Well sure it's epic but the 10 commandments is next level.

@@garyclarke9685 Nah. The Ten Commandments is not very good, and would not hold up well today. (Even disregarding some of the crude, cartoonish special effects when the commandments were inscribed on the tablets. Although the parting of the Red Sea wasn't too bad--I believe they made that effect by filming the water coming in, and the playing it backwards to produce the effect). Basically, the Ten Commandments is dated and cheesy.

@@willardchi2571 we will have to agree to disagree. I thought the special effects were really well done especially with the plagues. The ring of fire was cartoonish as was the burning bush & I suppose the fire used for the inscription however why does it have to be real fire I quite liked this effect. When I said it was epic I was referring to its cast of thousands & to how the city was being built by Moses which was quite incredible.

​@@garyclarke9685 I love the 10 Commandments dearly. But Ben Hur is a step above. In several aspects.

@@Eowyn187 how? Like to hear your thoughts. When it comes to the emotion & the revenge aspect ultimately ending with peace & redemption regarding Ben hur then Ben hur is way more superior but I'm talking about epicness & scale & breathtaking scenery surely the 10 commandments beats everyone other film

Even the chariot race in the silent version is quite exciting.

Monty Python copied that treatment when they made Life of Brian and it worked just as well.

It's even better if you're a Jesus-follower!

ppfftt,what did Rome ever do for us@@ronweber1402

@kissmy_butt1302 talkies ruined Hollywood

I remember one of the posters for Monty Python's Life of Brian said "makes Ben Hur look like an epic!!1"

And Quo Vadis

Respectfully, Fred Niblo's silent version of Ben Hur (1925) is not entirely without charm. Even today, a century after its release, the original feature-length treatment delivers The Tale of the Christ's message with considerable impact and dramatic flair for patient viewers. The silent film's technical accomplishments are notable -- e.g. the sea battle, and the chariot race (with the camera's placement in a trench, a trick replicated in the 1959 remake) -- as well as the several large crowd scenes and production design. This film has been restored with tints and is complete (running some 141 minutes) -- and has also been included in the US National Film Registry. The silent version is a lovely counterpoint to William Wyler's talkie, effectively comprising a triptych along with Parts I and II of the remake for viewing on successive nights over Easter weekend. One merely has to commit to putting the smartphones away, and make time to enjoy the wonder of epic film-making in the days before CGI and the advent of the Marvel Universe. Cheers.

@@MartinCanada Agreed.

@@watchmanschannelofdespair also agree.But that modern version was just rank.

No CGI

@@putinscat1208 No "C" in 1959... 😁

@@paintedjaguar Yeah, I didn't ask 'No CGI?' But that is not entirely true. We did not have transistor computers, but mechanical and other computers did exist.

In his books, Heston said the actor playing Christ was an opera singer named Claude Heater, who died just recently, in his 90s. He and Heston were longtime friends. Also, the actor who played the beefy-faced Centurian was a restauranteur in Rome, flown in to play this part. His facial reactions, Heston said, was because he was seeing pure divinity in the face of Christ.

The first time I saw this, it was at a drive-in as you did. I was 5 or 6. Coincidentally, I teared up during the scene where Jesus gave Ben Hur water. That scene has stuck with me to this day. I also remember the scene where the guards located his mother and sister in the dungeon. I was confused as to why "leopards" would be in their cell! My parents explained leprosy to me. My brothers cracked up about the "leopards" and teased me mercilessly for the longest time.

@@scotttedford7748😂😂😂

She was a Palestinian actress.

It is a heartbreaking scene

A Jewish Palestinian ​@@janviljoen7001

My favourite too

Lew Wallace was also. Civil War General.

I think he postumously pardoned Bill the Kid.

Gen. Lew Wallace was "disgraced" at the Battle of Shiloh by arriving late with his men. After the Civil War he wrote Ben Hur in part to redeem his reputation.

I rate it no.1 of the 1950s. You have your GONE WITH THE WIND and CITIZEN KANE but none have the message this epic movie drives home.

The stunts were directed by Yakima Canute who wanted to outdo the chariot scene in the silent version. After viewing the original, he changed his goal: to just be half as good. I think he more than succeeded.

And the great entrance of the Chariots music. Stirring, epic.

Agreed. Really has to be. I was blown away by every aspect of the race sequence.

