Judah: Almost at the moment He died, I heard Him say, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." Esther: Even then. Judah: Even then. And I felt His voice take the sword out of my hand" What a dialogues! Epic Master Piece
I could kiss you for reacting to this film. I'm sick to death of most reactors doing the same shallow Marvel or Disney crap when there are so many fantastic films out there to enjoy. Sharing this experience with you helped me relive seeing Ben-Hur for the first time again. You're right about it being a true epic. It's always been one of my most favorite films, and deserved every one of its eleven record-breaking Oscars. Please keep dipping into the older films. There are a lot of real treasures out there.
@@NoirFan84 Because Hitchcock'stechniques can easily be used and have. Because if Hollywood declares something as 'dead', it ignores it. One failed Pirate movie and Hollywood is convinved that people don't like Pirae movies anymore. It coldn't be that it was simply a bad one. Same with monumental or gladiator mocies. Pirates of the Caribbean and Gladiator are seen as flukes at best. Hollywood declared these genres as dead which is why few will dare to even try to make one. They said stop-motion is dead and since Nightmare before Christmas we see one once in a while. But it all comes back to Hollywood and their perception. What they see as 'sead' or too expensive does not get a chance. What they see as a success gets repeated, even if they are failures. Just look at the last few Robin Hood or King Arthur movies. The last really successful ones were in the 80's and yet, we will see them again in worse versions.
I disagree that Disney and Marvel are shallow, but I do wish people reacted to classic masterpieces more often. There are only a handful of people who have ever reacted to Casablanca, for example.
Yep me too. I’ve given up with a lot of reactors because of it. Cassie remains a phenomenal reactor because she’s willing to give everything else a chance, not the same generic crap.
Cassie, I was 19 when I first saw this movie and, now at nearly 83, I still consider it the finest film ever made. It was well written, well directed and very well acted. And the music was FABULOUS! I've been a huge fan of movie soundtrack music since I was about 14. Anyway, MGM would have been bankrupted if this movie had bombed. Sam Zimbalist, the producer, was so stressed out with all the many problems that came up during production that he never lived to see the final result, having died of a massive heart attack before the filming was even finished. Charlton Heston, on his way in to the academy awards ceremony, was talking to Jimmy Stewart who, himself was nominated for an Oscar. As they were going in together, Jimmy looked Heston in the eye and said, "Chuck, I hope YOU get this, you've earned it." About that surprising comment, Heston in a later interview stated that no actor ALIVE would EVER say that to a fellow nominee and MEAN it. But he DID say it, and he DID MEAN it! With all the massive sets built for that movie, I doubt a film of this magnitude could be done that way today. Now it's all CGI which in itself is expensive. Ben Hur will be a classic for decades to come. And, sadly, virtually all the cast and crew in that movie are now gone.
Yeah back in the day, going to the movies was an event, so there was a musical overture as the crowd gathered and socialized, took their seats. During the intermission you'd have time to get up, stretch your legs... Have a drink, discuss what you'd seen so far. Going to the pictures was something you dressed up for. I kinda miss those times.
A number of movies from that time were made double length, such as Camelot and Lawrence of Arabia. Overtures and intermissions were ideas borrowed from stage plays. The movie audience was already accustomed to sitting for 4 hours, since most theaters had double features.
While the overture is considered "old-fashioned," it also serves a dramatic purpose. The orchestra establishes the themes of the story, specific musical motifs to be associated with characters, settings and dramatic situations. You can think of it as a foreshadowing of the story to be unfolded. (It also serves the practical purpose of giving people time to be seated.) A good example of the use of overture is from Dr. Zhivago. ua-cam.com/video/HRU5cM-5jlw/v-deo.html
When people say "They don't make movies like this anymore...." it's absolutely true for movies like Ben Hur. The massive scale of the sets, the extras, having to physically recreate massive settings instead of relying on CGI. Not to mention just the epic length of something like this that not only did not turn off audiences, but brought them in droves and had people going back to sit for another 4 hours. It's simply amazing.
In addition to portraying Moses in "The Ten Commandments", and Ben-Hur in "Ben-Hur", Cassie- You should watch Charlton Heston as John the Baptist in the 1965 all-star biblical epic, "The Greatest Story Ever Told " As well as Colonel George Taylor in the 1968 science fiction classic "Planet of the Apes", and its sequel, "Beneath the Planet of Apes" (1970),
My kids are grown and living in a different state. I'm a widow at 53 and don't get to watch the movies I love with anyone anymore. Thank you for sharing your reactions. Your compassion, your genuine curiosity and your enthusiasm are such gifts to me. Thank you.
I'm also 53 and while i still have my wife of 32 years we never had children. Once we no longer have each other we will have no-one to care about nor mourn us. I'm sorry for the loss of your husband but hope your children bring you comfort for the blessing they are, even if you arent able to share much with them. Just their very existence and knowing that when you pass on someone will mourn you, or at the very least, remember you. Children are a blessing that should not be taken for granted. I send my love to you Charlotte and hope you see my words, not as morbid or depressing, but that they might bring you some comfort.
If you want a movie-watching-buddy, I'm right here! We could do this online and talk about it after, maybe through WhatsApp. I'm quite serious. If you're interested, let me know. I'm in the UK and love watching movies with others, I love older movies and a lot of my friends are not into them. Have a lovely day and perhaps meet you soon, who knows? 😊
Their is ways to watch great movies with others. Look into your services like Disney- HBOMAX- Netflix and such. I do know that some will have this but not all but eventually it will also become common in all stream service. Anyway you can actually invite someone to watch a movie and the movie will begin at the same time so you can watch it together. You can also call them and be speaking with them while watching the movie together. Eventually you will become if not already a grandmother and your grand babies will want to watch Cocomelon with you. It’s worth looking into it.
My favorite Christian movie of all time. The final scene when Heston is climbing the steps and sees his mother and sister after they have been healed is one of the best acting scenes I've ever seen. My God! It was so powerful, it had me crying like a baby. Thank you for sharing this beautiful movie with us. It's been years since I've seen it.
Yeah I felt that. He's not even expecting anything on top of being healed himself and having the peace of mind again to return to his old self. He was content with accepting them being sick and living with them. And then god puts a cherry on top to let him know that it's really him. Like a signature. I love when that happens, which ... it happens for real. It happened to me. Thank you Jesus. Amen
Try "The Gosphel of John" by Philip Saville. I have seen a hundred . As good as Jesus Christ Superstar or The Ten Commandments starring Charton Heston.
@@rogermoore4383 Sweet, I do loved The Ten Commandments and Ben-Hur very much since both have Charlton Heston, but my most favorite bible movie of all time it would be The Prince Of Egypt along with Joseph King Of Dreams by DreamWorks.
This movie is an epic in every sense of the word. It won 11 Oscars!! Only 'Titanic' and 'The Return of the King' have matched that! The film was shot in Italy, used 300 sets and nine sound stages. Most of the film was shot near Rome; the beach scenes were shot at Anzio. Two 175ft (53m) long replica Roman galleys were constructed for the film as well. The sets were so huge and visually exciting that tours were arranged and 5,000 people visited the sets. More than 1,000,000 feet of film was used. The acting, directing, photography, music are wonderful! You could call this the ultimate 1950s movie.
Yup, THREE FILMS "Ben-Hur" Winner Of 11 Academy Awards, Including BEST PICTURE "Titanic" Winner Of 11 Academy Awards, Including BEST PICTURE "The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King" Winner Of 11 Academy Awards, Including BEST PICTURE
@@elizabethroberts6215 I agree with this sentiment with regards to TITANIC, but Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King has very good acting in it. The Academy just refused to see it.
I never realised how much I wanted to see people react to this movie than right now. Your emotions and connections to the story of both Jesus and Judah made this video Cass: truly a journey~
Of course! I also love the reaction of the roman soldier who looks into Jesus face. We see all his expressions, but nothing of Jesus. What a great shoot!
The Roman Centurion's reaction is one of my favorite scenes in this movie. His expressions when facing Christ run through a range beginning with anger and ending with shame.
Aside from the epic chariot race, the scene where The Savior gives water to the fallen Judah, is my other favorite scene. It really sent chills up my spine.
While today's movies 'seem' to be judged on box office sales (adjusted for inflation my ass) Just tell me the total number of tickets sold - the total numbers of butts in seats! I could give a rats ass about manipulated $ figures. The number of times the movie was viewed is the ONLY important value. It's hard to know exactly what games were being played concerning the Oscars back then as it is today. Still - the fact remains and regardless of anything else - impressive.
Ben-Hur earned all 11 in an era where Oscar wins mattered. Titanic and Return of the King haven't aged well at all, and I didn't think they were effective pictures to begin with. A Night To Remember and Return of the Jedi are better alternatives. That said, Ben-Hur 1959 towers above them all. Every year, the cynic in me wants to find a flaw or anything that would date the film, or discredit it. Function like Jeremy or Chris' nonsensical mindsets when they review movies poorly. Impossible. This film is perfect no matter what angle you look at it from. From the highly developed characters, to the strong emotion, the perfectly explained organizations, motivations and relationships that you can understand and feel, to the overwhelming sets, costumes, stunts, lighting and camera work by some of the most talented people in Hollywood at that time.
The chariot race is still one of the most incredible sequences captured on film. My father loved this movie and I didn't appreciate it until I became an adult. Epic is an understatement.
Agreed about the chariot race. The scene where Messala is trampled is hard to watch even by today's jaded standards, despite that he deserved it. The race overall is very well done.
I was born in 1954, five years before this movie was released. I have seen it countless number of times, most recently last month, and I have NEVER been able to watch it the whole way through without shedding many tears. It won 11 Academy awards which wasn't equaled until 1997's Titanic. Ben Hur is a classic for all time!!! It's a wonderful story of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Thank you sooooo much for reacting to this wonderful film!
That's an excellent point, @rickoshay5525, making 1959's Ben Hur even more amazing! Had those awards existed back in 1959, it may have won many more than 11 academy awards.
That’s a great point about the 1997 awards not existing in 1959. So technically, Ben hur might have won 15 or 20 academy awards if it were made today. Making it the greatest film in history.
I was surprised to see you reacting to this epic movie and really never expected to ever see it in this format. I've seen this movie probably 20 or more times in my life with many kinds of reactions to it and effects from it. I'm now in my 70s. Watching it with you was so much like seeing it for the first time all over again and I was swept up with you in the sweeping beauty and truth of this tale. I wept most of the second half of the movie for the first time in many decades as it touched my heart again. Thank you so much for sharing your experience.
Saw this film in original release (and many times after). Even after all these years....never fails to emotionally pull at me. Loved, loved being with you as you watched and reacted to this film. ❤.
I love the fact that everything you see in there is real and filmed on location. The chariot race was all practical, no miniatures or special effects (this is pre-CGI). The arena was a full scale set and filled with over 10,000 extras. At the time, it was the largest set ever built for a movie. Also, the leap over the crashed chariots was done practically, and the stunt double actually hurt his chin (you can see him smash his face against the front rail of the cart). The stuntmen were Yakima Canutt and his son, Joe Canutt. Amazingly, Joe's cut was the only injury of the movie.
These movies are so much better than today’s junk food movies. I’m 24 and I’ve been watching TCM for years (a tv channel that shows movies like these) and I absolutely love them.
Very happy to hear this. I watched these movies with my father when I was a kid and growing up. There is an impatience today with all our technology. A movie with a story and 3-dimensional characters seems harder to come by today. There is so much magic in movies from our past. I even love the silent films era. Acting was a babe at the beginning of film, so much was done over the top as you would expect on the stage of the time. TCM is great for classics 🙂
@@carlchiles1047 General Lew Wallace was the author of the 550-page or so best-seller book "Ben-Hur -- A Tale of the Christ," out in 1880. The November 1959 film was shot mostly in Italy, with some 300 sets, 2,500 or so horses, and 10,000 extras used in the epic. It won 11 Academy Awards including Best Picture. The latter part of the book was dropped. It remade thee 1925 B&W silent film version.
Never thought I'd see anyone watch Ben Hur on UA-cam. The epic Chariot race took nearly a year to set up and film, mainly because the had to learn how to actually ride the things.
The chariot race is totally a must see cinema experience though too. Episode I clearly took inspiration for the podracer scene from Ben Hur. And many other movies, from racing movies to others have either payed homage, or copied from the chariot race.
@@andmicbro1 Yeah. Those not familiar with older classics will miss some things in Lucas' films. In _Episode IV,_ there is a clear reference to John Ford's _The Searchers._ And the map montages while travelling in the Indiana Jones movies are a homage to _Casablanca_ --, although I don't know if that came from Lucas or from Spielberg. In any case, the inspiration drawn from _Ben Hur_ to _Episode I_ should be the clearest, with even the theme of slavery.
Little known fact. The color of the piece of cloth/cape he wore just before the chariot race had such a beautiful hue and that magnificent radiance which befitted the appealing character of Judah that it later became known as ‘Ben Hur blue’
Also, a man doesn't show his bare head or face when talking to God, Judah was being humble and asking forgiveness for seeking revenge, for as the Bible says; vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord, I will repay...
Cassie, your channel is one of the sweetest things on UA-cam. Your genuineness and vulnerability are unsurprisingly blessing a lot of people. God bless you and your lovely sister for sharing this experience with us!
One thing to consider.. this IS a great movie, it won 11 Oscars... and it was made before the advent of CGI, so the chariot race, the sea battle, and the other battle scenes had to be filmed with huge numbers of extras, live extras that is, on a scale we cant imagine today..all practical effects not CGI.......... in todays world of incredible scenes in movies thanks to modern technology, we tend to take big scenes for granted, this movie blew people's socks off when it was in cinemas back in 1959...........
I had the pleasure of seeing Ben-Hur at the Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles when it had there was a re-release. When you see it at that size you understand a lot of the blocking and staging better. On a small screen some of the actors' poses look a little stagey but on that giant screen they look like these epic tableux. That screening used the original multi-track magnetic sound technology too - the roaring of the chariot race and the storm scene at the end made your ribs shake.
I saw this film in a theatre on it's original release but I was only 10 or 11 years old then. A couple of years ago I got the opportunity to see it on the big screen again. It was just as impressive then.
