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'BEN-HUR' Review and Movie Quotes |
Excellent Review: |
BEN-HUR — Rated: G
• Lots of Jews being pushed around by Romans!
• Lots of Jealousy, Treachery, Vengeance and Homo-erotic Man-anger between Judah and Messala!
• Lots of Horse Racing and Boat Rowing!
• Lots of Sexual Tension between Judah and his Slave-Girl.....it's Always Good to be The Master!
• Lots of Arabs that look Suspiciously like White Guys in Heavy Make-up!
• All of the Evil Romans seem to talk with British Accents .....it makes them sound even more Evil!
Danny Loves Stereotypically Evil British Characters In Movies!
• Lots of Hemorrhoids from sitting on your ass for 3 Hours and 42 Minutes watching this Epic Masterpiece!
Running Time: 222 Minutes
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Copyright © 1959 MGM Studios, All Rights Reserved"Danny's Personal Feelings About
BEN-HUR"
BEN-HUR"
Featured Movie Review:
BEN-HUR
BEN-HUR
"The World's Most Honored
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Motion Picture!"
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Period.
End of Discussion.
If you haven't seen Ben-Hur yet.....shame on you!
Really.....I'm not joking!
If you love movies.....then you must love Ben-Hur!
None of these still photos are good enough, in Danny's opinion, to capture the greatness of Ben-Hur.
Watching this movie is a Unique Experience.....at least it is for me. I don't watch Ben-Hur very often, but when I do, I make sure to give it my full attention.
Ben-Hur must be seen in it's original Wide Screen format. Absolutely no Pan-and-Scan, Full Screen garbage as it's normally shown on TV.
And if you have a great surround sound system....that's even better.
Danny wrote a few words about Ben-Hur on the Epic Movies (Intro) Page!
Biblical Masterpiece" The other Great Biblical Epic that Charlton Heston starred in was..... |
Copyright © 1959 MGM Studios,All Rights Reserved
Ben-hur was directed by the great William Wyler!
William Wyler directed some of my favorite favorite classic films:
• Wuthering Heights (1939)
• The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
Wyler was nominated for the Best Director Oscar a total of Twelve times .....he won the award Three times.
The studio that financed Ben-Hur, MGM Studios, was on the verge of bankruptcy.
Ben-Hur represented their last ditch gamble to save their studio.
They wanted to create a movie so spectacular that it would draws huge crowds to see it and be a Box-Office Smash Hit and pay off their outstanding debts.
To do this they agreed to finance the most expensive production ever made up to that point in 1959.
The cost of making Ben-Hur was about $14.5 Million.....which in today's dollars would be well over $100 Million!
Three hundred sets, scattered over 340 acres, were built during the production which lasted over a year!
"The Famous Chariot Race"
You know.....I've seen Ben-Hur so many times, I've lost count.
I don't always have the time to see it from beginning to end in one sitting.....but I never miss the Famous Chariot Race Sequence.
The Chariot Race Sequence is a full 20 minutes long. It took three months to complete using over 8,000 extras on the largest set ever built — 18 acres total!
Real chariots were used and Real Horses had to be trained.
The scenes of men being killed during the Chariot Race are still pretty convincing 50 years later.....for a long time it was believed that people actually Died during the production of the movie!
Copyright © 1959 MGM Studios, All Rights ReservedThe Chariot Race is still the most exciting Action Sequence ever filmed!
Everything about the Chariot Race Scene works:
• The noise of the crowd
• The head to head of the horses
• The scene where Messala (played by Stephen Boyd) is whipping Judah Ben-Hur (played by Charlton Heston) during the Race.
• The scene where Charlton Heston's stunt double is almost killed when his chariot is flipped through the air.
• Messala's Greek Chariot.....the wheels have metal blades attached to them that will chop up anything that gets in it's way.
• The men who get run over by the horses. No one was killed.....but it sure as hell looks like they were.
• Sheik Ilderim cheering the fact that his Four Stallions are winning the race.....he wagered a ton of money!
• The crowd jumping onto the field when the race ends. It was not in the script.....but when William Wyler saw that he wasn't going to be able to stop thousands of extras from jumping onto the field, he simply incorporated it into the movie.
If you have High-Speed Internet, you can watch a 9-minute clip of the Chariot Race at Amazon.com! (new window) |
"In The Beginning.....
