Ben-Hur

1959

3h 32m

IMDb RATING

7.9/10

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18 Videos

99+ Images

History

Drama

Adventure

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.

Directors

William Wyler

Writers

Karl Tunberg(screenplay by)

Lew Wallace(novel by)

Stars

Charlton Heston

Stephen Boyd

Hugh Griffith

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Videos18

Photos108

Top cast

Judah Ben-Hur

Messala

Scheich Ildirim

Quintus Arrius

Esther

Miriam

Tirzah

Simonides

Balthasar

Pontius Pilatus

Tiberius Caesar

Sextus

Drusus

Malluch

Jewish Slave in the Desert (uncredited)

Giuliano Gemma

Roman Officer with Messala (uncredited)

Marina Berti

Flavia (uncredited)

Robert Brown

Chief of Rowers (uncredited)

Directors

William Wyler

Writers

Karl Tunberg(screenplay by)

Lew Wallace(novel by)

All cast & crew

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User reviews3

Review

Featured review

7/10

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.

Geronimo196701 Jun, 2024