24:56 "He's not just an amazing chariot racer - he's got the drive of revenge!" They could honestly have put that on the movie posters, what an excellent line :D
A lot of people don’t know this but the movie Ben Hur was actually based on an epic historical adventure novel that was published in 1880 and written by a famous war hero named General Lew Wallace who fought for The Union during the American Civil War. It is not without it’s sense of irony that Ben Hur is known as “the most influential Christian book of the nineteenth century” when you consider that Wallace was an agnostic at the time he wrote it. Writing the novel was such a powerfully moving experience for him that it was what eventually led him to come to faith, in fact by the time he finished writing it he decided that he wanted to become a Christian.
I read somewhere that Wallace's war record was somewhat under a cloud due to certain 'hesitancies' under his command, partly why he was 'farmed out' postwar to the remoteness of New Mexico. Don't know how true. Great book, though, with a sweeping vision of the burgeoning Roman Empire in all its unrelenting brutality.
I had to dry my eyes thoroughly before I typed this comment! I consider this movie one of the Top Ten movies ever made - it will never get old. The dialogue, casting, acting, direction, cinematography and especially the sets just put it high above most other so-called 'epic' movies. I am thrilled that you have watched Ben Hur, because only the other day I was looking for a movie reaction to this film on UA-cam but was disappointed. Even though Jesus isn't featured much, the story tells you so much about Him. Thank you again, and I'm glad you have been able to experience this beautiful work of art at last. I know this won't be the last time you watch it.
I agree with you .. this movie and also the Ten Commandments changed my life. Yes The movie is all about Jesus played in a different key but very powerful. I suggest to everyone who didn’t to watch this masterpiece... God bless you.
So many emotions packed into this film. Love, hate, power, determination, forgiveness. One of the most intense, and compelling films of its' era, and beyond; plus not to mention Miklos Roza's superb music soundtrack, that alone could bring you to tears. The way Ben-Hur's storyline is wrapped around the Christ is just pure incredible.
Another good Heston film is 1955s "The Private War of Major Benson." A good lighthearted movie about an army major in charge of an ROTC program full of kids.
"Overture" is an instrumental introduction; it is commonly used in operas to create a mood before the story begins. Some of these old movies also had an overture and an intermezzo to call back on this operatic form. Modern audiences are more familiar with movies than with opera, but this used to be different in the early days of film.
In the 1950s and 60s especially overtures and intermissions were often grafted onto epic widescreen productions to remind you that you were in a theater and you were getting something you could not get at home on television.
As well as setting a mood for the listener, the overtures and intermissions also allowed people a chance to shuffle their way into the theatres to find their seats, and go out and get a drink, take a bathroom trip, discuss the film so far with others, in the middle of these long cinematic epics. Like the version of Ben Hur that Cassie is watching, my Lawrence of Arabia DVD still included the overture and intermission at the beginning and middle of the film. I appreciate that the studios still include these types of things as being a part of the films' viewing experience, and don't edit them out to try and streamline the movie.
@Jon's Labyrinth Dear Lord, that's an exaggeration, it's maybe 4 minutes at longest. It's also *fake* … Turner Classic Movie Channel added the overture to Kong back in 2005, which was also included on the 2-disc DVD. It never appeared on any theatrical run of the film, in 1933 or at any other time.
@Jon's Labyrinth Then you are misremembering, because it did not exist before 2005. Besides, no broadcast television station would show what is effectively 10 minutes of dead air, as you claim they did, in the pre-"specialty channel" (pre-cable) era.
@@philliplozano7587 Used in Lawrence from Arabia, the Ten Commandments and How the West was won for example. Its by really big and long movies, it was as indroducing for the audience and as a sign for the staff to show the audience where to sit and gave the audience time to enter the screen room. In the old times cinemas were big Theatres with balcony, big soft seats, just like Opera houses and in the 50s the people dress themselves like a visit in an Opera, no T Shirts or something. I saw Ben Hur in 1973 maybe in the biggest cinema in town (with my dad), in Summer, and i remember the intermission when the people can leave and buy a drink in the foyer...it was a huge Theatre with 2 Balkony, stairs, and a platform in front of the screen where Stars can speak to the audience at a premiere.
This and The Ten Commandments are probably the most epic movies depicting Biblical events. And they are amazing, classic, epic movies with scores to match. This is why Charton Heston has such legendary status.
The night Charlton Heston died, the first obituary on the network news that I heard began with the words "If there were a Mt. Rushmore for actors, Charlton Heston would be on it."
Heston said he wished the man who directed Ben Hur had directed The Ten Commandments. The X Commandments is also some 4 hours long but it drags on and on. Worst of all they just end the story abruptly.
The golden age of Hollywood was an incredible time for film making. Imagine all that was done without CGI. Yes the "Overture" and "Intermission segments used to play as if you were at the Grande Opera, at a time when many movie theaters were palatial. This was filmed in Rome and though there are some location shots, the bulk of filming was done on Cinecittà Studios lots and sound stages. Reading about the preparation is an epic in itself. One fact stood out to me that "More than 400 pounds (180 kg) of hair were donated by women in the Piedmont region of Italy to make wigs and beards for the production". The special anamorphic Cinemascope camera lenses, used to produce the wide screen format, cost $100,000 each and were still being used fairly recently. The scene during the chariot race where the chariot bounces wildly with Ben Hur was an actual accident caught on film and incorporated into the final cut. Stephen Boyd who played Massala insisted on doing most of his own stunts, so in almost all of those wild chariot scenes it was really him being dragged and in danger of really being trampled. It took five weeks of actual filming , spread out over three months to complete the footage for the race. Even for non-religious people, this is a compelling spectacle to behold. I can't help getting emotionally caught up and carried away by it all
There's nothing wrong with CGI. You only see the bad stuff, but the good stuff goes unnoticed, and it's used a LOT in TV shows to do things like cars and city streets. Remember, practical has had its fair share of duffers too, so it's not infallible.
@@ell6323 But movies made from golden era to maybe end of 90s were better. Why do u think Hollywood so desperately copies movies from that period. Name me movie made in 2010s that will be watched 50-60 years from now.
The first film shot in Ultra Panavision - widest film format ever. 70mm film shot in Cinemascope for a crazy aspect ratio of 2.76:1. Shooting the chariot race in that format with enormous cameras and minimising camera shake was an amazing achievement. The lenses made for this film were most recently used on Tarantino's Hateful Eight and also on Rogue One!
In the early 1970s, when I was a kid, it was a big deal when Ben-Hur was broadcast on nighttime TV. Watched this film with my family several times. And I tell you, certain scenes brought me to tears-and still does. When Jesus refreshes Judah with water…I can hardly see thru my tears. The crucifixion scene…my heart aches to the core. When Judah’s mother & sister are healed…I’m a sobbing mess. That film, for me, informed me thru childhood, adolescence & young adulthood as to what Jesus must’ve been like. And this brilliant, classic film is my all-time favorite! I’m so happy & thrilled that you got to experience it. And I got to thrill & cry along with you!!!
A former civil war cavalry man wrote this script in the late 1800's. It was adapted to a silent era movie and was redone as this 1950's epic. Thanks for your reaction, as I'm shocked as a young believer you've never seen it before. As others have said, you had this 60 year old man in tears watching it with you. You had a very heart felt reaction to the message and it showed.
Major General Lew Wallace was at Shiloh and other notable battles. He is buried in Indiana. The book "Ben Hur" made his family wealthy. There is much more about him...
His stipulation for adapting the story for the stage was that no one could properly emulate Jesus so on the stage Jesus was represented as a light and that’s why in the movie you never see his face
As a Christian this movie was so impactful as it portrayed the telling of the gospel story from the perspective of a Jew living in Roman times. I really loved the fact that they never showed the face of Christ but that His life was interwoven within that of Ben Hur. Really enjoyed your reaction to this film classic❤️ Looking forward to your next event with Carly🥰
@@65cj55 There is NO way to prove that you are not wrong. Think about the first law of thermodynamics. We have the big bang. But how did that tiny piece of matter with infinite density happen? It just decided to form? Kind of weird don't ya think? Then it decided to blow like a motherfucker. Sure. That makes sense. There's just no way GOD created or caused any of this. NO way can YOU be (gasp) wrong. How did it just blow up? SOMETHING OR SOMEONE caused it to blow and the universe to expand. I call this being God. Muslims call him Allah etc etc.
It’s brilliant how this film combines a classic revenge story with the life of Jesus. This juxtaposition highlights the radical nature of Christ’s commands to love your enemies and forgive those who trespass against you. By dying on the cross for the sins of humanity, Christ provides the ultimate example of loving your enemies. And Christ’s prayer on the cross provides the ultimate example of forgiving those who trespass against you. Although Judah Ben-Hur freed himself from physical slavery, he was still a prisoner to his hate and desire for revenge. In the end, his true freedom comes when he follows Christ and chooses love instead of hate, forgiveness instead of revenge.
I knew going in that this was going to be a great reaction. But I'm ashamed to say that I had completely forgotten how good this movie is. And you're also right about the difference between growing up as a Christian and then seeing the stories you've heard all your life, it gives you a whole new perspective. For similar films from the same era, I would recommend "Quo Vadis?" that one's pretty good too.
My grandfather went on a business trip to the USA from the UK on the liner Queen Mary in the late 1950s and the crossing back was one of the roughest there had been. Everyone went below deck to their cabins except my grandfather and another man who stayed in the lounge talking and having a drink. This other man was Jack Hawkins and he said he was going to start work on a new movie soon, that being Ben Hur. He had the part of the admiral Quintus Arrius. I still have the menu for the return journey of the ship.
An "Overture" is something that movies did back then to alert the audience that the movie would be starting soon and to signal that it was time to take your seat and prepare yourself to enter the world of the cinema. Much of the time there was also an intermission moment at the mid point in the movie where a similar screen titled "Intermission" would come up for 5 to 10 minutes to give the audience time to use the bathroom, stand up and stretch, and refill their popcorn. No it's not a wester...Ben-Hur is a 1959 American religious epic film, it was adapted from Lew Wallace's 1880 novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. The sea battle was actually filmed in a huge tank on the studio lot. No they didn't have canons back then. This was before gun powder was invented. This movie was truly an epic undertaking for the time. It had the largest budget, 15 million, as well as the largest sets built, of any film produced at the time. Over 200 camels and 2,500 horses were used, with some 10,000 extras. One of the most notable moments in the race came from a near-fatal accident when stunt man Joe Canutt, was tossed into the air by accident. The long shot of Canutt's accident was cut together with a close-up of Heston climbing back aboard, resulting in one of the race's most memorable moments.
It’s funny how we adults joke about how kids have no attention span, but I remember watching this movie when I was 6 or 7 years old. I loved it and remanded invested for the full 4 hours.
It was the same for me at that age. My family didn't have a tv so whenever I went to my grandparents' house (they had a tv and a few VHS tapes) I would watch this or The Ten Commandments all the way through. This one was my favorite!
it goes to show the power of a good director. i remember this being shown on easter sunday and i was roughly the same age as you. i didn't really understand what was happening, the only parts i understood was about jesus, but everything else i didn't. nonetheless, i watched it all the way through to the end. i was mesmerised by it.
I’m a big movie buff and watch movies from all eras and Ben Hur is without question my favorite movie of all time hands-down. Thanks for the great review.
Wow, you took on a HUGE film, and an important one to boot. This has been a favorite of mine for years (partly because I love any film that deals with the Roman Republic or Empire...one of those time periods that fascinates me!). 2:15 - Nothing was going wrong. Before 'Ben-Hur' was released, there was a concept the studios used of "roadshow" films...movies that would be events, like a roadshow of a Broadway musical. It was a strategy the studios came up with to counteract against audiences staying home to watch the new television sets that were becoming more and more popular. So, as these films would be extra long, they would give them an "Overture" of music from the film while the audience seated. An "Intermission" at the midway point of 10 to 15 minutes was for bathroom breaks and concession stand food purchases with an "Entr'acte" as the music to let everyone know the film was starting again for the second part. After all was said and done, there would be "Exit Music" or "Exeunt" to play as the audience left and the ushers cleaned up. In an effort to preserve the films as they were originally released for the home video market, the studios had all parts of the films retained as part of the videotape, DVD, laser disc, and streaming releases...so 'Gone With The Wind', 'Lawrence of Arabia', and 'Ben-Hur' are all films that have these parts in home videoreleases. 3:15 - This was actually a remake. The original was a silent film in the 1920s. The novel by Lew Wallace was published in 1880 and was so popular that you could compare it's success to that of 'Harry Potter'. There were even outlandish stage productions of the story before films were made. And it's popularity is still around...there was another remake of the story for the big screen in 2016, but I have never seen it. 5:33 - It seems romantic...well, according to one of the screenwriters, the novelist Gore Vidal, it was written as romantically as he could get away with. Vidal was a well-known gay man, who was lauded as a novelist as well as a screenwriter. He saw Messala as a gay man in love with Judah. However, the times being what they were (the late 1950s)...it was a no-go. Charleton Heston (Judah) never saw the story in this way, and Stephen Boyd (Messala) was told by Vidal that he should play it as if Judah and Messala had been lovers as young men before Messala left. Later, when Heston found out about this...he was pissed at Vidal. There was a bit of a feud between them for years over this until Heston passed in 2008. Vidal passed in 2012. 7:18 - Haya Harareet who plays Esther passed away in February 2021. She was the last credited cast member of the film to pass. This was one of the many "sword and sandal" epics of the 1950s that were extremely popular. This was mainly filmed in Italy (Rome specifically at the legendary Cinecitta Studios), and won a record 11 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Actor (Charleton Heston), Best Supporting Actor (Hugh Griffith as the Sheik)...a record that stood until 1997 when 'Titanic' tied the amount of Oscar wins...and tied again in 2003 with 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the KIng' also winning 11 Oscars. Other movies you might like that are like 'Ben-Hur'... - 'Quo Vadis' (1951) with Deborah Kerr and Robert Taylor - 'Spartacus' (1960) with Kirk Douglas, Jean Simmons, Tony Curtis, and Laurence Olivier, directed by Stanley Kubrick - 'The Robe' (1953) with Richard Burton, Jean Simmons, and Victor Mature Thanks for a great reaction, Cassie!!! Have a good one!
