Ben Hur (DVD)

...statues from the arena and Ben Hur's chariot and team. On the back of the sleeve are a contents list for the discs, stills from the film, hologram, certification (PG) and other information. The inner opens out into three folds showing a Matte painting style panoramic view of the arena and chariot race. The front fold has a pocket (inset picture of Pontius Pilate crowning the victor on the flap) containing a facsimile 1959 program such as would have ...
...part one [cert: PG/PG] shows Ben Hur (large) and his team racing
*Disc 2 ~ BEN-HUR 1959 part two [cert: PG/PG] (22 chapters) shows Messala (large)
*Disc 3 ~ BEN-HUR 1925 version [cert: PG/G] (39 chapters) shows Esther with her dove
*Disc 4 ~ Bonus Features [cert: PG/PG] shows Quintus Arrius in chariot (large) with trumpeters

With the discs folded in, you see a backdrop of the crucifixion with inset pictures of: ... more

When you hear the name "Ben Hur" what comes to your mind? The famous Chariot Race in the arena against the Roman Messala? Think you of the galley slave rescuing Quintus Arrius after the sea battle with pirates? Or do you think about the setting ~ the babe born to be "King of the Jews" worshipped by magi (such as Balthazar, the Egyptian), brought up as a carpenter's son; then, as a rabbi, speaking peace and healing; then crucified with that same title "King of the Jews" nailed above His head?

Of course, the story is All that ~ and MORE. When (American Civil War General) Lew Wallace wrote his tale "BEN HUR ~ A Tale Of The Christ" in the late nineteenth century, he was trying to place Jesus, Son of Mary and (as it seemed) Joseph, the carpenter from Nazareth, into the historical context of Roman Occupied Judea. How better to do this than through the parallel tale of another young man his own age, a fictional Prince of Judea ~ Judah, son of Hur. He would be RICH, else why would the Governor of Judea's son *be allowed* to associate with him; and HANDSOME, else why would Messala *want* to spend any time with him? Then the adult repudiation of that friendship by the returning Roman Tribune Messala, who had never seen it as a friendship of equals, when Judah refused to become an informer ~ culminating in the destruction of the House of Hur: Judah sent to become a galley slave; the women imprisoned in a leprous cell, and their estates confiscated.

If the tale ended there, there would be no story, no movie; so, of course, you have the vengeance vowed and, eventually, attempted; and the search for the lost mother and sister. The Son of Mary and son of Hur cross paths, at intervals, either in person, or by reference, until they once more connect at the crucifixion. Water is a recurring theme, as is the Roman oppression and cruelty; Balthazar's search for the grown-up "Christ child" also recurs, and re-focuses the action in places as a tenuous link between the two.

The William Wyler epic MGM 1959 film (approx 213 min)

This was a planned re-write/re-make of the MGM 1925 Silent Classic Film, which had been re-issued in 1931 with a full score, tinting and 2-color process Technicolor scenes. This silent version, which followed the book fairly closely, was felt to be too religious and outdated. Many people now had black-and-white television at home, and could watch black-and-white movies when scheduled. It was decided that a new version, in this huge format, was needed to re-attract viewers into the cinema. MGM still held exclusive rights to film the (now classic) tale, and had obtained about 40 different scripts based on the book. Eventually Karl Tunberg's script was chosen, but the dialogue needed massive changes to make it work for post-war audiences. Gore Vidal agreed to work on it in exchange for being released for the remainder of his contract with MGM; Christopher Fry then took over the day- by- day revision as the filming completed late. Although Karl Tunberg received an Oscar nomination for the script (for which he was given sole credit), he alone, of the 12 nominees,
did not win.

This secularised script had several glaring errors to anyone familiar with the Jewish faith, history, and customs:

• There never was, nor could have been, a circus arena in Jerusalem for the chariot race (held in Antioch in the book and previous versions);
• Had Pilate truly announced the winner of a race in Jerusalem as their one true god he would have truly started the riot so feared, and the winner could be stoned for blasphemy.
  In addition, despite various time-line checks, the dates don't add up.

These caveats aside, it is truly a magnificent film, and not only deserved the 11 Oscars won, but also succeeded in its aim: to bring people away from their new television sets and cosy sitting rooms, and back into the cinemas, in their millions!So Which Release Do You Prefer?

