Plot: What’s it about?
Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) has a very comfortable lifestyle, as he is a Jewish price who makes a nice living as a merchant. In addition to his work, Judah loves to spend time with his mother and sister, whom he loves very much and is very close with. Soon, he is visited by an old friend, Messala (Stephen Boyd), who has become a Roman commander. The two are pleased to meet once again, but since their lives have taken much different turns, they are more distant than before. This is never more evident than when a procession is led through the streets and a loose brick falls, almost hitting the governor. The brick came loose from Judah’s house and even though Messala knows it was an accident, he imprisons Judah’s family and sends Judah off to become a slave. Now away from his loved ones and previous life, Judah swears revenge at all costs and as time passes, his resolve grows by leaps and bounds. But as a simple slave, there is not power within reach and however he tries, any kind of action will be most difficult. Will Judah be able to attain his revenge and if so, will he be able to salvage any remnants of his prior life?
After an immense waiting period, one of the most epic films of all time has hit our beloved format, in the form of the classic, Ben-Hur. Although other massive scale pictures were done around the same time, I think Ben-Hur aces them all and emerges as the best epic in the business. From the cast of thousands to the breathtaking chariot race to the lavish production design, this movie has it all and then some. I mean, even the aspect ratio is larger than most films (2.76:1), so you know this is one huge movie and on all counts, it exceeds the praised reputation it has gained. Ben-Hur has drama, romance, action, and suspense, pretty much all the elements a movie can have, but it never seems loose or disconnected. The running time of well over three hours might ward off modern audiences, but they’d be missing one of all the all time greats. With eleven Oscars under its belt, this film is what Gladiator was supposed to be, but that movie just couldn’t measure up in the end. The wait was torture for this epic to reach Blu-ray, but with a terrific presentation and some nice extras, it was well worth the effort. I am displeased that Warner didn’t include the original soundtrack, but even so, this disc is one of the easiest recommendations I’ve ever made, a must own for most and a must see for all film fans.
His acting hasn’t won over everyone, but I happen to like Charlton Heston’s work a lot, especially in this picture. Of course, he took home the Best Actor Oscar for his efforts, but even so, he isn’t usually regarded well for his performances. I know he goes over the top often, but his clenched jaw and line delivery just strike a chord with me, I can’t help but enjoy his work. I do think this is one of his best turns in terms of traditional acting, but I happen to prefer his work in lesser known films and cult classics. But I still have a lot of fun watching him in action here, as he proves he belongs among the bigger names in the business.
Video: How does it look?
If you’ve never had the chance to sit down and watch any version of Ben-Hur, it’s an experience. That’s the best way I can describe it. There were a few generations that didn’t have the luxury of a 16:9 television, so watching this movie on a standard 4:3 screen is like peeking through a window. The massive and extra wide 2.76:1 aspect ratio is among the widest for any major release and you’ll notice it. Then again, this is Ben-Hur, a movie that practically defined the word “epic” in every sense of the word. Warner’s previous special editions for this film have looked great, but they went all out and literally re-mastered this film frame by frame with an 8K scan. Warner spent over a million dollars on this new transfer and we have to ask ourselves if it was worth it. In a word – yes. The 222 minute running time would be a tax on most films, but this movie is wisely spread across two Blu-ray discs. Colors are extremely bold and vibrant. Fleshtones, though a bit overcooked at times, are faithful to the original and have never looked better. Detail is stunning and the famous chariot race scene has never looked better. This new 4K HEVC transfer gives us Dolby Vision and looks just about as good as I’ve seen a film look. This is, without a doubt, one of the best transfers I’ve seen for a film and well worth the price of admission.
Audio: How does it sound?
A breathtaking picture is one thing and if this was the 1925 version of the film, that would be all she wrote. But this classic now benefits from a new Dolby Atmos soundtrack that essentially parallels the transfer in regards to how it sounds. The sound stage is clear and robust engaging every channel on multiple occasions. With a running time of over 3 hours, there are plenty of opportunities for the surrounds to chime in. Vocals are crisp and lack any sort of distortion that might be associated with a film of this age. Of course the signature scene for this film is the chariot race and let me say that it does rival some of the more modern films when it comes to how this sounds. The racing of the horses, the cracking of the whip and everything in between. It’s amazing how good this sounds and, like the video, factor in the age of the film and you’ve got yourself a winner here as well.
Supplements: What are the extras?
With each new version of this film, we get a few more bullet points on the “supplemental features” list. We’ve even got a few new ones to add, though it’s a tad misleading.
- Ben–Hur: Anatomy of an Epic – This might be labeled as a “new” feature, but it’s a 1994 documentary exploring the monumental production of the 1959 film directed by William Wyler. It details the adaptation of Lew Wallace’s 1880 novel, the massive scale of MGM’s production in Rome, the groundbreaking 65mm cinematography, and the iconic, dangerous chariot race sequence, which remains a landmark in Hollywood filmmaking.
- The Cinematography of Scale – We get a look at the cameras used and how the ultra wide aspect ratio allowed for things to be “squeezed” onto the frame. With modern day TV’s, this is commonplace but this is the film that pioneered it over 60 years ago.
- Charlton Heston & Ben–Hur: A Personal Journey – This is the inside story of the making of Ben-Hur from Heston’s perspective and how it formed him as an artist and actor in the years to follow. Directed by acclaimed documentary filmmaker Laurent Bouzereau and exec produced by Fraser C. Heston for the 50th Anniversary release and restoration of Ben-Hur.
- Ben–Hur: The Making of an Epic – Hosted by Christopher Plummer (The Sound of Music) focuses on taking the novel to the screen.
- Ben–Hur: A Journey Through Pictures – A collection of stills, storyboards, sketches, and promotional materials are shown.
- Screen Tests – Three screen tests allow us to see a young Leslie Nielsen as Messala auditioning both Cesare Danova and Yale Wexler as Judah. George Baker and William Russell are in the third segment.
- Audio Commentary by Film Historian T. Gene Hatcher with Charlton Heston – We start off with a commentary track by historian T. Gene Hatcher who literally wrote the book on the making of this movie. Also present is a commentary by Charleton Heston, though his comments are few and far between.
- Music Only Track Showcasing Mikos Rózsa’s Award-Winning Score
The Bottom Line
The phrase “they don’t make ’em like they used to” is certainly relevant here. Ben-Hur took home 11 Academy Awards including Best Picture, changed the way films were made and has been listed on the American Film Institute’s list of Top 100 movies of all-time. That’s a pretty impressive resume. Warner’s DVD, Blu-ray and now 4K releases of this film have always been top notch and with this 4K offering, it throws in a new transfer, a Dolby Atmos mix and even a couple of new supplements. What more can you ask for?