I hope you've seen HBO's series Rome. Very realistic recreation of the city of Rome as it really was. Not all white marble, but a colorful teeming city full of both patricians and plebs, mansions and tenements. A glorious hodgepodge of a city.
Intermission! Absolutely! You don't get those anymore, as well as those commemorative movie books of epic movies, i.e. "The Story of the Making of Ben-Hur".
'Chicken Messala' had me on the floor! That's our Cassie. I loved your little sighing episode with Judah and Esther's reunion kiss too. This was the first seriously adult movie I ever saw, at the drive-in way back in !963, and I persevered with Lew Wallace's sprawling epic within the year. It broke records for Oscars and the number of extras, though I didn't know it then. As others have said, the chariot race still holds up as one of cinema's greatest sequences. Great performances all round, including the director, William Wyler and last but not least our precious reactor. Nice way to spend a lonely Saturday night. Thank you, precious Cassie.
Ben Hur is an amazing movie, my favorite of all time. Messala is an underrated villain in movie history, and the character arc of Judah Ben Hur is so applicable to many people. Vengeance and hate begets more of the same, but forgiveness is eternally healing. I was so surprised to see you watch this movie! It was a joy for me to react with tears along side you.
This is your best reaction and review so far, Ben Hur is a brilliant film both from a Christian perspective and the magnificent spectacle that it is. I'm glad you liked it.
I have the complete score edition, 3 CDs, and its beyond words how good its. A real journey for the soul. If i have to pick up one of the tracks it would be "The Miracle", the ending theme, because it summons all the score in one single theme perfectly. Also "The Parade of the Charioteers" is one of my favourite parts of this masterpiece soundtrack.
@@davida7153 Wow I have to put listening to that on my bucket list. In the mid 80ties while living in Culver City CA as a 20 year old that did not know much about movies. one of my roommates, a brazilian who was passionate about movies, invited me to watch a movie with him. I asked what is special about this movie? the acting , the directing?. He said that's all that was fine in this movie but we were going to watch it because of the music. the movie was "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers". that is when I fell in love with movie music. Miklos Rosza's work was always consistent, a masterpiece no matter how big or small the movie was.
@@luisvillar8320 Yes, i can relate to this 100%. To me the music is always a very important part of the movie. If you ask a person to thing about an specific movie, a lot of times probably the first thing would come to their mind will be the main theme of the movie, or a theme related to the movie. Not always, of course, but a lot of times. Music is what tells the story for real, especially when they are masterpieces. Another score of Miklos Rosza i like a lot is "El Cid", with Charlton Heston as the main protagonist as well, with Sofia Loren.
Best online review I have ever seen. I am in my late 60s and have seen this movie no less than 10 times and it still moves me. You are real. God bless.
Your second post today - I read the "Spellbound" post too!! Two Oscar winning scores back to back. But then there's also "The Lost Weekend" and so many others.
Perhaps I misinterpreted her remarks but in case people are unaware, contracting leprosy aka Hansen’s disease wasn’t just about wrecking one’s looks, it could also be very contagious depending on all kinds specific factors that are not worth going into and which were not understood until recently. Judah’s mother and sister were worried about infecting Judah and other people. Those who suffered from leprosy tended to be driven away from population centers and deliberately isolated to keep the disease from spreading, as you see in the movie. There is no shame in not knowing any of this, really - medical science has largely gotten rid of leprosy but it crops up occasionally here and there, and fortunately there are effective treatments. There was a leper colony on Molokai in Hawaii that served as a prison and eventually as a refuge for those with leprosy that you can visit, there’s a museum. I believe some people who were badly scarred by the disease still live there, unless they’ve all died by now. Molokai was chosen as the site of the leper colony because it’s one of the least easily accessible of the islands, with lots of steep cliffs and few handy beaches so it’s even now one of the least developed of the Hawaiian islands. The island is a protected area now, there are no hotels or modern conveniences to speak of but you can rough it if you get the proper permits. Apparently it’s an awe inspiringly beautiful and humbling place to visit. Google Father Damien of Molokai for more. There was a king of Jerusalem during the twelfth century who suffered from leprosy, called Baldwin IV. By all accounts he was an uncommonly competent and effective ruler in spite of the disease eating him up all his adult life. Most Crusaders were so wildly useless or psychotically insane that it doesn’t take much to look good in their company but Baldwin achieving anything at all while coping with leprosy seems notable, even if only as an example of the rich and powerful making their own rules. By the time he died, in his twenties, he was blind and could not use his hands or feet but he was still directing battles from a litter and doing what needed doing. The movie “Kingdom of Heaven” features Baldwin in a supporting role.
This is true. As he saw it, you don't rely on a horse to be able to run fast, never having put it through its paces. The inhuman part wasn't that he was torturing fellow humans, but that he considered them as draft animals. Plus, he was evaluating Judah's spirit, with both of them staring at each other the entire time.
Galley convicts were worth less than slaves. They were not part of the crew. They were part of the galley. Like ropes, the anchor or the rigging. If something broke, it was simply replaced and tested for functionality. Ancient Rome was a tough place, not a Hollywood romance.
Half true. He was evaluating Judah - he purposely overworked the crew, knowing that a number of them would fail, waiting to see if he could break Judah. And btw, it really doesn't matter, as Ben-Hur was a fictional character anyway.
Spartacus is great - probably the best "Roman Empire" movie ever. Brilliant performances, clever writing, epic action. And it also featured one of my old teachers - Nina Foch!
@@rabbitandcrow I love that Film .... And another great performance by Peter Ustinov .... His : "Sun's Over There" crack to the Slave carrying the Sun Shade was an Ad-Lib!
Wow, what a beautiful reaction, way to go young lady. That was indeed an Epic movie and Heston was great in it. Thanks for watching and reacting to this one.
This was one of the first true epic movies. I wasn't around when it was made, but as a lover of movies it's always been held as a gold standard. The chariot scene was always so intense. I know CGI and special effects have come a long way, but this is truly the most realistic feeling sort of race there's been in cinema. I remember seeing 'Gladiator' and watching the chariots going around the Colosseum and while it was cool it didn't feel overly immersive. Ben-Hur's scene was a rush and such a great job. I hope you do more movies from that era. If you like this movie I feel you'd like the setting/cinematography of 'Lawrence of Arabia'.
There were loads of epics before the 1959 “Ben-Hur”, not least the wildly successful silent version of which this is a remake. The 1959 one perhaps represents the height of Hollywood epic filmmaking - and I only say perhaps to ward off those who don’t like Charlton Heston now. In the silent movie days a lot of the massive epics came out of Italy but Hollywood made its share.
Thumbs up to watching "Lawrence of Arabia". Huge, epic shots of scenery. Absolutely epic orchestral theme song too. I liked it so much that I made it into a ringtone, using the performance by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. And I really appreciated the writing and acting of the nomadic Bedouin character played by Omar Sharif. Ahead of its time in multiple ways, I think, and based on a true story.
During filming Heston was getting frustrated and worried he'd never look realistically like he was driving the chariot. Wyler said to him, 'Don't worry Chuck. You'll win the damn race!'
One of the Greatest movies ever made. Fun Fact: Charlton Heston's wife Lydia is from my hometown. Two Rivers Wisconsin. Fun Fact 2: My father was at Little Joe's, a bar and grill in my hometown, and Charlton asked if he could pass him the ketchup for his burger. Nothing else was said.
A little bit of trivia I remember reading somewhere: During the moment in the chariot race where Judah's horses leap over the broken carriage (27:14), the stunt man was supposed to stay in the chariot, but he was catapulted out and through sheer athletic skill managed to hang on and climb back into the chariot. That accidental stunt looked so great that they shot a closer matching shot of Charlton Heston climbing back into the chariot.
@@michaelceraso1977 I knew the stunt in Raiders of the Lost Ark was inspired by Yakima Canutt's work, but I never knew that the stunt chariot driver was his son. I don't know why I find details like that fun but I do. From one movie trivia guy to another - thanks.
This has been my favourite film ever since i was a child and im old now! It doesn't matter to me how many times it is shown, i will always watch it...plus i have it on DVD and i still have a player! I love it!❤❤❤❤
Charlton Heston is one of the greatest legendary actor in history and my favorite actor who inspired me from playing Moses in "The Ten Commandments" and Judah Ben-Hur from this timeless EPIC movie. Charlton Heston performance is just so awesome that I'm happy he won the Oscar for Ben-Hur and I highly consider Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur, along with the original Planet Of The Apes as my favorite Charlton Heston films, and I would put Ben-Hur with my other most favorite bible movie "The Prince Of Egypt".
"Soylent Green", "Planet of the apes" and "55 days at Peking" are my favorite Charlton Heston movies ... They are a reflection of the state of mind of the time in which they were filmed.
Oh wow!! Been outta the loop! Did not expect the reach of your channel to feature the EPIC Ben-Hur! One of the most standout channels with offbeat selections! Hats off!
Also highly recommend epic The Ten Commandments and if you enjoyed Casablanca which you did, you will not be disappointed with the biblical Old Testament narrative’s cinematic character portrayals and scenes, just saying!
These long films of this time period were appropriately called “epic films.” The sets and vast numbers of extras on the sets were unmatched. These films were epic in their sets, actors, and length. Most epics had a Christian storyline. Others that come to mind are The Robe, Spartacus, King of Kings, as well as The Ten Commandments that starred Heston as Moses, and The Greatest Story Ever Told that also starred Heston as John the Baptist. Great family friendly films. 😎
The story of Lew Wallace, the author of Ben-Hur, is pretty interesting. Major General in the US Army, New Mexico Territorial Governor during the Lincoln County War (the range war that made Billy the Kid famous), and the US ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.
There is some belief that he was do busy writing Ben Hur that he ignored things going on in the territory ie the Lincoln county range war. I'd have to dig out some of my history books to be sure.
He was a general for the Union in the Civil War. His mistake in marching at the Battle of Shiloh ended a lot of his career in the war, writing this book won him a lot of respect back.
@@Fordo007 He was given confused and conflicting orders. He followed the orders as best he understood them, and the troops under his command ended up out of position and arrived late to the battle. When the battle was over he was made the scapegoat for the Union Army almost losing, even though others were probably more at fault. He tried for years to clear his name, even going to then president Grant, but everyone felt the case was closed, and no one would help him.
@@craigplatel813 I’m not sure about that. Wallace was able to meet with The Kid, And even got him to turn himself in and testify in open court regarding the murders of Alexander and Susan McSween in exchange for amnesty. However, an overzealous district attorney refused to honor that amnesty, and as a result The Kid broke out of jail and added more notches on this pistol.
I am almost 70 yrs old and have seen this movie probably a dozen times and never tire of it One of the best ever made. Thanks for letting me watch it again for the ‘first time’ with you. Thanks
Overtures were pretty common with epic movies back in the day, they were meant to set the mood for the film. Intermissions gave the audience a breather, and provided the theater management an opportunity to entice patrons to the snack bar. Even today, some longer films still sometimes have a break halfway through for the same purposes, but back then there was music from the films' soundtrack playing during that break. Also, "Chicken Messala" just about killed me! :D
Okay so to explain films of this era going to the movies was an event as a nearly all day thing. So with epics like this and musicals of the 50’s and 60’s they would have an overture which plays music themes which will be heard later on to get people ready as they come into the theater and an intermission to give people to stretch and go visit the candy counter or bathroom. Then the Entr’acte was to signal the beginning of the second half of the film and give people a chance to get back into their seats.
@@porflepopnecker4376 Could you imagine what the end titles of this would have been like if they followed today's standards? They would have been longer than the movie...
I've read here in a few comments that a stunt chariot driver was killed making the movie. It's an urban legend,NO one was killed. The guy (in green) who was run over was actually a prop dummy made to look realistic, which obviously had the desired effect on some viewers.
It was the silent 1925 version where a stuntman was killed, although it wasn't kept in the movie. The scene was first shot in Rome where the death occured, but that and other troubles meant they re-staged the whole thing in Hollywood. There they had a pile-up during the chariot race where 5 horses were killed. I think that is in the film.
Glad to see you picked my all-time favorite movie and to show it still resonates with new viewers who have no prior knowledge of it. You understood what was going on and you emotionally connected to the story line. You really gave it a chance, too (four hours!). I enjoyed it very much. Thank-you, Cass.
This is one of my FAVORITE movies. I can't wait to see your take on it. EDIT: Everyone was enslaved, not merely because of race, or religion. Romans were enslaved to other Romans. Jews enslaved other Jews (Esther and her Father were slaves of Judah). The only consistency is the fact that the strong enslaved the weak. It's happening even today in Libya, India, and China.
Slavery was not abolished 'in whole' for most of the planet until around the 1800's. France first clean sweep abolished in 1794, US in 1865 onward to African countries abolishing it around the 1960's, and the last was African country Mauritania around 1981. Still, although it is illegal now in the whole world (from 1981 on), it is still not strictly enforced everywhere. But France was the first to do so on the planet, some 60 years before the Civil War and an African country was the last back in '81. Canada for instance, didn't abolish completely until 1819, 40 some years before the US.
@@Lugnut64052 Not so. How can it be more than when the whole world had legal slavery? That's silly. Also, not legally. They may have conditions like slavery, and slave laws may not be strictly enforced, but it is illegal the whole world over. I'm all about the fight to educate when people point at the US and say that only the US had slavery and the world except for the US was clean from slavery hundreds and thousands of years before the US civil war. But to claim that there is MORE now than back when the whole world had legal slavery is absurd and counter productive to an argument based in reality.
@@Lugnut64052 You don't need theatrics to make a valid point. Claiming there is more slavery than when the entire planet had legal slavery up until the 1800's only weakens your stance and makes it easy to call BS. Besides, there is no need. The evidence is enough.
I've seen this movie many times but never without crying buckets of tears by the end. It was often the case back in the day that a long movie would have an intermission. 2001 A Space Odyssey had one, for example.
