This may be the most epic movie ever made but very few reactors have done it,Great job as usual Madison!

The second adaption of the book. The first being a silent film. This is still the gold standard. The chariot scene is still amazing today. Even if you aren't religious, the way they handled Jesus on the outer orbit of the story was brilliant.

It truly is one of the best epic films ever. This and The Ten Commandments.

It's an insult to even Try a remake of such and epic amazing masterpiece. This is THE one and only one that should Ever be seen. Blessings Madison!

For me the sequence where Christ gives Ben Hur water is the greatest scene in film history, rivaled only by Quint's monologue in JAWS. I recall reading somewhere that Heston stated the actor playing the brutal officer should have won a supporting actor award. The interplay of emotions across his face was very well done.

There's a reason this movie won 11 Oscars and numerous other awards. Its just that good! You're gonna love the second half.

I saw this at age 6 in a drive-in with my parents about a year after it came out (movies hung around for a long time then). It impressed me tremendously then and now. An early issue of “American Film,” the AFI magazine, had an interview with Heston (or maybe an article about this movie, I don’t remember which). In that, Heston said the scene of Masala and Ben-Hur’s first meeting was the first of his scenes to be shot. Heston was terrifically nervous about it and struggled to figure out how to play it because he knew that it would set the tone for everything to come. He nailed it and won the Academy Award. My favorite scene has always been when Jesus gives Ben-Hur water and then the centurion backs off---a great portrayal of moral power, beautifully acted.

One of the best movies ever made. Period. I am hoping it comes out on 4k Blu ray some day.

Winner of 11 Oscars including Best Picture.

My father’s and my favourite movie of all time. I can watch this film every year and still not get bored at all. I bought it on vhs tape, vcd, dvd, and Blu-ray Discs. Loved every frame of Ben Hur 1959 directed by William Wyler

Ester in the darkened dilapidated courtyard reacting to Judah's return is my favorite scene. Haya Harareet. Wow. Her name sounds like an exclamation!

The novel Ben Hur was written by Lew Wallace who was Governor of the New Mexico Territory during the Lincoln County War.

It cannot be understated, the sheer size of this set, lots of paintings sure, but the sets were massive. The extras were at least in the hundreds. And yes, burping in some cultures shows you liked the food and its very polite. And also, I cant believe you are making us wait to finish the show! As for leperousy, People had no choice, no one knew how it spread, but it was an absolute death sentence. Your body rots and you are alive to watch it.

Many Roman period epics around this time were actually filmed in and around Rome and its studios, because they had the scenery, along with huge numbers of Roman costumes and sets, which all made it easier and cheaper than recreating all that in Hollywood. Ben-Hur was one of these films, and Cleopatra (1963) was another. Great reaction Madison, I look forward to part 2.

In many places in the Middle East and elsewhere, burping is, indeed, a sign that the food was good and that you enjoyed it.

Contains possibly the best 'action' scene in Cinematic History - the Chariot Race - no CGI!

My favorite painting in Florence Italy is where you don't see the Madonna's face but the joy on the face of Baby Jesus looking at her is beatific.

Oh my goodness. No reaction has ever grabbed my attention like this one just did!! It's wonderful to see someone reacting to the greatest movie ever put on film. Only movie that is, imo, absolutely flawless. And I cannot even convey the magnitude of beauty. There's beautiful movies, and there's very well-done movies. But none can compare to this masterpiece. I'm so thrilled, and hyped, to see you watch this. Thank you for gracing KZfaq with it.

The 1950's version of Ben Hur gets an 85% on the Rotten Tomatoes website. The Ben Hur from 2016 gets a 25%. That tells you a lot.

This film has the most beautiful score I've ever heard. Miklos Rosza won a 3rd Oscar for it. The overture is my favorite piece of music to this day.

The 1925 version helped establish the young Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio as a presence in Hollywood.

This movie is one of the greatest of all time. So good

I saw this when it first came out. I was nine years old. Several things struck me then as they do now. In the opening Nativity scene where the calf bounds across the set be with its mother; when Jesus stares down the centurion: when the Roman galley comes along side the enemy ship and snaps off the oars (great special effect); and the unbelievably dark and dank cell where his mother and sister were kept (when I first saw it I thought the Roman said they were "leopards"). My mother set me straight and I remember going home and looking up leprosy in the encyclopedia.

