Charlton Heston was the king of epic films, among them The Ten Commandments, El CID, 55 Days at Peking and Khartoum. The biggest and best of his films was Ben-Hur. It is large in scope and has very memorable scenes, among them, the unforgettable chariot race. It was directed by William Wyler. It also stars Stephen Boyd and Jack Hawkins.
Ben-Hur is about a Jewish prince, Judah Ben-Hur, (Charlton Heston). He has everything in life, until his friend, Messala, (Stephen Boyd) betrays him, and has him sent to the galleys, and his mother and sister imprisoned. Ben-Hur spends several years as a galley slave, until he saves the life of Quintas Arrias, (Jack Hawkins), a Roman consul. He is so grateful to Judah, that he frees him, and adopts him as his son. While living in Rome, Ben-Hur, has become a great charioteer. He has a wonderful life as a Roman nobleman, but he is not happy. He wants to find his mother and sister, and seeks out Messala. He goes back to Jerusalem, where he meets Shiek Ilderim played by Hugh Griffith. He has horses that he wants to race in the arena. Ben- Hur trains them and enters them into the race. This is not your average chariot race. It’s a high stakes, winner take all race.The only catch is that Judah’s betrayer, Messala, is in the race, and is as skilled a charioteer as Ben-Hur. There are several chariots in the race, but it comes down to the two rivals. Messala uses a spiked chariot to give him an advantage. When that doesn’t work, he uses a horse whip to beat Judah. It’s while using his whip, that Massala loses control of his chariot, and it flips over. He is run over by the other entrants’ horses. He is picked up and taken for medical aid. Ben-Hur goes to see him, [Messala], before he dies. With his final breath, Messala, tells Judah that his mother and sister are alive, but they are lepers. He finds them and takes them to his family home. He finds out that a rabbi named Jesus, has been condemned to death. While Jesus is going to Mt. Calvalry, he offers him water. After Jesus is crucified, his mother and sister are miraculously healed, and Ben-Hur’s bitterness and hate goes away, and the movie ends.
Of all the acting performances in a Hollywood film, Charlton Heston’s performance as Judah Ben-Hur, is one of the best. It won him an academy award. It’s a stirring performance, showing a proud man who can’t be broken, even when he’s a galley slave. He’s shows his resolve when Messala asks him to tell him the people who oppose Roman rule. He refuses and Messala says you’re either with me or against me. Judah looks at him and says with absolute determination, “ If that is the case, then I am against you.” Heston gives a figurative slap to Alex Hawkins character, Quintas Arrias, after he saves his life. He looks at him and tells him, “Row well and live.” When he comes back to Jerusalem, Ben-Hur sends a dagger to Massala. He doesn’t understand why Ben-Hur, now known as Quintas Arrias, would send him a wonderful gift, since he doesn’t know him. Charlton Heston enters and gives a deadpan response saying, “You Know him Messala.” Heston’s character shows his strength, when immediately after his appearance to Messala, he takes his ring and imprints it on a tablet, saying “You know his seal.” Heston shows a grief stricken man, when he sees his mother and sister in the leper colony. He is even more upset when he finds out his love, Esther, played by Haya Hareet, lied to protect him. Charlton Heston saves the best for last, when he feels the Lord’s power take away his hate and bitterness.
The character of Messala is convincingly played by Stephen Boyd. His character is the exact opposite of Ben-Hur. Messala is totally corrupted by power, and exacts his revenge, when Ben-Hur, won’t go along with his plans. Stephen Boyd shows the cold unfeeling personality of Messala, when Ben-Hur says, “God grant me vengeance when I return.” he will exact vengeance when he returns. Messala says sarcastically, ‘‘return?” Stephen Boyd is at his best when Messala is dying. The doctors tell him that they must take care of his wounds immediately. He says no, that he will wait for Judah to come. When Judah arrives, Messala doesn’t show remorse. He takes delight in telling Judah that his mother and sister didn’t die, but are lepers. After this Messala dies, a corrupted man.
Jack Hawkins plays the Roman consul Quintas Arrias. He shows the arrogance of the character very well. This is shown when the consul addresses the galley slaves. He tells them, “You live to serve this ship, so row well and live.” Jack Hawkins shows the character’s shame, when he sees his fleet of ships burning and sinking. He tries to kill himself, until Ben-Hur stops him. Hawkins also shows gratitude, in a humble scene where he legally adopts Ben-Hur, and gives him his ring with his seal.
William Wyler was a two time academy award winning director, when he made Ben-Hur. His work on this movie earned him his third academy award. The full title of the book, was called Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. He had many scenes in the movie that show that it is about the Lord. The film opens with the birth of Jesus and the wise men coming to see him. When Ben-Hur is going to The galleys, he is given water by Christ. A centurion knocks the water from Ben-Hur, and says “ No water for him.” Jesus looks at him, and Ben-Hur can’t say anything, because he sees Jesus divinity. It’s a powerful scene. The scene is reversed when Jesus is being led to Calvary. Judah recognizes him as the man who gave him water. He returns the favor, and again the water is knocked down. The scenes of the Lord’s passion are very graphic. During this, Balthazar, the last of the three kings says, “I’ve lived too long.” In all of the scenes with Jesus, his face is never shown. This was William Wyler’s decision. The final scene is the most moving. Ben-Hur’s mother and sister are cured and he is freed of his bitterness and hatred. It also shows Jesus blood flowing in the water after the storm, symbolizing his sacrifice for humanity.
William Wyler’s depiction of the galley slaves and their horrible life, is shown when they are rowing to a beat that increases when the ship needs to go faster. The scenes showing the panic and the terror of the slaves who can’t get away, when the Roman ship is sinking, shows Wyler’s talent as a director. What can be said about the chariot race? It remains one of the best action sequences ever filmed. You cant take your eyes off of it, and you feel like you are there. William Wyler uses the not so subtle symbolism of Ben-Hur’s horses being white, and Messala’s horses being black. This designation for good and evil certainly isn’t original, but works well in this movie.
Ben-Hur remains one of the best films Hollywood ever produced. It won eleven academy awards, a record that stood for decades. It’s story about a man who has everything, but goes back to reclaim his heritage still resonates today.