milenio, el principio del fin

2000-01-01

The daughter of a rich business man gets involved with New Age beliefs that clash with Christianity.

Religion, la fuerza de la costumbre
3.8

Religion, la fuerza de la costumbre

2000-01-01

A Mexican family that practices religion merely as tradition encounters conflicts with faith.

Vuelve a tu primer amor
0

Vuelve a tu primer amor

1989-01-01

Short film by Paco del Toro

War
2.5

War

2014-09-21

Fifteen-year-old Matteo is attractive, albeit somewhat effeminate. The whole world is against him. H

Lola the Truck Driver
2.9

Lola the Truck Driver

1983-06-20

Lola finds herself into the world of violence and drug trafficking when her father is murdered for r

Separation Anxiety
0

Separation Anxiety

2010-01-01

Separation Anxiety traces the friendship of three twenty-something childhood pals, Quinn, Jess, and

Radioactive
3.3

Radioactive

2020-03-11

The story of Nobel Prize winner Marie Curie and her extraordinary scientific discoveries—through the

Let There Be Light
2.8

Let There Be Light

2017-10-27

An atheist goes through a near-death experience in an auto accident before converting to Christianit

Summerlight and Then Comes The Night
3.3

Summerlight and Then Comes The Night

2022-10-14

The village is brimming with stories and if you listen closely it might tell you a few. Perhaps the

Christmas at Maxwell's
2.1

Christmas at Maxwell's

2006-12-01

A successful American family retreat to their summer home on the banks of Lake Erie to find meaning

Green Street Hooligans
3.6

Green Street Hooligans

2005-09-09

After being wrongfully expelled from Harvard University, American Matt Buckner flees to his sister's

Reservation Road
3.3

Reservation Road

2007-09-13

Two fathers' lives intersect when one of them is involved in a terrible and sudden hit-and-run car a

The Tree of Life
3.4

The Tree of Life

2011-05-17

The impressionistic story of a Texas family in the 1950s. The film follows the life journey of the e

Assault on Precinct 13
3.1

Assault on Precinct 13

2005-01-19

On New Year's Eve, inside a police station that's about to be closed for good, officer Jake Roenick

Disclosure
3.1

Disclosure

1994-12-09

A computer specialist is sued for sexual harassment by a former lover turned boss who initiated the

Europa Europa
3.6

Europa Europa

1990-11-14

A Jewish boy separated from his family in the early days of WWII poses as a German orphan and is tak

Derailed
3.2

Derailed

2005-11-11

When two married business executives having an affair are blackmailed by a violent criminal, they ar

Just Like Heaven
3.5

Just Like Heaven

2005-09-16

Shortly after David Abbott moves into his new San Francisco digs, he has an unwelcome visitor on his