This & "The Ten Commandments" have been traditional Easter weekend rituals in my home(s) for many, many years. The latter in respectful honor of Passover but both are just amazing films with Heston in the leads. Ben Hur on Sat night & TTC on ABC Sunday night.

I went to school with a girl whose father had been an extra in Ben Hur. How's that for a brush with fame? I was at the impressionable age of 13 when I saw it at the drive-in, and was enthused enough to plough through Lew Wallace's sprawling, pious, melodramatic epic within the year. Yes, the production values were fantastic (kudos to William Wyler) and I agree not showing JC's face was very effective in the context. You're such good company. Madison. Thanks for sharing and see you in Part 2.

One of the greatest movies ever made totally agree with hands-down the greatest race scene ever committed to film 🎥 because it took a year for them to build the set for the chariot race and it took several months to film the sequence something like that sequence could never be filmed in modern times

I’ve seen tons of movies in my 62 years of life, and Ben Hur is my all time favorite. Can’t remember how many times I’ve seen it. Just hearing the music & that intro I fight to hold back tears.

A great deal of this was shot on location in Italy and at huge sets in Rome’s Cinecittà Studios, with some sea battles done in watertanks in Hollywood and filming took 9 months.

The emperor in question is Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus, the second of the Juleo-Claudians, who ruled from AD 14 to 37. He was the stepson, adopted son, and heir of Caesar Augustus. He fell into depravity, eventually living in self-imposed exile. Several historians believe that he was murdered by his grandnephew Caligula, who succeeded him.

Barabbas with Anthony Quinn a great Good Friday / Easter film...

The best movie ever.

It's 2024, and Ben-Hur 1959 is still the greatest motion picture ever made.

The chariot race still holds up today--and it was made without CGI. I seem to remember that one of the "stunts" during the race was an actual mishap captured on film.

Although I'm an atheist, this is one of my favorite movies. Also: Haya Harareet...Yowza!

This is actually the best movie for Holy week as it combines great elements of both Judaism and Christianity.

Among the incidental pleasures of the film are the Arab chariot racer with a Welsh accent (Hugh Griffith), and the Wise Man Balthazar with a Scottish accent (Finlay Currie); two excellent supporting actors they were.

So few reactors have done this movie. The most epic film ever made. Even now the action scenes at the end still hold up

My friend Juliet's dad did the music for this film. It's one of my favorites of his, along with the film noir THE RED HOUSE (1947) and the fantasy adventure THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD (1973). both would be great to react to. 😊 Happy Easter!

I love this movie so much! It's my favorite Christian-themed movie, partly because of what you pointed out--that Christ's face is never shown. We see the effect that his teachings and kindness have, but I think it was a wise decision not to try to depict him onscreen here. Can't wait for part 2!

One of the best films right here. So, now that you know Charlton Heston and Gregory Peck, please watch them both in The Big Country, along with Jean Simmons, another great western. Then you should look for Peck in Twelve O'Clock High and Heston in WIll Penny.

Three years in the galleys was considered unheard of. It was more common for men to die after just a few months of service.

THIS is the version of Ben-Hur you will remember. Charelton Heston was one of the greatest actors of our time. During the 1950s, 60s, and some of the 70s MANY of the big epic films were done on location. Due to currency exchange rates and various tax laws in Europe at the time US film companies had funds "trapped" in various countries so they used that money to make some of the greatest films ever.

The movie was filmed in Cinecitta, Italy. Most of the sets are real, built by carpenters. Such a joy watching you react to greatest movie ever.

I’m currently watching with my daughter. It’s her first time seeing it and my first time truly appreciating how epic this movie is. The actors, Heston can deliver a line, costumes, perfect timing, intermission over gotta go

A note of interest for western fan Madison: this film is based on a novel by Civil War General Lew Wallace. Wallace was the territorial governor who offered amnesty to Billy the Kid. He was also the chief judge in the trial of Henry Wirz, the commandant of Andersonville Prison.