There Was Ben-Hur"
There Was Ben-Hur"
Even though the Chariot Race is what Ben-Hur is best known for, the movie also has many other memorable sequences:
Copyright © 1959 MGM Studios, All Rights ReservedBeautiful scene of the three wise men finding Jesus in the manger.
A great visual effect of a moving star that shines a beam of white light directly on top of the barn is fantastic.
Some people will undoubtedly be put off by the religious aspects of the movie.....Ben-Hur begins with the birth of Christ and ends (3.5 hours later) with the death of Christ.
The full title of the movie is — Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ.
I don't personally have a problem with the religious aspects of it.....but that's just me.
I don't find this movie to be preachy in the least bit.....if anything, it gives a very hopeful message at the end of the movie.
Copyright © 1959 MGM Studios, All Rights ReservedJudah Ben-Hur's old boyhood friend, Messala, returns to Judea from Rome after several years.
After about 10 minutes of Judah and Messala reminiscing about old times and staring into each other's eyes (yeah, it's Kinda Gay!).....they finally get down to business!
Messala is Roman and is put in charge of bringing Judea under control..... there are some Jews so don't like taking orders from Romans.
Messala wants to use his old friend Judah, who is a Jew, as an informant and rat out other trouble making Jews!
Messala is kind of a dick, isn't he?
Sparks start to fly between these two guys when Judah tells Messala to Kiss His Ass!
Messala would now become Judah's Nemesis. However, it always seemed to Danny that Messala's Hatred towards Judah looked more like the reactions of a Rejected Lover! It's possible that Messala developed a Crush on Judah.....Homosexual Affairs were NOT uncommon among Romans in those days! And when Judah refused to help Messala .....well, Secret Gay Lover Scorned!"  |
"With Backstabbing Friends Like Messala.....Who Needs Enemies?"
Copyright © 1959 MGM Studios, All Rights ReservedThis scene is a costumed extravaganza!
Dozens of Roman soldiers on horses and on foot march through the narrow streets of Judea.....while tons of surly Jews are giving them the "Icy Stare."
When a tile from Judah's roof accidentally falls and almost kills the new Roman Governor of Judea, Messala decides to use this opportunity to make an example of Judah and his mother and sister.
He wants to have all the other Jews fear him and accept Rome as their masters and superiors.
Danny has always found that you can get a helluva lot more accomplished with Fear and Intimidation instead of Respect and Cooperation!
How do you think the Pyramids were built, huh?
By saying, "Pretty Please?"
It was built by Whipping a lot slaves!
Visit almost any great Man-Made structure around the world and you'll find out that a lot of nameless people died in it's creation.....all for our Valuable Tourist Money!
Hey.....if you want to make an Omelet then you've gotta break some eggs!
Copyright © 1959 MGM Studios, All Rights ReservedJudah, along with his mother and sister, have been sentenced for attemped murder of the Roman governor.
Judah gets Super Pissed when he finds out that his mother and sister are going to suffer with him.
A standoff ensues when Judah manages to get his hands on a spear and threatens to kill Messala unless he releases his mother and sister.
It's amazing to watch how Messala manages to get control over the situation, and over Judah, without the use of a weapon.
Judah really "Pussed" out in this scene!
"Judah Flexes His Chest Muscles Through This Entire Prison Sequence"
Copyright © 1959 MGM Studios, All Rights ReservedChrist Giving Judah Water.
Judah is marched though the North African desert with other prisoners. Before they reach their destination, they stop at the town of Nazareth for water.
When one of the guards refuses to give water to Judah, whose very weak and dehydrated by this point, he collapses having lost his will to live.
Christ then appears to give him water.
This assistance rejuvenates Judah and gives him the strength to persevere.
When the guard break out his Whip and is getting ready to use it, Christ gives him a look that says, "You touch me with that whip and I'll shove a Lightning Bolt up your ass!"
Of course, Christ doesn't actually use language like that.....he's got more class than Danny does!
Copyright © 1959 MGM Studios, All Rights ReservedThese scenes of dozens of chained up prisoners, rowing at the same time, to the rhythm of beating drums are Classic!
If it wasn't for the Chariot Race, the Prisoner Galley sequence would be my favorite.
Some of these guys actually look like they are starving and some of them have missing hands and feet.
A new Roman Commander arrives to take charge of the Ship that Judah is a prisoner on.....the new commander's name is Quintus Arrius (played by Jack Hawkins).
A great scene occurs when Arrius wants to test the stamina and endurance of his rowers. So he nearly works them all to death by have them row at a grueling pace.....Non-Stop!
