Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ

if you see only one silent film in your life, this must be it

     

there are few films that accomplished what this film did; both in its time and since. beyond the spectacle (which is really an understatement), ben hur tells a marvelous and fascinating tale of a young jewish prince who becomes a victim of circumstance, survives a brutal sea battle, rises once more to nobility, and meets his deadly enemy face to face in a mammoth chariot race.

this films overall cost was $4,050,000.00. it took 2 years to produce and is said to have claimed the lives of quite a few extras in the sea battle scene. mgm was a new studio at the time and was willing to do whatever it took to make sure it was a success. after numerous problems during their shoot in italy with the sea battle sequence, a travelling matte process allowed for a giant marble pillar to fall on a frantic crowd without causing any injuries. the use of the early 2 color technicolor process in the religious scenes proved very effective despite their expense.

the early use of color, the superb acting, francis x bushmans messala, and the exhilarating chariot race are just a few of the many reasons why everyone should see this movie. its one of the reasons why movies exist today and why theyre still worth watching.