Movies as different as Les Enfants du Paradis, Seven Samurai, Lawrence of Arabia, and Monty Python and the Holy Grail all have intermissions. And yes, one of these films has the interval purely for humorous reasons.
The Sound of Music had one too. My mother loved that movie and we saw it as a family in the theater at least 3 times (they re-released it annually for a while). I never stayed awake to the end until we got it on VCR many years later!
Ben-Hur is the closest any movie in history has come to being a perfect movie. It has everything. Love. Hate. Betrayal. Revenge. The main character put through a harrowing journey. Personal growth of the characters. And then redemption. It is an absolutely perfect movie.
Back before they had home videos, movies were essentially events; it was like going to a play or concert. Accordingly, a lot of movies had overtures and intermissions, just like modern plays still do.
The man that wrote this book was Lew Wallace, a Confederate General. A tremendous story. The chariot race took 5 weeks to shoot and many months to set up. It was shot in Rome, on an 18 acre set..there were some cuts and minor injuries, during the shooting of the race and that was all. Still very exciting even after more than 60 years
I remember that Ben Hur was traditionally played on network television every Easter. They also played The Ten Commandments on Passover. Both were Charlton Heston epics. The chariot races were real and featured some of the best stunt work ever done.
In Europe the traditional Easter movie is 'Monty Python’s Life of Brian'. It's guaranteed to play on at least one TV station every year, usually rather several. I'd love to watch Cassie see it, preferably around Easter time.
I heard a lot of hype about this movie so I saw this movie a few years ago. I was crying my eyes out at the end. So powerful !!! Love your reaction!!! Keep it up. God bless you!!!
Brilliant film--my all-time favorite. What I especially love about it is the script, which is so literate and ennobling. How can one not be impressed with lines like, "The stone that fell from this roof so long ago is still falling." I found it oddly affecting watching it (well, parts of it) with someone who'd never seen it before. As a male I rarely shed tears, but your innocent enjoyment did bring one or two to my eyes.
I might be the only one to recommend this, but one of my all time favorites with Charlton Heston is "The Agony and the Ecstasy", which is about Michelangelo painting the Sistine Chapel ceiling. I'm partial to it as an artist myself, but it's such an entertaining film and Heston nails that role as he does with everything!
That sounds interesting and out of the common wheel house. I might have to look for that one and some other people have been bringing up elsewhere, A Man for All Seasons. Mostly people bringing up some famous quote "Yes, I'd give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety's sake." That Roman 'Chicken Messala' just threw the innocent to the wolves on the whim of his power. Trying to fight an idea with your own yet not being able to stay true to it. It would've really hit home if karma came around and Rome betrayed him. It kinda did with Ben Hur's adoption. Still, Reminds me of bout "innocence protected" and another show I haven't seen. That HBO John Adams. It looked really good too I just never got around to it. Chicken wanting to be feared turning on his friend instead of thinking about right or wrong and how people would think no matter what they must be against Rome because of his/it's wickedness. I can tell how good this old movie is trying to think or type anything else and still stuck on it. I hope "The Agony and the Ecstasy" gets me the same way.
I've seen quite a few Heston movies in day counting Ben Hur, The Ten Commandments, and Midway as some of my all time favorites. But I have never seen The Agony and the Ecstasy. I'll have to sit down and watch this with my wife. It was certainly a bonus to see it is co-starred by Rex Harrison.
The Pope (Rex Harrison): "When will you make an end of it!?!" [painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel] Michelangelo (Chuck Heston): "When I am finished!!!" The interplay between the two is amazing!
This should be fun. I grew up with precisely one half of this amazing movie. Back in the 1970s and through the 80s, the local ABC affiliate would have the 3:30 movie in the afternoon. Sometimes I'd watch right after school. Whenever they showed Ben Hur, they split into two parts. I NEVER saw the first half until I was 19, and I was working on a ship which had the video set. One amazing to note about the film: it's one year after the Ten Commandments was done. While that film was hammy, epic and epically hammy, a product of Cecil B. DeMille and the golden age of Hollywood, Ben Hur seems a few decades ahead of itself.
Ben-Hur was a remake of a 1925 silent film. I have seen parts of the original, including the chariot race, which is just as impressive as the 1959 version. The director of Ben-Hur, William Wyler, was one of the assistant directors of the silent version.
@@mitchellcarter1654 Oh yeah. And according to legend, the Egyptian sets are still out there in the California desert, and it's where archaeology students are trained.
The brilliance of Ben Hur was that it was a fictional story centred around the life of a Jewish nobleman who just happened to live around the time of Christ. It wasn't an overly sentimental religious film and the Director William Wyler takes a huge amount of credit for that. It was simply a brilliant story. Still one of the greatest films ever made. I've watched it dozens of times and still get an overwhelming emotional feeling at the end. I'm Christian but not overly religious.
In the book/play/movie Ben Hur’s story has parallels to Christ’s. Judah is a prince who willingly takes the punishment for his sister’s “crime” . She does not mean to but it is still her fault and she is liable. He is sentenced in a mock/political trial to death. He does not die but returns. Unlike Christ he comes back with hate and vengeance for what the world has done to him. We see Judah take pity on The Christ and repays him with a drink. His heart is changed in a dramatic end to his story arc. Obviously, the Christ is God’s son who is innocent but takes the world’s punishment for all it’s sin and pays the penalty on the cross. He does it willingly and without hate or malice. At the end we see the blood of the Christ mixing and flowing with water to “heal” the earth. The one thing she may not have realized is the scope and monumental aspect of this picture. The number of extras and the chariot race alone is one of the best action sequences in all of film.
How lucky you are.This movie has some of the most beautiful music ever written for the screen,especially in the nativity scene at the beginning.What a way to discover this winner.
What a wonderful reaction to a great movie. I hope you search out more William Wyler movies. The Best Years of Our Lives, Roman Holiday, and The Big Country are three of his films you should not miss.
The greatest movie ever made! The Director, William Wyler, was a Hollywood maverick. He directed many classics. His best film is considered to be “The Best Years of Our Lives.” I highly recommend you watch this one! He also directed films that used actual combat photage from World War II such as Thunderbolt that documented P-47 Thunderbolts operating in Italy.
The Best Years of Our Lives is indeed his other masterpiece, but he made so many great films! I think another one that Cassie might like to see of his is Roman Holiday. Then, she could watch Wyler's great Western The Big Country with both Gregory Peck (from Roman Holiday) and Charlton Heston, made the year before Ben-Hur.
I was very moved by your honest reactions to my favourite movie of all time. I’m 59 and have seen it many times but to see a young person being touched and moved by this great work of art was powerful. Your reactions made me cry! Thank you.
great choice (though i'm amazed you haven't seen it - they show it every easter in the UK). keep on with the classics - enjoyed your reactions to Casablanca and Rear Window - i recommend 'His Girl Friday' and 'the Apartment' for your future enjoyment. Ben Hur is EPIC in every sense of the word - the chariot race is one of the greatest scenes in cinema - and no CGI. you can't fail to enthralled by this movie - enjoy.
@@catherinelw9365 I don't think Cassie has reacted to _The Apartment_ (happy to see a link to her reaction if she has). I really wish she would react to it though.
"Ben Hur" may not be the best movie of all time, or even one of the best. It's not for everyone. But it is one of the greatest movies of all time. The chariot race alone is worth the price of admission. Also, I recommend more Charleton Heston movies. The man really had quite a career spanning decades, from epics like "Ben Hur" and "The Ten Commandments" to film noir like "Touch of Evil" to high concept sci-fi like "Planet of the Apes" and "Soylent Green."
I highly recommend Lawrence of Arabia if you haven't seen it already. It stands alongside Ben-Hur as one of the great epic Hollywood masterpieces. It also has amazing acting, direction, writing, and music, like this film does.
Many things can be said about this movie (from the chariot race scene to the record eleven Oscars won) but I would stand to Stephen Boyd and his performance as Messala, one of the best performances of any actor in any movie.
Imagine being responsible for casting a movie once you have a Charlton Heston? The pressure to find Actors that can stand up to his charisma and provide strong performances which add to the scene instead of merely lengthen it.
Can I just say that, in this great movie, I particularly loved the character of Balthazar, THE Balthazar who, younger visited the infant Jesus at his birth and has been searching for him since then
What a great choice. I saw Ben Hur in the cinema as a child, together with my aunt and brother. The final scene with the empty crosses moved me to tears. Another epic movie about the early days of Christianity is "Quo Vadis?" with Peter Ustinov as Emperor Nero.
![[1/2] THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956) | FIRST TIME WATCHING | MOVIE REACTION](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/KRN686XYsNY/mqdefault.jpg)
![[1/2] THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1956) | FIRST TIME WATCHING | MOVIE REACTION](/img/tr.png)
Judah: Almost at the moment He died, I heard Him say, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."
Esther: Even then.
Judah: Even then. And I felt His voice take the sword out of my hand"
What a dialogues! Epic Master Piece
Amen.
Jesus Christ is Lord, Amen
That gave me chills
"Even then, .......". Words to live by ❤
I could kiss you for reacting to this film. I'm sick to death of most reactors doing the same shallow Marvel or Disney crap when there are so many fantastic films out there to enjoy. Sharing this experience with you helped me relive seeing Ben-Hur for the first time again. You're right about it being a true epic. It's always been one of my most favorite films, and deserved every one of its eleven record-breaking Oscars.
Please keep dipping into the older films. There are a lot of real treasures out there.
Hear hear! :D
@@NoirFan84 Because Hitchcock'stechniques can easily be used and have.
Because if Hollywood declares something as 'dead', it ignores it. One failed Pirate movie and Hollywood is convinved that people don't like Pirae movies anymore. It coldn't be that it was simply a bad one. Same with monumental or gladiator mocies. Pirates of the Caribbean and Gladiator are seen as flukes at best. Hollywood declared these genres as dead which is why few will dare to even try to make one.
They said stop-motion is dead and since Nightmare before Christmas we see one once in a while.
But it all comes back to Hollywood and their perception.
What they see as 'sead' or too expensive does not get a chance.
What they see as a success gets repeated, even if they are failures. Just look at the last few Robin Hood or King Arthur movies. The last really successful ones were in the 80's and yet, we will see them again in worse versions.
I disagree that Disney and Marvel are shallow, but I do wish people reacted to classic masterpieces more often. There are only a handful of people who have ever reacted to Casablanca, for example.
Yep me too. I’ve given up with a lot of reactors because of it. Cassie remains a phenomenal reactor because she’s willing to give everything else a chance, not the same generic crap.
Need some james cagney reactions. The guy is a legend.
Cassie, I was 19 when I first saw this movie and, now at nearly 83, I still consider it the finest film ever made. It was well written, well directed and very well acted. And the music was FABULOUS! I've been a huge fan of movie soundtrack music since I was about 14. Anyway, MGM would have been bankrupted if this movie had bombed. Sam Zimbalist, the producer, was so stressed out with all the many problems that came up during production that he never lived to see the final result, having died of a massive heart attack before the filming was even finished. Charlton Heston, on his way in to the academy awards ceremony, was talking to Jimmy Stewart who, himself was nominated for an Oscar. As they were going in together, Jimmy looked Heston in the eye and said, "Chuck, I hope YOU get this, you've earned it." About that surprising comment, Heston in a later interview stated that no actor ALIVE would EVER say that to a fellow nominee and MEAN it. But he DID say it, and he DID MEAN it! With all the massive sets built for that movie, I doubt a film of this magnitude could be done that way today. Now it's all CGI which in itself is expensive. Ben Hur will be a classic for decades to come. And, sadly, virtually all the cast and crew in that movie are now gone.
I know. This is the best film of all age. It's great
Yes I am tired of CGI. We are almost at the point that movies have transformed into cartoons
Esther (Haya Harareet) only recently died in 2021.
Yeah back in the day, going to the movies was an event, so there was a musical overture as the crowd gathered and socialized, took their seats. During the intermission you'd have time to get up, stretch your legs... Have a drink, discuss what you'd seen so far. Going to the pictures was something you dressed up for. I kinda miss those times.
A number of movies from that time were made double length, such as Camelot and Lawrence of Arabia. Overtures and intermissions were ideas borrowed from stage plays. The movie audience was already accustomed to sitting for 4 hours, since most theaters had double features.
Yeah. I miss those days. especially when getting a ticket can even be an adventure, or just searching for a theater that’s playing your movie.
Often only place air conditioning was available
While the overture is considered "old-fashioned," it also serves a dramatic purpose. The orchestra establishes the themes of the story, specific musical motifs to be associated with characters, settings and dramatic situations. You can think of it as a foreshadowing of the story to be unfolded. (It also serves the practical purpose of giving people time to be seated.)
A good example of the use of overture is from Dr. Zhivago.
ua-cam.com/video/HRU5cM-5jlw/v-deo.html
Great stuff reading these words.
Cinema's were a day out not just a film.
When people say "They don't make movies like this anymore...." it's absolutely true for movies like Ben Hur. The massive scale of the sets, the extras, having to physically recreate massive settings instead of relying on CGI. Not to mention just the epic length of something like this that not only did not turn off audiences, but brought them in droves and had people going back to sit for another 4 hours. It's simply amazing.
In my personal opinion, Ben Hur with its all star cast is probably the best movie ever made.
Totally agree.
In addition to portraying Moses in "The Ten Commandments", and Ben-Hur in "Ben-Hur", Cassie- You should watch Charlton Heston as John the Baptist in the 1965 all-star biblical epic, "The Greatest Story Ever Told " As well as Colonel George Taylor in the 1968 science fiction classic "Planet of the Apes", and its sequel, "Beneath the Planet of Apes" (1970),
My kids are grown and living in a different state. I'm a widow at 53 and don't get to watch the movies I love with anyone anymore. Thank you for sharing your reactions. Your compassion, your genuine curiosity and your enthusiasm are such gifts to me. Thank you.
Love ❤️ from Scotland. Some one will always love you hen.🙏🏽👌❤️🏴🏴
you should become a writer. you have the gift.