After he's finished, all of the prisoners drop to the floor at the same time, gasping for air.
Everyone except Judah Ben-Hur who will not allow himself to be beaten by this Roman Commander.
Judah displays a lot of Testicular Fortitude!
Judah is Much Man!
Copyright © 1959 MGM Studios, All Rights ReservedThe ship battle between the Romans and Macedonian Pirates is well done.
The ships are obviously fakes when seen from a distance.....but the on board sword battle is pretty awesome.
There's one scene where Judah shoves a flaming torch directly into the face of a pirate whose trying to kill him.
When Judah manages to save Arrius from drowning after his ship sinks, Judah is taken in by Arrius.
"The Scenes In Rome Look Pretty Expensive"
Copyright © 1959 MGM Studios, All Rights ReservedThis is a Gigantic Set that was built.....it really does look like the entire population of Rome is at this parade!
Similar to Lavish march into Rome in the 1963 movie Cleopatra, this scene in Ben-Hur has hundreds of extras cheering simultaneously.
There is a memorable shot of Arrius walking alone up an endless flight of stars to receive his honor from the Emperor of Rome.
Copyright © 1959 MGM Studios, All Rights ReservedWhen Judah finally returns to Judea, over four years have past since he was made a prisoner.
When he returns, he has the authroity and the power to punish Messala for what he's done. Instead Judah demands his mother and sister returned to him.
We then find out that Messala had left Judah's mother and sister to rot in the deepest, darkest, dirtiest, dingiest part of the dungeons for over four years!
When the guard goes in to release them, you clearly see the horror on his face when he sees what Judah's mother and sister have transformed into.
Somehow they've contracted Leprosy.....which has disfigured their entire bodies.
They are thrown out of the prison.....but rather than reunite with Judah, they choose to go to a Leper Colony rather than let Judah see them disfigured.
When Judah assumes that his mother and sister were killed in prison.....he enters the Famous Chariot Race to get his Revenge on Messala!
Danny discussed The Famous Chariot Race earlier in this review.
"Judah's Victory Is Empty And Hollow..... Messala Makes Sure Of That"
Copyright © 1959 MGM Studios, All Rights ReservedDuring the Chariot Race, Messala gets torn up pretty badly.
But even as he's on the brink of death, he hangs on long enough to get one final jab in at Judah!
Messala enjoys telling Judah the truth about his mother and sister.....I told you he was a dick!
Messala's death scene is one of the best Death Scenes I've ever seen!
Copyright © 1959 MGM Studios, All Rights ReservedChrist's Sermon On The Mount.
By this point, you're telling yourself,
"Judah Ben-Hur just can't catch a break!"
After almost 5 years, Judah realizes that he's incapable of saving his mother and sister.
Judah is filled with rage at this point and he wants to kill anything that symbolizes Rome.
He walks past the mount where Jesus Christ is speaking of "Loving thy enemy". Hundreds of people are there to hear this Peaceful Message.
But Judah is too pissed off to listen to any talk of Love and Peace.....He wants Blood and Death!
Honestly, who can blame him?
"Let The Healing Begin"
Copyright © 1959 MGM Studios, All Rights ReservedNot as graphic as depicted in The Passion of the Christ, but the scene only lasts less then 5 minutes anyway.
Judah recognizes Christ as the man who gave him the will to live in the desert almost 5 years earlier.
Copyright © 1959 MGM Studios, All Rights ReservedThere are some very Memorable images for Danny during the Death of Christ sequence.
The lightning flash above a lifeless Christ sticks in my mind the most.
The huge rainstorm that follows creates streams and rivers for Christ's blood to float on; healing whatever it washes against.
Judah listened to Christ's words as he died and is healed of his rage.....and his mother and sister are also healed.
"The Legacy Of Ben-Hur"
Copyright © 1959 MGM Studios, All Rights ReservedBen-Hur won 11 Academy Awards in 1959!
That feat has never been surpassed but it has been tied by two other Epic Movies:
• Titantic (1997)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
As I said before, no amount of words or still photos can take the place of actually watching this one-of-a-kind Epic Movie.
This movie was the first, and only, of it's kind!
For example, while Titanic and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy were colossal achievements.....it simply lacks the "realness" that exists in Ben-Hur.
Ben-Hur used almost no Special Effects at all.....every single person and every single animal are Totally Real!
If I were you, I'd get the Ben-Hur DVD and watch it on the biggest TV with the biggest speakers I could get my hands on.
