This 1959 version of Lew Wallace's best-selling novel, which had already seen screen versions in 1907 and 1926, went on to win 11 Academy Awards. Adapted by Karl Tunberg and a raft of uncredited writers including Gore Vidal and Maxwell Anderson, the film once more recounts the tale of Jewish prince Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston), who lives in Judea with his family during the time that Jesus Christ was becoming known for his "radical" teachings. Ben-Hur's childhood friend Messala (Stephen Boyd) is now an ambitious Roman ...
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This 1959 version of Lew Wallace's best-selling novel, which had already seen screen versions in 1907 and 1926, went on to win 11 Academy Awards. Adapted by Karl Tunberg and a raft of uncredited writers including Gore Vidal and Maxwell Anderson, the film once more recounts the tale of Jewish prince Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston), who lives in Judea with his family during the time that Jesus Christ was becoming known for his "radical" teachings. Ben-Hur's childhood friend Messala (Stephen Boyd) is now an ambitious Roman tribune; when Ben-Hur refuses to help Messala round up local dissidents on behalf of the emperor, Messala pounces on the first opportunity to exact revenge on his onetime friend. Tried on a trumped-up charge of attempting to kill the provincial governor (whose head was accidentally hit by a falling tile), Ben-Hur is condemned to the Roman galleys, while his mother (Martha Scott) and sister (Cathy O'Donnell) are imprisoned. But during a sea battle, Ben-Hur saves the life of commander Quintus Arrius (Jack Hawkins), who, in gratitude, adopts Ben-Hur as his son and gives him full control over his stable of racing horses. Ben-Hur never gives up trying to find his family or exact revenge on Messala. At crucial junctures in his life, he also crosses the path of Jesus, and each time he benefits from it. The highlight of the film's 212 minutes is its now-legendary chariot race, staged largely by stunt expert Yakima Canutt. Ben-Hur's Oscar haul included Best Picture, Best Director for the legendary William Wyler, Best Actor for Heston, and Best Supporting Actor for Welsh actor Hugh Griffith as an Arab sheik. Hal Erickson, Rovi
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Add this copy of Ben-Hur [Dvd] to cart. $0.99, good condition, Sold by Zoom Books Company rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Lynden, WA, UNITED STATES, published 2001 by MGM.
Add this copy of Ben Hur: 50th Anniversary Edition (Dvd) to cart. $1.22, good condition, Sold by Zoom Books Company rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Lynden, WA, UNITED STATES, published 2011 by MGM.
Add this copy of Ben Hur: 50th Anniversary Edition (Dvd) to cart. $2.34, good condition, Sold by Goodwill of Greater Milwaukee rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Milwaukee, WI, UNITED STATES, published 2011 by MGM.
Add this copy of Ben-Hur: 50th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition to cart. $3.00, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Movies rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2012 by Warner Home Video.
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Very good. 2011 Run time: 212. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Digital copy/codes may be expired or not included. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Ben-Hur: 50th Anniversary Edition to cart. $3.00, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Movies rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2011 by Warner Home Video.
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Various. Very good. 2011 Run time: 212. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Digital copy/codes may be expired or not included. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Ben-Hur to cart. $3.00, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Movies rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Warner Home Video.
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Frank Thring, Finlay Currie, Sam Jaffe, Cathy O'Donnell, Martha Scott, Hugh Griffith, Haya Harareet, Stephen Boyd, Jack... Very good. 1959 Run time: 212. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Digital copy/codes may be expired or not included. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Ben-Hur to cart. $3.24, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Movies rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Warner Home Video.
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Frank Thring, Finlay Currie, Sam Jaffe, Cathy O'Donnell, Martha Scott, Hugh Griffith, Haya Harareet, Stephen Boyd, Jack... Very good. 1959 Run time: 212. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Digital copy/codes may be expired or not included. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Ben Hur: 50th Anniversary Edition (Dvd) to cart. $3.37, good condition, Sold by GW Spokane Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Spokane, WA, UNITED STATES, published 2011 by MGM.
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Condition: GOOD-Disc(s) used with some wear from use. May include minor surface scratches on disc(s), wear to case which could include cracks, scratches, or stickers. Hub and case locks may be broken. Digital codes NOT guaranteed/may be redeemed. All orders ship via UPS Mail Innovations-can take up to 14 business days from first scan to be delivered.