I'm also 53 and while i still have my wife of 32 years we never had children. Once we no longer have each other we will have no-one to care about nor mourn us. I'm sorry for the loss of your husband but hope your children bring you comfort for the blessing they are, even if you arent able to share much with them. Just their very existence and knowing that when you pass on someone will mourn you, or at the very least, remember you. Children are a blessing that should not be taken for granted. I send my love to you Charlotte and hope you see my words, not as morbid or depressing, but that they might bring you some comfort.
If you want a movie-watching-buddy, I'm right here! We could do this online and talk about it after, maybe through WhatsApp. I'm quite serious. If you're interested, let me know. I'm in the UK and love watching movies with others, I love older movies and a lot of my friends are not into them. Have a lovely day and perhaps meet you soon, who knows? 😊
Their is ways to watch great movies with others. Look into your services like Disney- HBOMAX- Netflix and such. I do know that some will have this but not all but eventually it will also become common in all stream service. Anyway you can actually invite someone to watch a movie and the movie will begin at the same time so you can watch it together. You can also call them and be speaking with them while watching the movie together. Eventually you will become if not already a grandmother and your grand babies will want to watch Cocomelon with you. It’s worth looking into it.
My favorite Christian movie of all time. The final scene when Heston is climbing the steps and sees his mother and sister after they have been healed is one of the best acting scenes I've ever seen. My God! It was so powerful, it had me crying like a baby. Thank you for sharing this beautiful movie with us. It's been years since I've seen it.
Yeah I felt that. He's not even expecting anything on top of being healed himself and having the peace of mind again to return to his old self. He was content with accepting them being sick and living with them. And then god puts a cherry on top to let him know that it's really him. Like a signature. I love when that happens, which ... it happens for real. It happened to me. Thank you Jesus. Amen
Try "The Gosphel of John" by Philip Saville. I have seen a hundred . As good as Jesus Christ Superstar or The Ten Commandments starring Charton Heston.
Yes that is awesome. I agree mine too along with the Ten Commandents & Passion of the Christ.
@@rogermoore4383 Sweet, I do loved The Ten Commandments and Ben-Hur very much since both have Charlton Heston, but my most favorite bible movie of all time it would be The Prince Of Egypt along with Joseph King Of Dreams by DreamWorks.
It’s at this point in the movie that I just break down. A masterpiece. X
This movie is an epic in every sense of the word. It won 11 Oscars!! Only 'Titanic' and 'The Return of the King' have matched that! The film was shot in Italy, used 300 sets and nine sound stages. Most of the film was shot near Rome; the beach scenes were shot at Anzio. Two 175ft (53m) long replica Roman galleys were constructed for the film as well. The sets were so huge and visually exciting that tours were arranged and 5,000 people visited the sets. More than 1,000,000 feet of film was used. The acting, directing, photography, music are wonderful! You could call this the ultimate 1950s movie.
Yup, THREE FILMS
"Ben-Hur" Winner Of 11 Academy Awards, Including BEST PICTURE
"Titanic" Winner Of 11 Academy Awards, Including BEST PICTURE
"The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King" Winner Of 11 Academy Awards, Including BEST PICTURE
‘Ben-Hur’ won two of its’ Oscars’ for ACTING! Those other two films didn’t. Acting is a higher Category than CGI……
@@elizabethroberts6215 I agree with this sentiment with regards to TITANIC, but Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King has very good acting in it.
The Academy just refused to see it.
THE DIFFERENCE IS THE ACTING IN BEN HUR IN COMPARISON TO TITANIC AND RETURN OF THE KING THAT WAS MOSTLY THE SETS AND EFFECTS.
Not a fair comparison, considering that several of the awards that 1997 Titanic and Return of the King won DIDN'T exist back in 1959 during Ben-Hur.
I never realised how much I wanted to see people react to this movie than right now.
Your emotions and connections to the story of both Jesus and Judah made this video Cass: truly a journey~
Never showing Jezus's face make those scenes even more epic in my opinion.
Of course! I also love the reaction of the roman soldier who looks into Jesus face. We see all his expressions, but nothing of Jesus. What a great shoot!
The Roman Centurion's reaction is one of my favorite scenes in this movie. His expressions when facing Christ run through a range beginning with anger and ending with shame.
I concur. It's a superbly done scene. The wholoe film is really good (if a bit long).
Aside from the epic chariot race, the scene where The Savior gives water to the fallen Judah, is my other favorite scene. It really sent chills up my spine.
Concordo plenamente 😍✨
You clipped it really well showing the important parts. It is wonderful that younger people can appreciate a great older film.
This movie holds the record for the most Oscars for a single film, in a three-way tie with Titanic and The Return of the King.
While today's movies 'seem' to be judged on box office sales (adjusted for inflation my ass) Just tell me the total number of tickets sold - the total numbers of butts in seats! I could give a rats ass about manipulated $ figures. The number of times the movie was viewed is the ONLY important value. It's hard to know exactly what games were being played concerning the Oscars back then as it is today. Still - the fact remains and regardless of anything else - impressive.
Yes except all the sets are real not CG
Ben-Hur earned all 11 in an era where Oscar wins mattered. Titanic and Return of the King haven't aged well at all, and I didn't think they were effective pictures to begin with. A Night To Remember and Return of the Jedi are better alternatives.
That said, Ben-Hur 1959 towers above them all. Every year, the cynic in me wants to find a flaw or anything that would date the film, or discredit it. Function like Jeremy or Chris' nonsensical mindsets when they review movies poorly.
Impossible. This film is perfect no matter what angle you look at it from. From the highly developed characters, to the strong emotion, the perfectly explained organizations, motivations and relationships that you can understand and feel, to the overwhelming sets, costumes, stunts, lighting and camera work by some of the most talented people in Hollywood at that time.
Yeah I wonder why...
Back when Oscars really meant something
The chariot race is still one of the most incredible sequences captured on film. My father loved this movie and I didn't appreciate it until I became an adult. Epic is an understatement.
Have you seen the Ben Hur remake from a few years ago, the chariot race is all CGI, not a patch on the real thing.
Those stunt men had some real guts.
Star Wars stole the chariot race scene from Ben-Hur with Anakin doing pod racing
The rest of the film drags a bit after it. Could've done with cutting 30 minutes.
Agreed about the chariot race. The scene where Messala is trampled is hard to watch even by today's jaded standards, despite that he deserved it. The race overall is very well done.
I was born in 1954, five years before this movie was released. I have seen it countless number of times, most recently last month, and I have NEVER been able to watch it the whole way through without shedding many tears. It won 11 Academy awards which wasn't equaled until 1997's Titanic. Ben Hur is a classic for all time!!! It's a wonderful story of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Thank you sooooo much for reacting to this wonderful film!
To be fair, several of the awards that 1997 Titanic and Return of the King won DIDN'T exist back in 1959 during Ben-Hur.
That's an excellent point, @rickoshay5525, making 1959's Ben Hur even more amazing! Had those awards existed back in 1959, it may have won many more than 11 academy awards.
That’s a great point about the 1997 awards not existing in 1959. So technically, Ben hur might have won 15 or 20 academy awards if it were made today. Making it the greatest film in history.
I was surprised to see you reacting to this epic movie and really never expected to ever see it in this format. I've seen this movie probably 20 or more times in my life with many kinds of reactions to it and effects from it. I'm now in my 70s. Watching it with you was so much like seeing it for the first time all over again and I was swept up with you in the sweeping beauty and truth of this tale. I wept most of the second half of the movie for the first time in many decades as it touched my heart again. Thank you so much for sharing your experience.
Same experience for me!
I’m 71 and I love this movie. For those that who do not know how the Romans were this movie shows how harsh the Roman council were!!
Saw this film in original release (and many times after). Even after all these years....never fails to emotionally pull at me. Loved, loved being with you as you watched and reacted to this film. ❤.
I love the fact that everything you see in there is real and filmed on location. The chariot race was all practical, no miniatures or special effects (this is pre-CGI). The arena was a full scale set and filled with over 10,000 extras. At the time, it was the largest set ever built for a movie. Also, the leap over the crashed chariots was done practically, and the stunt double actually hurt his chin (you can see him smash his face against the front rail of the cart). The stuntmen were Yakima Canutt and his son, Joe Canutt. Amazingly, Joe's cut was the only injury of the movie.
There are some optical effects to make the arena look bigger, specifically the size of the crowd. You can see that in the wide establishing shot.
The Scene is so iconic - it's always nice to hear more details about it.
Having to say this was pre-CGI is kind of funny. It's like saying the American Revolution was pre-aircraft carriers.
@@lastguyminn2324 There are people today who probably don't know the former or the latter.
Obviously its pre cgi
These movies are so much better than today’s junk food movies. I’m 24 and I’ve been watching TCM for years (a tv channel that shows movies like these) and I absolutely love them.
Very happy to hear this. I watched these movies with my father when I was a kid and growing up. There is an impatience today with all our technology. A movie with a story and 3-dimensional characters seems harder to come by today. There is so much magic in movies from our past. I even love the silent films era. Acting was a babe at the beginning of film, so much was done over the top as you would expect on the stage of the time. TCM is great for classics 🙂
I believe it was General Ben Wallace, not sure.
@@carlchiles1047 General Lew Wallace was the author of the 550-page or so best-seller book "Ben-Hur -- A Tale of the Christ," out in 1880. The November 1959 film was shot mostly in Italy, with some 300 sets, 2,500 or so horses, and 10,000 extras used in the epic. It won 11 Academy Awards including Best Picture. The latter part of the book was dropped. It remade thee 1925 B&W silent film version.
Yes you are right infact he was the General who fought the Confederate as they matched on Washington .@@carlchiles1047
Never thought I'd see anyone watch Ben Hur on UA-cam. The epic Chariot race took nearly a year to set up and film, mainly because the had to learn how to actually ride the things.
The chariot race is totally a must see cinema experience though too. Episode I clearly took inspiration for the podracer scene from Ben Hur. And many other movies, from racing movies to others have either payed homage, or copied from the chariot race.
@@andmicbro1 Yeah. Those not familiar with older classics will miss some things in Lucas' films. In _Episode IV,_ there is a clear reference to John Ford's _The Searchers._ And the map montages while travelling in the Indiana Jones movies are a homage to _Casablanca_ --, although I don't know if that came from Lucas or from Spielberg. In any case, the inspiration drawn from _Ben Hur_ to _Episode I_ should be the clearest, with even the theme of slavery.
@@Doutsoldome The pod race in Phantom Menace is clearly to the epic Chariot Race.
Little known fact. The color of the piece of cloth/cape he wore just before the chariot race had such a beautiful hue and that magnificent radiance which befitted the appealing character of Judah that it later became known as ‘Ben Hur blue’
Also, a man doesn't show his bare head or face when talking to God,
Judah was being humble and asking forgiveness for seeking revenge, for as the Bible says; vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord, I will repay...
Cassie, your channel is one of the sweetest things on UA-cam. Your genuineness and vulnerability are unsurprisingly blessing a lot of people. God bless you and your lovely sister for sharing this experience with us!
One thing to consider.. this IS a great movie, it won 11 Oscars... and it was made before the advent of CGI, so the chariot race, the sea battle, and the other battle scenes had to be filmed with huge numbers of extras, live extras that is, on a scale we cant imagine today..all practical effects not CGI.......... in todays world of incredible scenes in movies thanks to modern technology, we tend to take big scenes for granted, this movie blew people's socks off when it was in cinemas back in 1959...........
I had the pleasure of seeing Ben-Hur at the Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles when it had there was a re-release. When you see it at that size you understand a lot of the blocking and staging better. On a small screen some of the actors' poses look a little stagey but on that giant screen they look like these epic tableux. That screening used the original multi-track magnetic sound technology too - the roaring of the chariot race and the storm scene at the end made your ribs shake.
I also watched it there for the re-release. Epic movie! Too bad covid closed the Cinerama Dome.
I saw this film in a theatre on it's original release but I was only 10 or 11 years old then. A couple of years ago I got the opportunity to see it on the big screen again. It was just as impressive then.
That's a good point about the staging for a large screen.
Yes! When I saw it; they were selling programs. Books about the making of, & all the stars’ backgrounds. It was a real event! 🤙🏽💯
24:56 "He's not just an amazing chariot racer - he's got the drive of revenge!" They could honestly have put that on the movie posters, what an excellent line :D
"Judah needs Jesus" is an apt summation as well.
A lot of people don’t know this but the movie Ben Hur was actually based on an epic historical adventure novel that was published in 1880 and written by a famous war hero named General Lew Wallace who fought for The Union during the American Civil War. It is not without it’s sense of irony that Ben Hur is known as “the most influential Christian book of the nineteenth century” when you consider that Wallace was an agnostic at the time he wrote it. Writing the novel was such a powerfully moving experience for him that it was what eventually led him to come to faith, in fact by the time he finished writing it he decided that he wanted to become a Christian.
I read somewhere that Wallace's war record was somewhat under a cloud due to certain 'hesitancies' under his command, partly why he was 'farmed out' postwar to the remoteness of New Mexico. Don't know how true. Great book, though, with a sweeping vision of the burgeoning Roman Empire in all its unrelenting brutality.
LOL...sounds like Lew Wallace's journey to Jeezer was a lot like his actions at Shiloh; lots of meandering around before coming to the wrong place.
@@academyofshem lol, the wrong place.
@@academyofshem ha ha hush your heathen mouth
@@lifelover515 after you shut your Gnostic mouth, pal.
I had to dry my eyes thoroughly before I typed this comment! I consider this movie one of the Top Ten movies ever made - it will never get old. The dialogue, casting, acting, direction, cinematography and especially the sets just put it high above most other so-called 'epic' movies. I am thrilled that you have watched Ben Hur, because only the other day I was looking for a movie reaction to this film on UA-cam but was disappointed. Even though Jesus isn't featured much, the story tells you so much about Him. Thank you again, and I'm glad you have been able to experience this beautiful work of art at last. I know this won't be the last time you watch it.
I agree with you .. this movie and also the Ten Commandments changed my life.
Yes The movie is all about Jesus played in a different key but very powerful.
I suggest to everyone who didn’t to watch this masterpiece... God bless you.