Special Features of the Original 2-Sided DVD Release

• Scene Access [39 on Side A; 22 on Side B]
• Interactive Menus
• Audio Commentary with Charlton Heston [with >>| shown on screen when he stops talking, to get to next section of commentary]
• Audio in English/ French
• Subtitles in English/ French/ Italian/ Dutch/ Spanish/ German/ Romanian/ Bulgarian
• Behind The Scenes Documentary "Ben Hur ~ The Making of an Epic" (approx 58min) Based on interviews with 12 people who either: worked on the film; or were related to crew, plus film historian Rudy Behlmer; put together into 20 chapters including credits. This traces the history of "Ben Hur" from book, through stage plays, Celluloid Art, and films. Narration was by Christopher Plummer; © 1993 [note: Watching this on a rental 2-sided disc is what inspired me to ask my son to purchase the collector's edition for me as a Christmas present, so I'd have the complete 1925 film as well.]
• On-The-Set Photo Gallery [10 pictures]
• Screen Tests of the final and near final cast
• Trailer
  

Four~Disc Collector's Edition ~ Presentation Pack

The outer cardboard sleeve shows the classic Stone Lettered BEN-HUR with the giant statues from the arena and Ben Hur's chariot and team. On the back of the sleeve are a contents list for the discs, stills from the film, hologram, certification (PG) and other information. The inner opens out into three folds showing a Matte painting style panoramic view of the arena and chariot race. The front fold has a pocket (inset picture of Pontius Pilate crowning the victor on the flap) containing a facsimile 1959 program such as would have been available for purchase, and a leaflet listing disc contents. The other two folds have plastic DVD mounts to hold 2 DVDs each. The four discs have appropriate pictures in Matte painting-style. Just like in the film, the Overture, Intermission and Entre'act are set against a backdrop of Michelangelo's Creation of Man with the finger of God reaching out to touch the finger of Adam, these Sepia and bluish-tint pictures carry the epic sense and enhance the presentation.

• Disc 1 ~ BEN-HUR 1959 part one [cert: PG/PG] shows Ben Hur (large) and his team racing
• Disc 2 ~ BEN-HUR 1959 part two [cert: PG/PG] (22 chapters) shows Messala (large)
• Disc 3 ~ BEN-HUR 1925 version [cert: PG/G] (39 chapters) shows Esther with her dove
• Disc 4 ~ Bonus Features [cert: PG/PG] shows Quintus Arrius in chariot (large) with trumpeters

With the discs folded in, you see a backdrop of the crucifixion with inset pictures of: 1) Sheik Ilderim/Ben Hur; 2) Messala whipping his team onward; 3) Galley slaves rowing; 4) Ben Hur in pre-race helmet and blue drape. When this whole section is closed, on the back is the list of the winners of the 11 Academy Awards: 1959 Oscars.
Being a cardboard pack, this is already showing signs of wear, despite having been given to me this Christmas (less than a week ago).

So What Has Changed From The Double-Sided DVD?

THE FILM:
Obviously, the first change is the feature film being on two discs rather than one, making it easier to protect the playing side and see which side you are playing. This is a New Digital Transfer [16x9 2.76:1 (instead of 2.70:1)] from Restored 65MM Elements. Most of the Features are moved to Disc 4, with some exceptions (for instance: Scene Access and Feature Length Commentary obviously go with the Feature).

Discs 1 & 2 contain scene selection; the original commentary by Charlton Heston is enhanced by commentary by Film Historian T. Gene Hatcher, and you watch/listen without having to jump forward as before. I suppose a disadvantage could be that you also spend more time watching, as the film is just over 3½ hours long, but the extra information is fascinating, and having two perspectives at once is much more interesting.

Audio is in a choice of English/ French/ Italian, and subtitles are no longer available in German or Spanish, but are available in Arabic.

1925 VERSION (approx 143 min):
Disc 3 contains the entire 1925 Silent Version. This is the Kevin Brownlow Thames Television Restoration with a Stereophonic Orchestral Score by Carl Davis. There are sections tinted blue, sepia, purple, etc ~ with some significant sections tinted with the "primitive" early Technicolor two-tone process. The "explanation sections" are also tinted, and are in English, with subtitles available in French/ Italian/ German/ Czech/ Danish/Finnish/ Hebrew/Castellano.