You won't regret it!
You can find more Information on Ben-Hur at Filmsite.org (new window) and Wikipedia! (new window)
P.S. — Here's a bit of Useless Information that will interest absolutely no one else but Danny!
Ben-Hur won all of it's Oscars at the 1959 Academy Awards.....
.....and this Ben-Hur Movie Review is Danny's 59th Completed Page for Entertainment Movie Guide!
Copyright © 1959 MGM Studios, All Rights Reserved"CAST
OF
BEN-HUR"
OF
BEN-HUR"
as Judah Ben-Hur | as Quintus Arrius |
as Esther | as Messala |
as Sheik Ilderim | as Miriam |
as Tirzah | as Simonides |
as Balthasar | as Drusus |
as Pontius Pilate | as Jesus Christ |
Copyright © 1959 MGM Studios, All Rights ReservedDanny's Top 5 Cool Movie Quotes!
Cool Movie Quote — No. 1
Judah *Ben-Hur*: I must deal with Messala in my own way.
Balthasar: And your way is to kill him.
[pause, Judah looks at Balthasar]
Balthasar: I see this terrible thing in your eyes, Judah Ben-Hur, but no matter what this man has done to you, you have no right to take his life. He will be punished inevitably.
Judah Ben-Hur: I don't believe in miracles.
Balthasar: Your whole life is a miracle! Why will you not accept God's judgment?
Cool Movie Quote — No. 2
Sheik Ilderim: Balthasar is a good man. But until all men are like him, we must keep our swords bright!
Judah *Ben-Hur*: And our intentions true! So I must leave you.
Sheik Ilderim: One last thought... there is no law in the arena. Many are killed. I hope to see you again, Judah Ben-Hur.
Cool Movie Quote — No. 3
Messala: Look to the West, Judah! Don't be a fool, look to Rome!
Judah *Ben-Hur*: I would rather be a fool than a traitor... or a killer!
Messala: I am a soldier!
Judah Ben-Hur: Yes! Who kills! For Rome! Rome is evil!
Messala: I warn you...
Judah Ben-Hur: No! I warn you! Rome is an affront to God! Rome is strangling my people and my country, the whole Earth! But not forever. I tell you the day Rome falls there will be a shout of freedom such as the world has never heard before!
Cool Movie Quote — No. 4
Quintus Arrius: [startled from sleep] Why are you here?
Judah *Ben-Hur*: I was ordered to report to you during my relief.
Quintus Arrius: Yes, I had forgotten... You could have killed me as I lay there! You're a condemned man, why didn't you?
Judah Ben-Hur: I'm not ready to die.
Quintus Arrius: What do you think will save you?
Judah Ben-Hur: The God of my fathers.
Quintus Arrius: Your God has forsaken you. He has no more power than the images I pray to. My Gods do not help me, your God will not help you.
Cool Movie Quote — No. 5
Esther: Oh Judah, rest. Sleep. For a few hours of the night, let your mind be at peace.
Judah *Ben-Hur*: [bitterly] Peace! Love and peace. Do you think I don't long for them as you do? Where do you see them?
Esther: If you had heard this man from Nazareth...
Judah *Ben-Hur*: Balthasar's word.
Esther: He is more than Balthasar's word. His voice traveled with such a still purpose... It was more than a voice... a man more than a man! He said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God."
Judah *Ben-Hur*: Children of God? In that dead valley where we left them? I tell you every man in Judea is unclean, and will stay unclean, until we've scoured off our bodies the crust and filth of being at the mercy of tyranny. No other life is possible except to wash this land clean!
Esther: In blood?
Judah Ben-Hur: Yes, in blood!
Esther: I know there is a law in life, that blood gets more blood as dog begets dog. Death generates death, as the vulture breeds the vulture! But the voice I heard today on the hill said, "Love your enemy. Do good to those who despitefully use you."
Judah Ben-Hur: So all who are born in this land hereafter can suffer as we have done!
Esther: As you make us do now? Are we to bear nothing together? Even love?
Judah Ben-Hur: I can hardly draw breath without feeling you in my heart. Yet I know that everything I do from this moment will be as great a pain to you as you have ever suffered. It is better not to love me!
Esther: It was Judah Ben-Hur I loved. What has become of him? You seem to be now the very thing you set out to destroy, giving evil for evil! Hatred is turning you to stone. It's as though you had become Messala!
[Judah looks at her, shocked]
Esther: [sadly] I've lost you, Judah.
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