Don’t forget the musical score that was created for it
@@johngorham I have it on the USB in my car along with other great movie themes!
@@Doctor_Kissworthy Me as well, I can relive the scenes in my head through the music alone along with other movie themes!! Miklos Roza the genius!!
So many emotions packed into this film. Love, hate, power, determination, forgiveness. One of the most intense, and compelling films of its' era, and beyond; plus not to mention Miklos Roza's superb music soundtrack, that alone could bring you to tears. The way Ben-Hur's storyline is wrapped around the Christ is just pure incredible.
Heston is also known for “The Ten Commandments” (another long one) and “Planet of the Apes”. Both worth watching!
Other great Heston movies:
El Cid
The Warlord
Soylent Green
The Omega Man
55 Days at Peking
He was better in Planet of the Apes IMHO.
Another good Heston film is 1955s "The Private War of Major Benson." A good lighthearted movie about an army major in charge of an ROTC program full of kids.
@@M1cko33 he was also one of the first champions of the civil rights movement and a good man. Your sickness in his heart comment is pure ignorance.
"Take your stinking paws off me, you dam dirty ape!"
"Overture" is an instrumental introduction; it is commonly used in operas to create a mood before the story begins. Some of these old movies also had an overture and an intermezzo to call back on this operatic form. Modern audiences are more familiar with movies than with opera, but this used to be different in the early days of film.
In the 1950s and 60s especially overtures and intermissions were often grafted onto epic widescreen productions to remind you that you were in a theater and you were getting something you could not get at home on television.
As well as setting a mood for the listener, the overtures and intermissions also allowed people a chance to shuffle their way into the theatres to find their seats, and go out and get a drink, take a bathroom trip, discuss the film so far with others, in the middle of these long cinematic epics.
Like the version of Ben Hur that Cassie is watching, my Lawrence of Arabia DVD still included the overture and intermission at the beginning and middle of the film. I appreciate that the studios still include these types of things as being a part of the films' viewing experience, and don't edit them out to try and streamline the movie.
@Jon's Labyrinth Dear Lord, that's an exaggeration, it's maybe 4 minutes at longest. It's also *fake* … Turner Classic Movie Channel added the overture to Kong back in 2005, which was also included on the 2-disc DVD. It never appeared on any theatrical run of the film, in 1933 or at any other time.
@Jon's Labyrinth Then you are misremembering, because it did not exist before 2005. Besides, no broadcast television station would show what is effectively 10 minutes of dead air, as you claim they did, in the pre-"specialty channel" (pre-cable) era.
@@philliplozano7587 Used in Lawrence from Arabia, the Ten Commandments and How the West was won for example. Its by really big and long movies, it was as indroducing for the audience and as a sign for the staff to show the audience where to sit and gave the audience time to enter the screen room. In the old times cinemas were big Theatres with balcony, big soft seats, just like Opera houses and in the 50s the people dress themselves like a visit in an Opera, no T Shirts or something. I saw Ben Hur in 1973 maybe in the biggest cinema in town (with my dad), in Summer, and i remember the intermission when the people can leave and buy a drink in the foyer...it was a huge Theatre with 2 Balkony, stairs, and a platform in front of the screen where Stars can speak to the audience at a premiere.
This and The Ten Commandments are probably the most epic movies depicting Biblical events. And they are amazing, classic, epic movies with scores to match. This is why Charton Heston has such legendary status.
The night Charlton Heston died, the first obituary on the network news that I heard began with the words "If there were a Mt. Rushmore for actors, Charlton Heston would be on it."
Heston said he wished the man who directed Ben Hur had directed The Ten Commandments. The X Commandments is also some 4 hours long but it drags on and on. Worst of all they just end the story abruptly.
Franco Zeffirelli's Jesus Of Nazareth was pretty epic. So was The Passion Of the Christ.
BenHur is fiction. It's not Biblical. The Ten Commandments does try to depict supposed events in the Book of Exodus.
@@jollyjohnthepirate3168 So he would have replaced Cecil B Mille with William Wyler?
The golden age of Hollywood was an incredible time for film making. Imagine all that was done without CGI. Yes the "Overture" and "Intermission segments used to play as if you were at the Grande Opera, at a time when many movie theaters were palatial. This was filmed in Rome and though there are some location shots, the bulk of filming was done on Cinecittà Studios lots and sound stages. Reading about the preparation is an epic in itself. One fact stood out to me that "More than 400 pounds (180 kg) of hair were donated by women in the Piedmont region of Italy to make wigs and beards for the production". The special anamorphic Cinemascope camera lenses, used to produce the wide screen format, cost $100,000 each and were still being used fairly recently. The scene during the chariot race where the chariot bounces wildly with Ben Hur was an actual accident caught on film and incorporated into the final cut. Stephen Boyd who played Massala insisted on doing most of his own stunts, so in almost all of those wild chariot scenes it was really him being dragged and in danger of really being trampled. It took five weeks of actual filming , spread out over three months to complete the footage for the race. Even for non-religious people, this is a compelling spectacle to behold. I can't help getting emotionally caught up and carried away by it all
There's nothing wrong with CGI. You only see the bad stuff, but the good stuff goes unnoticed, and it's used a LOT in TV shows to do things like cars and city streets. Remember, practical has had its fair share of duffers too, so it's not infallible.
Just because something is old and has a nostalgia factor for people who saw it when they were younger, doesn't mean it's better
@@nebularain3338 I don't think I said there was anything wrong with CGI
@@ell6323 Better than what? I don't think I said it was better than anything else.
@@ell6323 But movies made from golden era to maybe end of 90s were better. Why do u think Hollywood so desperately copies movies from that period. Name me movie made in 2010s that will be watched 50-60 years from now.
The first film shot in Ultra Panavision - widest film format ever. 70mm film shot in Cinemascope for a crazy aspect ratio of 2.76:1. Shooting the chariot race in that format with enormous cameras and minimising camera shake was an amazing achievement. The lenses made for this film were most recently used on Tarantino's Hateful Eight and also on Rogue One!
That's like 12 k
Second film in Ultra. The first was Raintree Countey 1957.
Hence the cliched phrase used in advertising thereafter: "Bigger than Ben Hur!"
Thanks for sharing Chris. Really interesting.
I always say the first epic movie made, before epic movies were a thing. No cgi so awesome
In the early 1970s, when I was a kid, it was a big deal when Ben-Hur was broadcast on nighttime TV. Watched this film with my family several times. And I tell you, certain scenes brought me to tears-and still does. When Jesus refreshes Judah with water…I can hardly see thru my tears. The crucifixion scene…my heart aches to the core. When Judah’s mother & sister are healed…I’m a sobbing mess. That film, for me, informed me thru childhood, adolescence & young adulthood as to what Jesus must’ve been like. And this brilliant, classic film is my all-time favorite! I’m so happy & thrilled that you got to experience it. And I got to thrill & cry along with you!!!
A former civil war cavalry man wrote this script in the late 1800's. It was adapted to a silent era movie and was redone as this 1950's epic. Thanks for your reaction, as I'm shocked as a young believer you've never seen it before. As others have said, you had this 60 year old man in tears watching it with you. You had a very heart felt reaction to the message and it showed.
Major General Lew Wallace was at Shiloh and other notable battles. He is buried in Indiana. The book "Ben Hur" made his family wealthy. There is much more about him...
His stipulation for adapting the story for the stage was that no one could properly emulate Jesus so on the stage Jesus was represented as a light and that’s why in the movie you never see his face
As a Christian this movie was so impactful as it portrayed the telling of the gospel story from the perspective of a Jew living in Roman times. I really loved the fact that they never showed the face of Christ but that His life was interwoven within that of Ben Hur. Really enjoyed your reaction to this film classic❤️ Looking forward to your next event with Carly🥰
I'm a Muslim and I love this film May Yahweh bless you and your family
Director William Wyler said he wasn't sure who to cast as Christ "What actor could portray the most famous,influential man in history"..
@@65cj55 When you find out you are wrong it will be too late.
@@65cj55 There is NO way to prove that you are not wrong. Think about the first law of thermodynamics. We have the big bang. But how did that tiny piece of matter with infinite density happen? It just decided to form? Kind of weird don't ya think? Then it decided to blow like a motherfucker. Sure. That makes sense. There's just no way GOD created or caused any of this. NO way can YOU be (gasp) wrong. How did it just blow up? SOMETHING OR SOMEONE caused it to blow and the universe to expand. I call this being God. Muslims call him Allah etc etc.
@@theguyver4934 Jesus loves you, He is the Son of God
Hands down, the best movie ever made.
It’s brilliant how this film combines a classic revenge story with the life of Jesus. This juxtaposition highlights the radical nature of Christ’s commands to love your enemies and forgive those who trespass against you. By dying on the cross for the sins of humanity, Christ provides the ultimate example of loving your enemies. And Christ’s prayer on the cross provides the ultimate example of forgiving those who trespass against you. Although Judah Ben-Hur freed himself from physical slavery, he was still a prisoner to his hate and desire for revenge. In the end, his true freedom comes when he follows Christ and chooses love instead of hate, forgiveness instead of revenge.
I knew going in that this was going to be a great reaction. But I'm ashamed to say that I had completely forgotten how good this movie is. And you're also right about the difference between growing up as a Christian and then seeing the stories you've heard all your life, it gives you a whole new perspective. For similar films from the same era, I would recommend "Quo Vadis?" that one's pretty good too.
My grandfather went on a business trip to the USA from the UK on the liner Queen Mary in the late 1950s and the crossing back was one of the roughest there had been. Everyone went below deck to their cabins except my grandfather and another man who stayed in the lounge talking and having a drink. This other man was Jack Hawkins and he said he was going to start work on a new movie soon, that being Ben Hur. He had the part of the admiral Quintus Arrius. I still have the menu for the return journey of the ship.
An "Overture" is something that movies did back then to alert the audience that the movie would be starting soon and to signal that it was time to take your seat and prepare yourself to enter the world of the cinema. Much of the time there was also an intermission moment at the mid point in the movie where a similar screen titled "Intermission" would come up for 5 to 10 minutes to give the audience time to use the bathroom, stand up and stretch, and refill their popcorn. No it's not a wester...Ben-Hur is a 1959 American religious epic film, it was adapted from Lew Wallace's 1880 novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. The sea battle was actually filmed in a huge tank on the studio lot. No they didn't have canons back then. This was before gun powder was invented. This movie was truly an epic undertaking for the time. It had the largest budget, 15 million, as well as the largest sets built, of any film produced at the time. Over 200 camels and 2,500 horses were used, with some 10,000 extras. One of the most notable moments in the race came from a near-fatal accident when stunt man Joe Canutt, was tossed into the air by accident. The long shot of Canutt's accident was cut together with a close-up of Heston climbing back aboard, resulting in one of the race's most memorable moments.
I remember days when people used to remain in their seats and clap at the end of a film...
Not certain , but I think the " Western " comment was for the Next POPCORN in BED reaction > Dances With Wolves
It’s funny how we adults joke about how kids have no attention span, but I remember watching this movie when I was 6 or 7 years old. I loved it and remanded invested for the full 4 hours.
I've watched the movie so many times I think it accounts for at least a couple months of my life. I'm 63 and first saw this movie about 1965.
It was the same for me at that age. My family didn't have a tv so whenever I went to my grandparents' house (they had a tv and a few VHS tapes) I would watch this or The Ten Commandments all the way through. This one was my favorite!
I watch reactors and some think a 2 hour movie is too long.
it goes to show the power of a good director. i remember this being shown on easter sunday and i was roughly the same age as you. i didn't really understand what was happening, the only parts i understood was about jesus, but everything else i didn't. nonetheless, i watched it all the way through to the end. i was mesmerised by it.
We joke about how TODAY'S kids have no attention span.
I’m a big movie buff and watch movies from all eras and Ben Hur is without question my favorite movie of all time hands-down. Thanks for the great review.
Wow, you took on a HUGE film, and an important one to boot. This has been a favorite of mine for years (partly because I love any film that deals with the Roman Republic or Empire...one of those time periods that fascinates me!).
2:15 - Nothing was going wrong. Before 'Ben-Hur' was released, there was a concept the studios used of "roadshow" films...movies that would be events, like a roadshow of a Broadway musical. It was a strategy the studios came up with to counteract against audiences staying home to watch the new television sets that were becoming more and more popular. So, as these films would be extra long, they would give them an "Overture" of music from the film while the audience seated. An "Intermission" at the midway point of 10 to 15 minutes was for bathroom breaks and concession stand food purchases with an "Entr'acte" as the music to let everyone know the film was starting again for the second part. After all was said and done, there would be "Exit Music" or "Exeunt" to play as the audience left and the ushers cleaned up. In an effort to preserve the films as they were originally released for the home video market, the studios had all parts of the films retained as part of the videotape, DVD, laser disc, and streaming releases...so 'Gone With The Wind', 'Lawrence of Arabia', and 'Ben-Hur' are all films that have these parts in home videoreleases.
3:15 - This was actually a remake. The original was a silent film in the 1920s. The novel by Lew Wallace was published in 1880 and was so popular that you could compare it's success to that of 'Harry Potter'. There were even outlandish stage productions of the story before films were made. And it's popularity is still around...there was another remake of the story for the big screen in 2016, but I have never seen it.
5:33 - It seems romantic...well, according to one of the screenwriters, the novelist Gore Vidal, it was written as romantically as he could get away with. Vidal was a well-known gay man, who was lauded as a novelist as well as a screenwriter. He saw Messala as a gay man in love with Judah. However, the times being what they were (the late 1950s)...it was a no-go. Charleton Heston (Judah) never saw the story in this way, and Stephen Boyd (Messala) was told by Vidal that he should play it as if Judah and Messala had been lovers as young men before Messala left. Later, when Heston found out about this...he was pissed at Vidal. There was a bit of a feud between them for years over this until Heston passed in 2008. Vidal passed in 2012.
7:18 - Haya Harareet who plays Esther passed away in February 2021. She was the last credited cast member of the film to pass.
