Ben-Hur (1959) – Film Review

Director: William Wyler
Cast: Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Stephen Boyd
Certificate: PG

By Sarah Morgan

“The entertainment experience of a lifetime!” heralded MGM’s publicity machine when William Wyler’s take on Lew Wallace’s novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ hit cinemas in 1959.

This was a period when many epics were made, huge silver screen spectaculars designed to convince people to switch off their TVs, leave their homes and head back to the cinemas in their droves. In the case of Ben-Hur, the approach worked – it was a huge box office hit, and went on to win a record 11 Oscars (from 12 nominations), including Best Film.

“Take control”

Paul Newman, Rock Hudson, Marlon Brando and Leslie Nielsen (imagine that!) Are among those who turned down the lead role. Burt Lancaster did too, claiming he found the script boring. Charlton Heston, however, accepted it shortly after appearing in another movie directed by William Wyler, The Big Country, and it became the biggest success of his career, winning him his only Best Actor Oscar.

Judah Ben-Hur is a Jewish nobleman living in Jerusalem with his mother and sister when his childhood friend, Roman military man Messala, returns to take control of region. Initially, they are pleased to see each other, but when it becomes clear that Ben-Hur resents the Roman presence in his homeland, Messala betrays him.

Ben-Hur is banished into slavery, while his loved ones are sent to a leper colony. For years, they are separated, but Ben-Hur is determined to win his freedom and take revenge on a man he once regarded as a brother. Meanwhile, a strange, almost mystical figure is traveling throughout the land, gaining hundreds of dedicated followers who believe he is the son of God…

“Able support”

The novel had been previously filmed in 1907 and, more famously, in 1927. It’s since been shot twice more (an animated version in 2003, followed by a live action movie in 2016), and was turned into a TV series in 2010. However, none of them can hold a candle to Wyler’s vision, and while Heston may not have been first choice to play the lead, everyone else who came before and after him pale into insignificance in comparison.

The likes of Jack Hawkins, Hugh Griffith and Finlay Currie offer able support, with the only slightly sour note caused by Stephen Boyd as Messala. Although a competent actor, he doesn’t have enough strength or presence to be a credible adversary for Heston.

“Looks magnificent”

Wyler, however, was firing on all cylinders and fully deserved his Best Director Oscar – taking control of such an enormous cast, which featured 365 speaking parts and 10,000 extras, can’t have been easy. And that’s without considering the incredible set pieces in the film, including the famous chariot race, which took a year to plan and five weeks to shoot. Action specialists and second unit directors Andrew Marton and Yakima Canutt took control of the footage, but won’t have done anything without getting Wyler’s approval first.

The new 4K UHD digitally restored set looks magnificent, particularly in long shot. I’d suggest that in close-up, the colours are a little too over-saturated – nobody’s eyes have ever been as blue as Heston’s are here! But that’s a minor point. Overall, Ben-Hur is as fabulous and impressive as it was almost 70 years ago. Here’s hoping a new generation switches off Netflix for a few hours and gives it a try.

Sarah Morgan( Writer )

Sarah Morgan studied film journalism at post-graduate level with the BFI and has been writing about TV and film for PA Media’s newspaper, magazine and new media customers since 1996. She’s also written for a wide range of other publications, both online and in print, including the book Offbeat and Intermission magazine, and is a regular contributor to the Talking Pictures TV podcast. When she isn’t watching movies, she’s collecting and reading vintage crime and horror paperback books or, for her sins, watching her beloved Sheffield Wednesday.

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