When the movie
was over, and in the last scene, I saw Ben-Hur Judah (Charlton Heston) approach
his mother and sister after he beheld the miracle of our Lord Jesus Christ. I
said within myself, “What a privilege it is to have seen this movie”; and a
privilege it was indeed. The most amazing thing about the movie is the score—it
is just wonderful. Then, add the tale of Ben-Hur, who went from being a prince
to a slave and back, and learned the hard way that revenge does not bring
contentment. What you have is this 50s masterpiece that everyone should get the
privilege to see.
The story of
Ben-Hur is set during the birth and death of Christ. At that time, Ben-Hur was
a good friend of the next in line Governor of Jerusalem, Messala. Their
friendship is tested (as Ben-Hur is a Jew and Messala is Roman) when Messala
calls Ben aside and asks for the names of the Jews leading a rebellion against
Rome. Ben’s refusal causes the two friends to part ways.
An unfortunate
incident involving a loose tile leads to the death of the present Governor. Ben
and his sister are responsible for the accident, but Messala fails to accept it
for what it was—an accident—even after his investigation shows it was so.
Ben-Hur was
a record-breaking Oscar movie, winning 11 out of the 12 Academy Award
nominations it received. Some of its wins include Best Picture, Best Director,
and Best Actor for Charlton Heston. Charlton’s 1956 movie, The Ten
Commandments, was also a hit and showcased his gift for epic film
portrayals. Ben-Hur is based on the book Ben-Hur: A Tale of the
Christ by Lew Wallace, and the movie production features stunning
cinematic scenes, such as the iconic chariot race.
Ben-Hur was
both a critical and commercial success, making close to 10 times its production
cost. The movie is regarded as one of the best epic films ever made, ranking
100th on the American Film Institute’s Top 100 Movies list and 2nd on their Top
Epic Films list.
Ben-Hur is
a beautiful and highly successful movie that many should get the chance to see.
Like The Ten Commandments, it is biblical but not entirely biblically
grounded. Still, it is wonderful and worth watching, even for those eager to
see a biblical film. Its timeless story, powerful performances, and
breathtaking visuals make it a true classic.
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