This was one of the many "sword and sandal" epics of the 1950s that were extremely popular. This was mainly filmed in Italy (Rome specifically at the legendary Cinecitta Studios), and won a record 11 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Actor (Charleton Heston), Best Supporting Actor (Hugh Griffith as the Sheik)...a record that stood until 1997 when 'Titanic' tied the amount of Oscar wins...and tied again in 2003 with 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the KIng' also winning 11 Oscars.
Other movies you might like that are like 'Ben-Hur'...
- 'Quo Vadis' (1951) with Deborah Kerr and Robert Taylor
- 'Spartacus' (1960) with Kirk Douglas, Jean Simmons, Tony Curtis, and Laurence Olivier, directed by Stanley Kubrick
- 'The Robe' (1953) with Richard Burton, Jean Simmons, and Victor Mature
Thanks for a great reaction, Cassie!!! Have a good one!
Great info and suggestions.
I hope you've seen HBO's series Rome. Very realistic recreation of the city of Rome as it really was. Not all white marble, but a colorful teeming city full of both patricians and plebs, mansions and tenements. A glorious hodgepodge of a city.
Intermission! Absolutely! You don't get those anymore, as well as those commemorative movie books of epic movies, i.e. "The Story of the Making of Ben-Hur".
'Chicken Messala' had me on the floor! That's our Cassie. I loved your little sighing episode with Judah and Esther's reunion kiss too. This was the first seriously adult movie I ever saw, at the drive-in way back in !963, and I persevered with Lew Wallace's sprawling epic within the year. It broke records for Oscars and the number of extras, though I didn't know it then. As others have said, the chariot race still holds up as one of cinema's greatest sequences. Great performances all round, including the director, William Wyler and last but not least our precious reactor. Nice way to spend a lonely Saturday night. Thank you, precious Cassie.
Ben Hur is an amazing movie, my favorite of all time. Messala is an underrated villain in movie history, and the character arc of Judah Ben Hur is so applicable to many people. Vengeance and hate begets more of the same, but forgiveness is eternally healing. I was so surprised to see you watch this movie! It was a joy for me to react with tears along side you.
This is your best reaction and review so far, Ben Hur is a brilliant film both from a Christian perspective and the magnificent spectacle that it is. I'm glad you liked it.
Miklos Rosza's score for this film is a masterpiece, back when there was music from beginning to end in these epic movies
It is a masterpiece.
I have the complete score edition, 3 CDs, and its beyond words how good its. A real journey for the soul. If i have to pick up one of the tracks it would be "The Miracle", the ending theme, because it summons all the score in one single theme perfectly. Also "The Parade of the Charioteers" is one of my favourite parts of this masterpiece soundtrack.
@@davida7153 Wow I have to put listening to that on my bucket list. In the mid 80ties while living in Culver City CA as a 20 year old that did not know much about movies. one of my roommates, a brazilian who was passionate about movies, invited me to watch a movie with him. I asked what is special about this movie? the acting , the directing?. He said that's all that was fine in this movie but we were going to watch it because of the music. the movie was "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers". that is when I fell in love with movie music.
Miklos Rosza's work was always consistent, a masterpiece no matter how big or small the movie was.
@@luisvillar8320 Yes, i can relate to this 100%. To me the music is always a very important part of the movie. If you ask a person to thing about an specific movie, a lot of times probably the first thing would come to their mind will be the main theme of the movie, or a theme related to the movie. Not always, of course, but a lot of times. Music is what tells the story for real, especially when they are masterpieces. Another score of Miklos Rosza i like a lot is "El Cid", with Charlton Heston as the main protagonist as well, with Sofia Loren.
You like Miklos Rosza? All of you have excellent taste 😉
Best online review I have ever seen. I am in my late 60s and have seen this movie no less than 10 times and it still moves me. You are real. God bless.
My friend Juliet's father did the music for this film. It won him an Oscar. Was great watching it with you. I shed a few.
Your second post today - I read the "Spellbound" post too!! Two Oscar winning scores back to back. But then there's also "The Lost Weekend" and so many others.
The original score is from Miklós Rózsa, who was born in Budapest, Hungary.
Miklos Rozsa was her father?! What a legacy!
I love King of Kings soundtrack -did a great job
Amazing 👌
Perhaps I misinterpreted her remarks but in case people are unaware, contracting leprosy aka Hansen’s disease wasn’t just about wrecking one’s looks, it could also be very contagious depending on all kinds specific factors that are not worth going into and which were not understood until recently. Judah’s mother and sister were worried about infecting Judah and other people. Those who suffered from leprosy tended to be driven away from population centers and deliberately isolated to keep the disease from spreading, as you see in the movie. There is no shame in not knowing any of this, really - medical science has largely gotten rid of leprosy but it crops up occasionally here and there, and fortunately there are effective treatments.
There was a leper colony on Molokai in Hawaii that served as a prison and eventually as a refuge for those with leprosy that you can visit, there’s a museum. I believe some people who were badly scarred by the disease still live there, unless they’ve all died by now. Molokai was chosen as the site of the leper colony because it’s one of the least easily accessible of the islands, with lots of steep cliffs and few handy beaches so it’s even now one of the least developed of the Hawaiian islands. The island is a protected area now, there are no hotels or modern conveniences to speak of but you can rough it if you get the proper permits. Apparently it’s an awe inspiringly beautiful and humbling place to visit. Google Father Damien of Molokai for more.
There was a king of Jerusalem during the twelfth century who suffered from leprosy, called Baldwin IV. By all accounts he was an uncommonly competent and effective ruler in spite of the disease eating him up all his adult life. Most Crusaders were so wildly useless or psychotically insane that it doesn’t take much to look good in their company but Baldwin achieving anything at all while coping with leprosy seems notable, even if only as an example of the rich and powerful making their own rules. By the time he died, in his twenties, he was blind and could not use his hands or feet but he was still directing battles from a litter and doing what needed doing. The movie “Kingdom of Heaven” features Baldwin in a supporting role.
I had to scroll down until finally someone explained to her that leprosy was considered "unclean" and a punishment from God (ie Miriam)
I love how tender-hearted you are. Thank you
He wasn’t torturing the rowers he was evaluating them. In battle His life depends on the capability of his crew.
This is true. As he saw it, you don't rely on a horse to be able to run fast, never having put it through its paces. The inhuman part wasn't that he was torturing fellow humans, but that he considered them as draft animals. Plus, he was evaluating Judah's spirit, with both of them staring at each other the entire time.
i know what you are saying but, "crew".... lol.
Galley convicts were worth less than slaves. They were not part of the crew. They were part of the galley. Like ropes, the anchor or the rigging. If something broke, it was simply replaced and tested for functionality. Ancient Rome was a tough place, not a Hollywood romance.
Fantastic scene! Geesh, they REALLY don't make movies like this anymore. This is one of the movies I have on my Hard drive.
Half true. He was evaluating Judah - he purposely overworked the crew, knowing that a number of them would fail, waiting to see if he could break Judah. And btw, it really doesn't matter, as Ben-Hur was a fictional character anyway.
If you are looking for other classic Silver Age films, I highly recommend Kirk Douglas' "Spartacus"
Spartacus is great - probably the best "Roman Empire" movie ever. Brilliant performances, clever writing, epic action. And it also featured one of my old teachers - Nina Foch!
That ending too! "I am Spartacus!" It's one of the greats!
"The Vikings" was another great Douglas film!
@@rabbitandcrow I love that Film .... And another great performance by Peter Ustinov .... His : "Sun's Over There" crack to the Slave carrying the Sun Shade was an Ad-Lib!
Whoever is suggesting all these perfect movies to her thank you.
Oh wow I never thought Ben Hur would be reacted to thanks soooo much
The chariot race is one of those "Great Scenes in Cinema History".
If doing classics, then Lawrence of arabia is one you absolutely need to see
Wow, what a beautiful reaction, way to go young lady. That was indeed an Epic movie and Heston was great in it. Thanks for watching and reacting to this one.
This was one of the first true epic movies. I wasn't around when it was made, but as a lover of movies it's always been held as a gold standard. The chariot scene was always so intense. I know CGI and special effects have come a long way, but this is truly the most realistic feeling sort of race there's been in cinema. I remember seeing 'Gladiator' and watching the chariots going around the Colosseum and while it was cool it didn't feel overly immersive. Ben-Hur's scene was a rush and such a great job. I hope you do more movies from that era. If you like this movie I feel you'd like the setting/cinematography of 'Lawrence of Arabia'.
There were loads of epics before the 1959 “Ben-Hur”, not least the wildly successful silent version of which this is a remake. The 1959 one perhaps represents the height of Hollywood epic filmmaking - and I only say perhaps to ward off those who don’t like Charlton Heston now. In the silent movie days a lot of the massive epics came out of Italy but Hollywood made its share.
Thumbs up to watching "Lawrence of Arabia". Huge, epic shots of scenery. Absolutely epic orchestral theme song too. I liked it so much that I made it into a ringtone, using the performance by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. And I really appreciated the writing and acting of the nomadic Bedouin character played by Omar Sharif. Ahead of its time in multiple ways, I think, and based on a true story.
@@SonicImmersion_ Another thumbs up for "Lawrence of Arabia".
During filming Heston was getting frustrated and worried he'd never look realistically like he was driving the chariot. Wyler said to him, 'Don't worry Chuck. You'll win the damn race!'
One of the Greatest movies ever made.
Fun Fact: Charlton Heston's wife Lydia is from my hometown. Two Rivers Wisconsin.
Fun Fact 2: My father was at Little Joe's, a bar and grill in my hometown, and Charlton asked if he could pass him the ketchup for his burger. Nothing else was said.
A little bit of trivia I remember reading somewhere: During the moment in the chariot race where Judah's horses leap over the broken carriage (27:14), the stunt man was supposed to stay in the chariot, but he was catapulted out and through sheer athletic skill managed to hang on and climb back into the chariot. That accidental stunt looked so great that they shot a closer matching shot of Charlton Heston climbing back into the chariot.
The man that was run over by the chariot was actually killed.
@@GosokuRyuYodan that’s just an urban legend, no one was seriously hurt during the filming
@@michaelceraso1977 I knew the stunt in Raiders of the Lost Ark was inspired by Yakima Canutt's work, but I never knew that the stunt chariot driver was his son. I don't know why I find details like that fun but I do. From one movie trivia guy to another - thanks.
@@GosokuRyuYodan If you look closely, it’s actually a dummy figure that gets hit…..but yes, when I was younger I thought it was a real guy!
,, also, isn't there s'posed to be an extra seen wearing a modern watch,, or is that in Spartacus 🤔⁉️
The great epic!! The best scene is Christ staring down the roman soldier. God bless!
My favorite and most moving part as well. The guy who played the Roman did a great job in his reaction to looking into the eyes of Jesus.
This has been my favourite film ever since i was a child and im old now!
It doesn't matter to me how many times it is shown, i will always watch it...plus i have it on DVD and i still have a player!
I love it!❤❤❤❤
Charlton Heston is one of the greatest legendary actor in history and my favorite actor who inspired me from playing Moses in "The Ten Commandments" and Judah Ben-Hur from this timeless EPIC movie. Charlton Heston performance is just so awesome that I'm happy he won the Oscar for Ben-Hur and I highly consider Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur, along with the original Planet Of The Apes as my favorite Charlton Heston films, and I would put Ben-Hur with my other most favorite bible movie "The Prince Of Egypt".
Touch of evil is also awesome
"The Agony and the Ecstasy", in which Heston plays Michaelangelo is another must see movie.
"Soylent Green", "Planet of the apes" and "55 days at Peking" are my favorite Charlton Heston movies ... They are a reflection of the state of mind of the time in which they were filmed.
Oh wow!! Been outta the loop! Did not expect the reach of your channel to feature the EPIC Ben-Hur!
One of the most standout channels with offbeat selections! Hats off!
Also highly recommend epic The Ten Commandments and if you enjoyed Casablanca which you did, you will not be disappointed with the biblical Old Testament narrative’s cinematic character portrayals and scenes, just saying!
These long films of this time period were appropriately called “epic films.” The sets and vast numbers of extras on the sets were unmatched. These films were epic in their sets, actors, and length. Most epics had a Christian storyline. Others that come to mind are The Robe, Spartacus, King of Kings, as well as The Ten Commandments that starred Heston as Moses, and The Greatest Story Ever Told that also starred Heston as John the Baptist. Great family friendly films. 😎
The story of Lew Wallace, the author of Ben-Hur, is pretty interesting. Major General in the US Army, New Mexico Territorial Governor during the Lincoln County War (the range war that made Billy the Kid famous), and the US ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.
There is some belief that he was do busy writing Ben Hur that he ignored things going on in the territory ie the Lincoln county range war. I'd have to dig out some of my history books to be sure.
He was a general for the Union in the Civil War. His mistake in marching at the Battle of Shiloh ended a lot of his career in the war, writing this book won him a lot of respect back.
@@Fordo007 He was given confused and conflicting orders. He followed the orders as best he understood them, and the troops under his command ended up out of position and arrived late to the battle. When the battle was over he was made the scapegoat for the Union Army almost losing, even though others were probably more at fault. He tried for years to clear his name, even going to then president Grant, but everyone felt the case was closed, and no one would help him.
@@craigplatel813 I’m not sure about that. Wallace was able to meet with The Kid, And even got him to turn himself in and testify in open court regarding the murders of Alexander and Susan McSween in exchange for amnesty. However, an overzealous district attorney refused to honor that amnesty, and as a result The Kid broke out of jail and added more notches on this pistol.
"Chicken Messala" - I was laughing every time you said this!
I am almost 70 yrs old and have seen this movie probably a dozen times and never tire of it One of the best ever made. Thanks for letting me watch it again for the ‘first time’ with you. Thanks
You should see/react to "The Ten Commandments" with Heston too! One of my all-time favourite films!
Overtures were pretty common with epic movies back in the day, they were meant to set the mood for the film.
Intermissions gave the audience a breather, and provided the theater management an opportunity to entice patrons to the snack bar. Even today, some longer films still sometimes have a break halfway through for the same purposes, but back then there was music from the films' soundtrack playing during that break.
Also, "Chicken Messala" just about killed me! :D
Overtures have nothing to do with "setting a mood", you could have tried looking it up and saved some embarrassment.
