Ben-Hur: A Timeless Epic That Transcends Its Genre

I have had a soft spot for Ben-Hur ever since I first saw it in 1959/60. It remains one of the best movies I've ever watched, and I have watched it, or at least clips from it, several times since. The film is renowned for its grand scale and the perfect casting of Charlton Heston in the lead role. While other actors were reportedly considered for the lead, it is hard to imagine anyone doing the part as well as Heston.

The Charlton Heston Version: A Cinematic Classic

The Charlton Heston version, directed by William Wyler, is the most well-known. The 1950s were a period of cinematic experimentation, as films were competing with televisions for market share. Widescreen technology was in vogue, with processes like CinemaScope and Vistavision enhancing visuals. The ability to play with the edges of the frame and include detailed shots made the bigger screens the preferred choice for filmmakers.

Ben-Hur: A Spectacle at Its Best

Ben-Hur came at a time when spectacle was the name of the game. Charlton Heston, with his handsome and athletic appearance, was perfectly cast for the era. The film includes long stretches of scenes that, by modern standards, could be considered rather mundane, and the pace might have been livelier with fewer scenes. However, the chariot race is genuinely thrilling, and the scene with the mother and sister miraculously healed from leprosy still evokes great pathos. The film is truly moving in its own way.

Mountains of Horses and Moments of Grace

While the movie has its flaws, such as the long stretches of scenes that are not as engaging by today's standards, the film is full of graceful moments. The horses in the film are stunning creatures, and the chariot race is a genuine thrill. This is why Oliver Stone's football movie 'Any Given Sunday' features highlights from it. The thematic parallel between ancient Romans killing people for sport in their coliseum and the modern NFL is a strong one, and it is a little on the nose but still quite apt.

Ben-Hur: An Overlong Epic with Enduring Appeal

Ben-Hur is definitively an overlong sword and sandal epic, but there are moments of grace and elegance. I don't particularly care about horses, as they appear in many films, but the horses in Ben-Hur are indeed exceptional. The chariot race, with its tight editing, is a highlight of the film. As far as spectacles go, Ben-Hur is generally regarded as one of the better ones. While I might prefer other epics like 'Lawrence of Arabia,' 'Spartacus,' and 'Bridge over the River Kwai,' Ben-Hur still has its place among monumental classics.

As a modern sword and sandal epic, Ben-Hur is one of the few you could do worse than revisit, but if you are not inclined to do so, you will surely find other films within this genre that you would enjoy more. However, if you do revisit Ben-Hur, I would recommend appreciating the chariot sequence for its tight editing and the stunning performance by Charlton Heston.