I just remembered what Charlton Heston said that his chariot rider teacher said to him when Charlton was about to try a take. He said, "Look, just stay in the chariot and i guarantee you you'll win the damn race!"

Yes, correct, this movie relies on a massive buttload of matte paintings to look as big and epic as it does. In addition to all of the standard compositing, they also used glass shots, which means that they painted certain elements on glass and combined it with the real world in the camera view.

Congratulations, Madison!! This is such an epic film. I'm enjoying rewatching it with you. I hope you get a chance too to see Spartacus sometime. It's another old school epic film that I think you would enjoy. Thanks for sharing this one. 🙂 I'm looking forward to part 2!

The Consul of Rome is an EXTREMMELY powerful position. It is essentially the Attorney General and the Secretary of Defense combined. Typically only the combined Senate or the Emperor outrank the Consul.

You are the gold standard of reactors.

The best movie ever made. I was crying at the end just as much as you were. Time to break out my Ben Hur Blu-ray and watch it again.

Among so many other aspects that are pure greatness in this film, the music is absolutely incredible. Nothing conveys "ROME!" so much as that opening march. Also, RAMMING SPEED!

My late mom’s most favorite film. From her commentaries and descriptions of the film, I grew up thinking that if you look up the definition of ‘epic’ in the dictionary, it will say: “watch Ben-Hur!” I love your reactions to the reunion of Judah Ben-Hur and Masala. Your reactions are subtle and quiet, but the slight smile, smirk, frown, grimace, the rolling of your eyes, throughout their interaction was loud and clear. That was so much fun and brilliant, I rewatched it several times just for your facial reactions.

Like Balthazar said, "Your own life is a miracle." That's true, and I'd even make that argument when looking at the science involved, because frankly it boggles the mind how everything could have spontaneously come together to form what we know of as life. I don't know what to believe, but in some sense or other, even if it's just crazy luck and nothing more, the existence of life anywhere in the universe seems pretty miraculous.

As soon I saw this in my feed I jumped on it. As far as BIG epics go, this is my favourite - a real journey of despair, revenge and enlightenment. People tend to cite the chariot race as the only talking point, but this one has so much more to it.

Great stuff! They don't make 'em like that no more.

You have got to see his other movies the biggest one he made i think is The Ten Commandments .. 😮 AWESOME EPIC MOVIE OF ALL TIME ! 😍😊🇺🇸🙏😇

Congrats on the 25K!!! Ben Hur is a terrific film!

One of the all time great movies!!

The aspect ratio of this production gave it just about the widest screen ever attempted with anamorphic lenses. When Quintus Arias handed the cup to Ben-Hur first and then drank after him, he publicly acknowledged him as a social equal, a free Roman. As recently as 30 years ago, in middle eastern cultures, a hearty belch from a man at the end of a meal was considered a gesture of gratitude, and failing to belch was equally a sleight. I went to dinner at the home of a Turkish friend, and his wife and mother in law prepared the meal. There were chicken, beef, and lamb dishes. I was especially interested in the lamb, so I took a much larger portion of it, by the end of the meal, I'd had 3 small portions each of beef and chicken, but 2 quite large portions of lamb. Aziz's mother in law apologized, commenting that I had only eaten 2 servings of lamb instead of 3, and if she had known I didn't like lamb she would not have forced it upon me.😮

35:35 Balthazar's monologue is one of the best in film history. "I see this terrible thing in your eyes, Judah Ben Hur....."

They used to build movie set like this costing millions. The movie ' Cleopatra' by Taylor and Burton in 1963 similar to BEN-HUR nearly bankrupted Twentieth Century-Fox. After 'Cleopatra' Twentieth Century-Fox only had money left to make 2 medium quality or one good quality movie to save the studio. The management wisely went for the latter solution and produced 'The Sound of Music' in 1965 which not just saved the studio and the movie was able to bring in continuous profit through TV/movie right, books, plays and merchandise until the mid 1970s. The Sound of Music was the most profitable movie for Twentieth Century-Fox for nearly 25 years!