Does anyone notice the rubber tire tracks in front of the chariots during the race?

@@johnwest5837 no too focused on the race. Rumour has it a red maxi can also be seen but I've never seen it.

I was 13 in 1959 and saw the movie many times after seeing the film in its road show engagement. It was, and continues to be, an extremely moving motion picture. It is by far my most favorite film.

@Mauro Biglino & The 5Th Kind channels.​@@robertrowland5813

@lifelover ❤️ The book too! It’s s good read!

I agree. Even the 2016 film the chariot race was not as good.

@@garyclarke9685 If you ever get the chance, watch the silent version of this film from 1925. The chariot race in that one is excellent.

@@MsAppassionata actually I have & it was extraordinary. No shortage of stuntmen in the 20's although I'm also aware many actors did there own stunts like Harold loyld. (Wrong speak spelling I know lol) Just my personal opinion but I wish CGI wasn't overused as much as it is today.

Both Charlton Heston and Stephen Boyd drove their chariots in most of the scenes of the race.

That's correct. Very hard to watch that scene when it happens. Think it was the actor standing up against the wall.

@@garyclarke9685Nope. Several realistic rubber dummies were trampled in this film, but the accident on screen is when Heston's chariot-jump caused the stuntman to be nearly flipped out of the front of the chariot. A quick insert shot of Heston climbing back in, all good.

Found this: No body died in filming the race, but ""Joe Canutt, doubling for Heston, received the only injury when he was flipped out of chariot, catching himself on the center hitching rail before pulling himself back in place. His only injury was a gash on his chin requiring four stitches. The scene was used in the final print."

Many of the racers were rodeo men from the USA.

Hers is the only reaction I know now I'm happy just needed one person to react & she is perfect because she is so genuine & passionate about older films

The golden voyage is great

Miklós Rózsa earned an academy award for his wonderful rousing musical score for "Ben Hur".

Thx folks! I knew I couldn't be alone on this. :)

@thomast8539 Oh, the Big Country for sure. I think he made the ten commandments, Ben Hur and the Big Country, one right after another.

Couldn't agree more with all these choices!

About time someone else acknowledged her! Thank you. And such great chemistry with Chuck!

I agree

Yes, he had some great lines in his limited screen time! Like when he was ruminating about Jesus; how he had seen the sunset that evening just as they had and acknowledging that all people would hence forth bear his mark...

Interesting thanks for that. I still shake my head in disbelief just how good & realistic the chariot race is & couldn't be bettered not even by today's standards.

It's my second favorite film of all time.

Lew Wallace was also a civil war general

@@johnscott4196 I wanted to keep it in a simple sentence to address her Western interest, but yes, you're right. As a kid & Billy fan in the 50s, it always amazed me (dunno why) that a figure like Wallace, from the actual Wild West & ties to *Legendary* history would be the author of such a sword * sandal sweeping novel as BH.

We still have the Palace of the Governors in Santa Fe where Genl Wallace wrote the book.

It's an important note that he wrote it after the Civil War. In The Big Sleep; the detective asks a book seller if she has a copy of the 1860 edition, she asks "the first edition?" He replies, "No the third." And then he gives her another test about an Audubon book, Chevalier edition. I never understood the Audubon question, since there is an 1840 Chevalier edition (published in Philadelphia). The Ben Hur book is an outright impossibility.

@@chetcarman3530 Even more interesting that an atheist authored this "Tale of the Christ".

You should see the original with Frances X. Bushman as Ben Hur. The chariot scene, though silent, is more exciting.

I have it and not in my opinion.@@JohnBullard

I put to you that Mad Max Fury Road is the most astounding action sequence of all time as it was almost all practical with almost no CGI. Whatever you think of the story or the characters the chase scenes were unbelievable. All of those vehicles were real and if you saw a War Rig with two fuel injected blown hemis it really had two fuel injected blown hemis. The pole cats were Cirque du Soleil performers actually doing the stunts. Nothing like it had ever been done.

I'd have to rate that a close second, Herr used live horses, not horse power.@@ronweber1402

Yes she will be & overwhelmed by this incredible sequence. The thing with today if Ben hur was remade film makers couldn't be bothered to film a real chariot race so would just use cgi & then of course one carnt take it seriously

🙏🏻❤️

Thanks will look it up

They were actually Italians from the street and some with amputated arms were selected too.