Add this copy of Ben-Hur: 50th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition to cart. $3.38, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Movies rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2012 by Warner Home Video.
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Very good. 2011 Run time: 212. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Digital copy/codes may be expired or not included. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Ben-Hur: 50th Anniversary Edition (Dvd) to cart. $3.39, good condition, Sold by Goodwill rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Brooklyn Park, MN, UNITED STATES, published 2012 by MGM.
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Good. Disc(s) and case show moderate signs of wear and tear. If applicable, digital code may not included. May be missing liner notes/booklet. If applicable, cardboard slipcover may not be included.
The 1959 version of Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ is based on the book of the same title by Civil War Union General Lew Wallace. The story centers on a Jewish prince by the name of Judah Ben-Hur. His long friendship with the Roman Messala comes to an end after Judah's sister and mother are unfairly imprisoned after some roof tiles on their home come loose and fall on Roman soldiers; at the same time, Judah is condemned to be a galley slave on a Roman trireme. Judah is freed after helping a Roman general during a sea battle against some Macedonian pirates. Judah eventually finds himself racing against Messala in a chariot race; this scene is one of the most famous in movie history. The backdrop of the film involves the birth, ministry, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. I have seen this film many times on television and VHS but recently had the opportunity to see it on the big screen during the 60th anniversary of its release; this was a great experience to see both the sea battle and the chariot race scenes on the big screen. In sum, this is a great story about love, faith, friendship, betrayal, revenge, and redemption.
Carolyn S
Mar 27, 2019
Greatest Easter Movie Ever
Ben Hur is a fantastic movie and one that is a must see during the Easter season. The movie is full of drama and adventure. The chariot race is positively hair raising! But the central theme of this epic film is the growing relationship between the main character, Ben Hur, and the Lord Jesus Christ. It's a wonderful movie. It really is.
Donald S
Jan 16, 2014
THE STORY OF THE CHRIST
A GREAT STORY. I FIRST SAW IT WHEN I WAS BACK IN COLLEGE ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY DORM. WONDERFUL STORY ABOUT BEN OF THE FAMILY OF HUR. EARLY ON FRIENDS WITH ONE OF THE GLADIATORS BUT AN INCIDENT LEAD TO HIS IMPRISONMENT BUT IN THE END A FINAL VICTORY. I ALSO HAVE THE CARTOON VERSION OF THE SAME MOVIE.
Lawrence B
Oct 15, 2010
Everything was fine and what I anticipated.
Everything was fine and I enjoyed the movie very much!
mehaul
Mar 9, 2010
All Day To See The Race!
TITLE: Ben Hur
GENRE: Biblical Epic
CAST: Charlton Heston, Stephen Boyd, Haya Harareet, Jack Hawkins, Hugh Griffith and Sam Jaffe
PLOT: Re-union of boyhood friends does not go well at all. One has become a Roman ruler in Judea and the other is a prosperous Hebrew, our hero, Judah Ben Hur. Their conflict forces the Roman Massala(Boyd) to exile Hur into galley rowing slavery. During a sea battle, Hur saves the life of the Roman Consul and is rewarded by eventually becoming the adopted son of the Consul. Returning to Judea for revenge, we pass through the sport of the era, Chariot racing. Hur had become one of Rome city's most celebrated drivers; while in Judea, Massala is the eastern Empire's best, The duel in the Chariot race is acknowledged as a few of the most suspenseful moments in Hollywood history. Hur renounces Rome, seeks his family out, gets to see Jesus perform miracles and die. The Christ story part of this is central yet is played down only to be resurrected when the other story stumbles.
RETURN ON INVESTMENT: 7 of 10; at almost 4 hours (and it'll be longer than that if you do the DVD extras), you need to sit through poor character development which is the big drawback. The rest of the film is to be as expected from such a huge budget blockbuster. The movie's music score, the costume, the sets and stunts are all top notch.
DVD BONUSES: Heston comments on the making in a parallel track. The filmography of several actors is given
ADDED NOTES: This movie is all about the chariot race. Heston (and Boyd) had to join the ranks of less than a dozen skilled drivers of four horse chariots in the world. He even, he says, had to work as an extra at times when the chariots were shown at range and drivers were needed. (I think I saw him once or twice as the driver during some horse practice run scenes. Yes, this battle with horses is worth watching the movie for (But if that's all you want to see, It's just after the intermission on side 2)
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