Judah is a Roman citizen and the adopted son and heir of a consul of Rome. He doesn't need a relative lackey like Messala to pardon him.

This is one of those movies that used to be shown once a year around Easter. We would always watch this and the annual showing of Wizard of Oz.

The reason this movie is so good is that it was released in the year i was born, 1959… a great year! 👍🏻😎👍🏻

I got to see this in the movie theater in 1968. It was billed as a double feature after 2001 a space Odyssey. There were so many scenes in the theatrical version that were cut for TV and I will never forget being able to see this in the theater when I was a teenager.

I saw this movie in 1963 when I was 6 years of age..My mom picked me up from the boarding school (La Martiniere College...Lucknow..INDIA) on a Sunday to watch this movie in MAYFAIR movie theatre..I have watched this so many times since then and I never tire watching it..The chariot race will really blow you away.

The ram at the front of a galley was called a rostrum. A display of half a dozen rams captured from Carthaginian ships was in the Forum in Rome, and people would stand in front of it and make speeches. The modern sense has flipped it around -- the speaker now stands behind a rostrum, and they're not made from war trophies.

My all time fav movie.💪

Yep, brilliant. I saw the movie in South Africa only two years after the USA, in 1961. I was only 8 years old, but I remember everything. It was a big occasion for our family and we drove 160 miles to see it. My one grandmother went with but grandfather decided to stay behind. He was a child during the Anglo Boer war 1899-1902 and he barely survived a concentration camp. He nearly died of hunger and exposure. He associated the camp with violence and he was afraid of Genl Kitchener his whole life. He was scared to see inmates and the might of Rome again. Anyway we all enjoyed the movie immensely and when it became available many years later on dvd, I made a study of the background and I must commend the director William Wyler with his effort. When asked about the success of the film he answered that only a Jew could make a successful Christian movie. I studied the backgrounds, etc, etc and I will mention a few of the minor incidents, but to me so powerful and realistic. The Ben Hur house with the loose tiles, the galleys, and even the royal barge which brought the Consul to his new ship, to meet Ben Hur. Wyler made an exact replica of the barge. The battle was very realistic with the sinking of the ships. Then the parade in Rome before Caeser Tiberius, with soldiers, temple prostitutes, and the symbolic white horses of the Consul. The actual chariot race was just as good and took two months to film. All the chariots were taken back to the USA to prevent another film being made with the same chariots and the galleys were also destroyed. All in all a very good movie which made four times the money it cost. I would have given the Oscar for the best supporting role to the Consul Jack Hawkins.

I would agree this movie is incredible not just for 1959 but for all time. Can you imagine if movies of today were held to the standards of this movie how good movies would be today.

There is a three way tie for the most Oscars won by a single movie, 11. They are: The Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King Titanic Ben-Hur Many people say that the Oscars awarded for Return Of The King are for the entire trilogy. I absolutely recommend, The Lord Of The Rings. If you like Star Wars, and I know you do, you will love The Lord Of The Rings. And Titanic is an epic visual masterpiece.

I know the chariot race hasn't come up yet, and I can't remember if this is something that has come up before on this channel, but Yakima Canutt was the 2nd Unit Director that shot and choreographed the chariot race scene. If it hasn't come up before, Yakima Canutt was an ex rodeo star, turned stuntman that is pretty legendary. John Wayne worked with him a lot in his very early days, and together they developed a lot of the techniques for shooting fight scenes, that are basically still used today, and John Wayne had said that a lot of the style that's attributed to him, he learned from watching Yakima Canutt, and just tried to copy.

one of the best films ever made. top 20.

Great reaction! I love your choices of movies .

Director William Wyler also directed : Roman Holiday, The Big Country, The Best Years of Our Lives, Funny Girl, Mrs. Miniver, Wuthering Heights. Classic director.

Finally someone else reacts to this! Need more reactors watching this.

One of my absolute top five favorite films ever, so glad you're doing this one Madison...it is indeed an epic.

I am sure you will never forget the plot of this version.

Oh wow! Not many people take on this movie. One of the best motion pictures ever made, with possibly the best score.