The chariot race in this, is, arguably, the finest bit of action filming in the world, with the race being filmed using 42 different cameras, from all different angles, including the chariot driving straight over the camera, a camera following a team of horses in close-up; massive statues in the arena. It was watched by Robert Surtees over and over before he started filming it for his Oscar-winning Cinematography in the 1959 Ben Hur, and he insisted that Yakima Canutt (The Second Unit Director ~ and in charge of the stuntmen and choreography of the race) and his team, and the photographers who were assisting him should watch it so many times that they would automatically start to produce a similar race. William Wyler, who had assisted in the direction of the 1925 race, wanted to produce a race as perfect as it was possible to be without injury, to reproduce the 1925 chariot race in his 1959 feature film.

I loved this version. It was very true to the original book while of necessity cutting out all the philosophical and metaphysical discussions which I had "skimmed" when reading the book ~ enough of the original characters were retained, if in a reduced form, to maintain the sense and flow of the book. The film concentrated as much on the Story of the Christ, the Son of Mary, as it did on the son of the House of Hur (the title "Ben" meaning "son of"), balancing the religious and the secular. This made it, for me, a beautiful story for Christmas, as it did not stop at the Nativity, but carried on throughout His life and Crucifixion and new beginning; all against the backdrop of Roman oppression and Jewish unrest and yearning for their Deliverer, their Messiah to come and free them.

I know it was a bit melodramatic at times, but the story moved on well with the explanation/dialogue panels between the moving scenes very well cut. There were also some really funny scenes ~ like the family going to be counted in the pre-nativity sequence who lost the youngest toddler; then he comes along being pulled by the little dog . . . and Judah, Ben Hur chasing and rescuing the white dove in the marketplace. Parts of the dialogue were very deep, and where Scripture was quoted, the colour panel also showed the Biblical Book quoted.
BONUS FEATURES (Disc 4)

• There is a new 2005 Documentary added: "Ben Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema" in which a number of modern Directors, Cinematographers, Producers, Production Designers, Composers, Film Editors, Sound Designers, Film Historians, Costume Designers, etc. discuss the way the 1959 Version of Ben Hur affected their perceptions and the way they work today. The interviews are spliced into 10 sections ~ the Title Sequence ~ "The First Intimate Epic" ~ A Product of the 50's ~ Expanding the Cinematic Experience ~ Setting New Standards in Design ~ Costume Design - Revealing Character ~ The Musical Score ~ The Chariot Race ~ One for the Ages ~ and ~ Credits. As the various people are talking, there are sections from the film, storyboards, costume design, and so forth interspersed with Archival footage and stills and news reel shots; sometimes you see the Interviewees, and sometimes the example of their own work they based on the innovations they learned from Ben Hur.
• The 1994 Documentary "Ben Hur: The Making of an Epic" is unchanged, apart from being placed on the Bonus Features Disc.
• Ben-Hur: A Journey Through Pictures ~ replaces the "On Set Photo Gallery" and shows plans, drawings, Stills, Storyboards, Music and Dialogue.
• Vintage Newsreels Gallery shows the various promotional News Releases which were shown in Cinemas next to other feature films in the preparation to opening and marking milestones in the film's history and world-wide release.
• Highlights from the 32nd Academy Awards Ceremony (4th April 1960) include all 11 Winners receiving their Oscar Statuettes and their responses (Sam Zimbalist's widow accepted his), and some of the stars were shown arriving and departing. Very moving, but, like the newsreels, more interesting in an historical context.
• Trailer Gallery (including similar trailers intended for slightly different release) replaces the single trailer.
• Screen Tests feature wasn't changed.

Final Thoughts

I had never seen the film before renting the 2-sided DVD in November 2007 although I was quite familiar with the book; I was aware the film existed, and had seen posters of the Title/Chariot Race and so forth, but hadn't really had a burning desire to watch. I am somewhat disappointed now that I never saw this on the Big Screen (Borrow the Biggest Screen you can find!), but am pleased to have finally watched not just the MAIN 1959 Feature, but also the Restored 1925 Silent Version, and all the other extra features.

This Collector's Edition is very good value for money, and I can highly recommend it

My son bought me:

1. Wordsworth Classics version of the book from HMV for £1;
2. The 2-sided DVD version of the film from HMV for £3.99;
3. The Four-Disc Collector's Edition from HMV for £7.99.

Prices fluctuate and can be on special offer at various times from various places.

© 2007 . . . jesi . . . ! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ! 

...less