In indian movies we still have "intermission". Its the norm here.
The Overture was played as the audience was coming into the movie theater. The Entre' Acte was the intermission.
Okay so to explain films of this era going to the movies was an event as a nearly all day thing. So with epics like this and musicals of the 50’s and 60’s they would have an overture which plays music themes which will be heard later on to get people ready as they come into the theater and an intermission to give people to stretch and go visit the candy counter or bathroom. Then the Entr’acte was to signal the beginning of the second half of the film and give people a chance to get back into their seats.
And sometimes there was "Exit Music" which played as everyone got up and left. Sort of like today but without the marathon end titles.
@@porflepopnecker4376 Yes that as well.
@@porflepopnecker4376 Could you imagine what the end titles of this would have been like if they followed today's standards? They would have been longer than the movie...
Thanks James Moyner, I knew it was good to check the comments to see if someone covered it. Well done.
I've read here in a few comments that a stunt chariot driver was killed making the movie.
It's an urban legend,NO one was killed.
The guy (in green) who was run over was actually a prop dummy made to look realistic, which obviously had the desired effect on some viewers.
History is written by the winners.
How many people and horses were killed or injured is lost in the mists of spin.
Yep. I had thought for years that the green clad driver was actually killed then I read somewhere that it was a myth. However it certainly looks real!
It was the silent 1925 version where a stuntman was killed, although it wasn't kept in the movie. The scene was first shot in Rome where the death occured, but that and other troubles meant they re-staged the whole thing in Hollywood. There they had a pile-up during the chariot race where 5 horses were killed. I think that is in the film.
Glad to see you picked my all-time favorite movie and to show it still resonates with new viewers who have no prior knowledge of it. You understood what was going on and you emotionally connected to the story line. You really gave it a chance, too (four hours!). I enjoyed it very much. Thank-you, Cass.
This is one of my FAVORITE movies. I can't wait to see your take on it.
EDIT: Everyone was enslaved, not merely because of race, or religion. Romans were enslaved to other Romans. Jews enslaved other Jews (Esther and her Father were slaves of Judah). The only consistency is the fact that the strong enslaved the weak. It's happening even today in Libya, India, and China.
Slavery was not abolished 'in whole' for most of the planet until around the 1800's. France first clean sweep abolished in 1794, US in 1865 onward to African countries abolishing it around the 1960's, and the last was African country Mauritania around 1981. Still, although it is illegal now in the whole world (from 1981 on), it is still not strictly enforced everywhere. But France was the first to do so on the planet, some 60 years before the Civil War and an African country was the last back in '81. Canada for instance, didn't abolish completely until 1819, 40 some years before the US.
There are more people living under slavery today in various parts of the world than existed at the time of America's supposed original sin.
She lives in lalaland lol
@@Lugnut64052 Not so. How can it be more than when the whole world had legal slavery? That's silly. Also, not legally. They may have conditions like slavery, and slave laws may not be strictly enforced, but it is illegal the whole world over. I'm all about the fight to educate when people point at the US and say that only the US had slavery and the world except for the US was clean from slavery hundreds and thousands of years before the US civil war. But to claim that there is MORE now than back when the whole world had legal slavery is absurd and counter productive to an argument based in reality.
@@Lugnut64052 You don't need theatrics to make a valid point. Claiming there is more slavery than when the entire planet had legal slavery up until the 1800's only weakens your stance and makes it easy to call BS. Besides, there is no need. The evidence is enough.
I've seen this movie many times but never without crying buckets of tears by the end. It was often the case back in the day that a long movie would have an intermission. 2001 A Space Odyssey had one, for example.
Same with My Fair Lady! Gives you enough time to top up the snacks😀
Apocalypse Now had one as well, though it was sometimes not played.
@@katrinaleebaldwin4660 More to get rid of the large soda, methinks... ;-)
Movies as different as Les Enfants du Paradis, Seven Samurai, Lawrence of Arabia, and Monty Python and the Holy Grail all have intermissions. And yes, one of these films has the interval purely for humorous reasons.
The Sound of Music had one too. My mother loved that movie and we saw it as a family in the theater at least 3 times (they re-released it annually for a while). I never stayed awake to the end until we got it on VCR many years later!
Even today, Ben Hur is epic. Such a powerful story.
Ben-Hur is the closest any movie in history has come to being a perfect movie. It has everything. Love. Hate. Betrayal. Revenge. The main character put through a harrowing journey. Personal growth of the characters. And then redemption. It is an absolutely perfect movie.
Lawrence of Arabia is considered by many a "Perfect" Film ....And it's pretty accurate History as well!
Your listing reminds me of the grandpa reading off the stuff in The Princess Bride. lol
Back before they had home videos, movies were essentially events; it was like going to a play or concert. Accordingly, a lot of movies had overtures and intermissions, just like modern plays still do.
Overtures were fairly rare, but almost anything over 2 hours long would have an intermission.
The last movies I saw at the theater that had an overture were "The Black Hole" and "Star Trek: The Motion Picture."
Overtures and Intermissions where usually reserved for the so called "Road Show" screenings. Normal screenings didn't have them.
@@tremorsfan West Side Story had an overture.
The man that wrote this book was Lew Wallace, a Confederate General. A tremendous story. The chariot race took 5 weeks to shoot and many months to set up. It was shot in Rome, on an 18 acre set..there were some cuts and minor injuries, during the shooting of the race and that was all. Still very exciting even after more than 60 years
Lew Wallace was a Union General from Indiana.
I remember that Ben Hur was traditionally played on network television every Easter. They also played The Ten Commandments on Passover. Both were Charlton Heston epics. The chariot races were real and featured some of the best stunt work ever done.
Barabas with Anthony Quinn, great actor.
In Europe the traditional Easter movie is 'Monty Python’s Life of Brian'. It's guaranteed to play on at least one TV station every year, usually rather several. I'd love to watch Cassie see it, preferably around Easter time.
I heard a lot of hype about this movie so I saw this movie a few years ago. I was crying my eyes out at the end. So powerful !!! Love your reaction!!! Keep it up. God bless you!!!
Brilliant film--my all-time favorite. What I especially love about it is the script, which is so literate and ennobling. How can one not be impressed with lines like, "The stone that fell from this roof so long ago is still falling."
I found it oddly affecting watching it (well, parts of it) with someone who'd never seen it before. As a male I rarely shed tears, but your innocent enjoyment did bring one or two to my eyes.
I might be the only one to recommend this, but one of my all time favorites with Charlton Heston is "The Agony and the Ecstasy", which is about Michelangelo painting the Sistine Chapel ceiling. I'm partial to it as an artist myself, but it's such an entertaining film and Heston nails that role as he does with everything!
That sounds interesting and out of the common wheel house. I might have to look for that one and some other people have been bringing up elsewhere, A Man for All Seasons. Mostly people bringing up some famous quote "Yes, I'd give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety's sake." That Roman 'Chicken Messala' just threw the innocent to the wolves on the whim of his power. Trying to fight an idea with your own yet not being able to stay true to it. It would've really hit home if karma came around and Rome betrayed him. It kinda did with Ben Hur's adoption.
Still, Reminds me of bout "innocence protected" and another show I haven't seen. That HBO John Adams. It looked really good too I just never got around to it. Chicken wanting to be feared turning on his friend instead of thinking about right or wrong and how people would think no matter what they must be against Rome because of his/it's wickedness.
I can tell how good this old movie is trying to think or type anything else and still stuck on it. I hope "The Agony and the Ecstasy" gets me the same way.
Great suggestion, and one of the few other films shot entirely in 70mm. Definitely worth a watch
I've seen quite a few Heston movies in day counting Ben Hur, The Ten Commandments, and Midway as some of my all time favorites. But I have never seen The Agony and the Ecstasy. I'll have to sit down and watch this with my wife. It was certainly a bonus to see it is co-starred by Rex Harrison.
The Pope (Rex Harrison): "When will you make an end of it!?!" [painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel]
Michelangelo (Chuck Heston): "When I am finished!!!"
The interplay between the two is amazing!
Great suggestion, love that one:)
This should be fun. I grew up with precisely one half of this amazing movie. Back in the 1970s and through the 80s, the local ABC affiliate would have the 3:30 movie in the afternoon. Sometimes I'd watch right after school. Whenever they showed Ben Hur, they split into two parts. I NEVER saw the first half until I was 19, and I was working on a ship which had the video set.
One amazing to note about the film: it's one year after the Ten Commandments was done. While that film was hammy, epic and epically hammy, a product of Cecil B. DeMille and the golden age of Hollywood, Ben Hur seems a few decades ahead of itself.
Great observation. The Ten Commandments and Ben-Hur really feel like they were made decades apart.
@@rabbitandcrow Made by very different producer/directors.
Ben-Hur was a remake of a 1925 silent film. I have seen parts of the original, including the chariot race, which is just as impressive as the 1959 version. The director of Ben-Hur, William Wyler, was one of the assistant directors of the silent version.
@@mitchellcarter1654 Oh yeah. And according to legend, the Egyptian sets are still out there in the California desert, and it's where archaeology students are trained.
The brilliance of Ben Hur was that it was a fictional story centred around the life of a Jewish nobleman who just happened to live around the time of Christ. It wasn't an overly sentimental religious film and the Director William Wyler takes a huge amount of credit for that. It was simply a brilliant story. Still one of the greatest films ever made. I've watched it dozens of times and still get an overwhelming emotional feeling at the end. I'm Christian but not overly religious.
In the book/play/movie Ben Hur’s story has parallels to Christ’s. Judah is a prince who willingly takes the punishment for his sister’s “crime” . She does not mean to but it is still her fault and she is liable. He is sentenced in a mock/political trial to death. He does not die but returns. Unlike Christ he comes back with hate and vengeance for what the world has done to him. We see Judah take pity on The Christ and repays him with a drink. His heart is changed in a dramatic end to his story arc.
Obviously, the Christ is God’s son who is innocent but takes the world’s punishment for all it’s sin and pays the penalty on the cross. He does it willingly and without hate or malice. At the end we see the blood of the Christ mixing and flowing with water to “heal” the earth.
The one thing she may not have realized is the scope and monumental aspect of this picture. The number of extras and the chariot race alone is one of the best action sequences in all of film.
Love love love this movie. It's a national treasure.
No computer enhancements then, everything relied on filming with stunts, angles and such - makes these films even more amazing.
How lucky you are.This movie has some of the most beautiful music ever written for the screen,especially in the nativity scene at the beginning.What a way to discover this winner.
What a wonderful reaction to a great movie. I hope you search out more William Wyler movies. The Best Years of Our Lives, Roman Holiday, and The Big Country are three of his films you should not miss.
The greatest movie ever made! The Director, William Wyler, was a Hollywood maverick. He directed many classics. His best film is considered to be “The Best Years of Our Lives.” I highly recommend you watch this one! He also directed films that used actual combat photage from World War II such as Thunderbolt that documented P-47 Thunderbolts operating in Italy.
The Best Years of Our Lives is indeed his other masterpiece, but he made so many great films! I think another one that Cassie might like to see of his is Roman Holiday. Then, she could watch Wyler's great Western The Big Country with both Gregory Peck (from Roman Holiday) and Charlton Heston, made the year before Ben-Hur.
Judah`s sister was portrayed by Cathy O`Donnell who was also in "The Best Years of Our Lives."
@@imp736 Yes, she was Wilma - an angel of a girl.
I was very moved by your honest reactions to my favourite movie of all time. I’m 59 and have seen it many times but to see a young person being touched and moved by this great work of art was powerful. Your reactions made me cry!
Thank you.
great choice (though i'm amazed you haven't seen it - they show it every easter in the UK). keep on with the classics - enjoyed your reactions to Casablanca and Rear Window - i recommend 'His Girl Friday' and 'the Apartment' for your future enjoyment. Ben Hur is EPIC in every sense of the word - the chariot race is one of the greatest scenes in cinema - and no CGI. you can't fail to enthralled by this movie - enjoy.
His Girl Friday and The Apartment definitely. DEFINITELY The Apartment.
They show it here in Germany every Easter too :) Good choice for a classic Cassie :)
She did The Apartment. His Girl Friday is awesome!
@@catherinelw9365 I don't think Cassie has reacted to _The Apartment_ (happy to see a link to her reaction if she has). I really wish she would react to it though.
@@AndrewJens It's on her patreon.
"Ben Hur" may not be the best movie of all time, or even one of the best. It's not for everyone. But it is one of the greatest movies of all time. The chariot race alone is worth the price of admission. Also, I recommend more Charleton Heston movies. The man really had quite a career spanning decades, from epics like "Ben Hur" and "The Ten Commandments" to film noir like "Touch of Evil" to high concept sci-fi like "Planet of the Apes" and "Soylent Green."
Also, _El Cid,_ one my personal favorites. And I think he is great in _The Omega Man._
I highly recommend Lawrence of Arabia if you haven't seen it already. It stands alongside Ben-Hur as one of the great epic Hollywood masterpieces. It also has amazing acting, direction, writing, and music, like this film does.
Many things can be said about this movie (from the chariot race scene to the record eleven Oscars won) but I would stand to Stephen Boyd and his performance as Messala, one of the best performances of any actor in any movie.
Imagine being responsible for casting a movie once you have a Charlton Heston? The pressure to find Actors that can stand up to his charisma and provide strong performances which add to the scene instead of merely lengthen it.
Boyd truly was one of the great villains!
Yes. He was brilliant as well!
Always watched Charlton Heston films as a kid! Epic!
El Cid is another classic
Can I just say that, in this great movie, I particularly loved the character of Balthazar, THE Balthazar who, younger visited the infant Jesus at his birth and has been searching for him since then
One of the Wise Men...
What a great choice. I saw Ben Hur in the cinema as a child, together with my aunt and brother. The final scene with the empty crosses moved me to tears. Another epic movie about the early days of Christianity is "Quo Vadis?" with Peter Ustinov as Emperor Nero.
I always loved that movie. "Barrabas" was another good one.
and the man who plays Balthazar in Ben Hur plays Saint Peter in Quo Vadis.