If you like Charlton Heston in Ben Hur, you'll love him in The Ten Commandments... Another classic.

A true masterpiece ! The chariot race can never be surpassed it takes your breathe away at how it was crafted and filmed history made with that epic race. Honestly I’ve grown more attached to this movie each time I’ve seen it. It’s story is as fresh today bringing with it the story of redemption. Charlton Heston and Stephen Boyd shone out in their performances, bringing raw emotion and a grit with a passion rarely seen these days. God bless you all this Easter 🐣

Giving a good belch after a meal is the ultimate compliment! You told your host that the food was great!

Great great movie. An incredible story if you follow it carefully!

It's a joy to share such a film with a Helenic beauty

I think i have watched Ben Hur a million times Charlton Heston was my favourite actor❤

Correct, Balthazar was one of the three Magi or Wise Men. He looked younger back then, of course, but you can tell which he was by his prominent nose (and probably his clothes).

Great review! The production level of the movie is so great, it's easy to overlook the acting. Every character is so believable. The script is top-notch too, especially considering how cheesy movies of that era could be.

Ben Hur was written by a Civil War General. . My favorite movie w with my favorite actor Charlton Heston .

As a Western buff, you should know that Ben Hur was written by Lew Wallace, the Governor of New Mexico who made a deal with Billy The Kid, then reneged and betrayed him, leading to his death! 😮💯

I’m so glad that you’re taking on the all-time classic! This is a feather in your Reactor cap. Or cowboy hat.

It was filmed at Cinecitta Studios near Rome, with outdoor split shots in actual Israel.

There's a reason this film was the winner of 11 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Charlton Heston), Best Supporting Actor (Hugh Griffith), and Best Director (William Wyler).

“One day I came to Him, I was so thirsty. I asked for water, my throat was so dry. He gave me water that I had never dreamed of. But for this water, my Lord had to die. He said: “I thirst”, yet He made the river. He said: “I thirst”, yet He made the sea. “I thirst,” said the King of the ages. In His great thirst He brought water to me.”

21:11 He’s not scared. He felt peace and it confused him

The water scene is a tear jerker! I saw this at a screening in LA with Charlton Heston before he passed. He came out slow but regal and I stood up to applaud and he pointed at me laughing in pleasure as everybody rose behind me in ovation.

It seems to be a popular misconception that, in Arab cultures, burping is considered a polite or customary way to express satisfaction with a meal (I myself thought this was the case, but it seems it must be just a movie thing). Apparently (according to ChatGPT AI), the emphasis in Arab dining etiquette is often on maintaining manners, and loud burping may be viewed as impolite or disruptive. It seems that perceptions can vary among individuals and communities within the diverse Arab world. However, ChatGPT goes on to say that there are some cultures where burping after a meal is considered a polite gesture, indicating satisfaction with the food. One notable example is in parts of China. In some Chinese cultures, a burp is seen as a sign that the meal was enjoyed, and it can be perceived as a compliment to the chef.

Another excellent and entertaining reaction. Epics today can use CGI and incredible technology to make the screen look real. But as you accurately point out, this was using real sets and as they used to say, a cast of thousands This is a gold standard epic. What you can’t duplicate watching at home is the theater experience. The only suggestion would be to watch the second half on the movie on the largest screen you can with the best sound available. There is a famous segment that has not been matched coming soon. Another note is the director, William Wyler. Wyler was a superb director, he won 3 Oscars, but was known as a woman’s director. He helmed many of Bette Davis great performances and directed such diverse actresses as Greer Garson, Olivia De Havilland , Audrey Hepburn, and Barbara Streisand to Best Actress wins. His talents are on full display in this classic. He is able to balance action, intimacy, spectacle, and storytelling… quite a feat.Something very few directors have been able to pull off.

An amazing picture giving rise to the expression "Bigger than Ben-Hur". Based on the novel of a Unionist general of the Civi War

The production!!!!!!😱😱😱 The movie was filmed in Italy. After the movie was done filming the sets were all destroyed so no other movie company could use it. (Such a shame) I really enjoyed your reaction. I subscribe!!👍🏼