William Wyler’s 1959 feature has never looked better
It’s been well over a decade since a Hi-Def restoration of Ben-Hur was first rumored to be in the pipeline, and now here it is. The winner of 11 Academy Awards in 1960, and perhaps the benchmark for Hollywood epics, has gotten a 4K restoration and release that gives this Golden age feature a new lease of life. Charlton Heston (with a a committed and stirring performance) plays the titular Judah Ben-Hur, a prominent member of the Judean upper-classes who collides with his childhood friend Messala (Stephen Boyd, serving as the perfect foil to Heston), a man who has now pled his allegiance to Rome. The divide between the two falls into conflict and Ben-Hur and his family are soon arrested. Subjugated as a galley slave, he shows his aptitude and it taken under the wing of a naval general. Their eventual return to Rome offers him a chance at confronting Messala, avenging his downfall, and reunion with his family.
A simple synopsis, but taking in the era, the scale of several set pieces, the emotional swell, and the peripheral presence of one Jesus of Nazareth, bourgeons the film into it 212 minute runtime. The film was a hail Mary from the MGM studio, an entity that had stumbled for a few years with various flops and losses and the impact of the Paramount Decrees in 1948. A punt of $19 million dollars (over 250 million in todays money) to make a statement and to try to light up the box office. An investment in hundreds of sprawling sets, a colossal number of extras, costumes, and props, new camera technology led to not just excesses of $76 million worldwide, but also critical success and a slew of awards.
Adapted from Lew Wallace’s Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (which had already been adapted for the big screen in 1925) the script by Karl Tunberg is both expansive and intimate, and subtly drops the subtitle of the book, hinting at shifts in focus. Director William Wyler embraces the historical aspect of the tale over more overt leveraging of religious themes (you still get a crucifixion though!). Exploring the fall and rise of a righteous man against the backdrop of the politics and maneuvering of Rome. Wyler blends scale and spectacle, notably in the films centerpiece the chariot race. But it is so well balanced with the emotional side of the story. Not just the plight of Ben-Hur and his family, but his fractured friendship with Messala and the ensuing fallout of his betrayal.
At over 65 years old it isn’t all that daring to say the film has dated in some ways. The romantic subplot certainly feels rather wooden, morality is depicted in a rather binary fashion, and post-chariot race, the film never quite matches the energy of a sequence that is so defining of the film as a while. But, the film remains a towering feat, balancing old school filmmaking, acting gravitas, and a level of pomp around the production that remains unbeaten today, with it’s influences across cinema across the last 6 decades being undeniable.
The Package
Shot by cinematographer Robert L. Surtees on Ultra Panavision 70, this 4K release stems from a fresh 8K scan of the original 65 mm camera negative. It is a verdant transfer. Detail is perhaps the most impressive feature here, with the costumes, set dressings, stonework, all impeccably realized. Blacks are deep and solid, colors rich and robust, the Dolby Vision notably is showcased well here. The image is not overly processed, with an earthy undertone and natural grain persisting. Some of the title cards in the film do look a little unrefined, this is undoubtedly down to the original media and stock limitations. Other than this, the image quality is clean, with no crushing or artifacts noticeable. Just an epic transfer for an epic film. The release collates a series of legacy features and admirably adds in some new ones:
- Ben-Hur: Anatomy of an Epic (NEW): A new featurette, running under 10 minutes, but amalgamating behind the scenes footage, and comments on the film from film historians and critics
- The Cinematography of Scale (NEW): As above, but with contributions from filmmakers and cinematographers, focusing on more of the technical merits, notably the (then) new camera system used to shoot the film
- Charlton Heston & Ben-Hur: A Personal Journey: Draws from home-video footage and Heston’s personal journal to paint a portrait of making the film. It also weaves in contributions then and now from the Heston family, making this a nice, personally tilted insight
- Ben-Hur: The Making of an Epic: A deep dive into the adaptation of the film from the original novel, the influences of the ’25 version, and coverage of the shoot and release. Narrated by Christopher Plummer and not in 4K.
- Ben-Hur: A Journey Through Pictures: Stills and behind the scenes images
- Screen Tests: George Baker and William Russell
- Screen Tests: Leslie Nielsen and Cesare Danova
- Screen Tests: Leslie Nielsen and Yale Wexler
- Screen Tests: Haya Harareet and Make-Up Test
- Commentary by Film Historian T. Gene Hatcher with Charlton Heston (2 Parts): A standout addition here, blending the technical and professional insights, with the more personal and frank contributions of the star
- Music Only Track Showcasing Mikos Rózsa’s Award-Winning Score (2 Parts)
The Bottom Line
When you utter the words Hollywood epic, a scant few films immediately come to mind, and Ben-Hur is one of them. This 4K restoration reaffirms its status as a grand, sweeping epic, but one that meets those moments with a emotional and character focused balance. With this new release, William Wyler’s ambitious work looks set to set itself apart for another 65 years.
Ben-Hur is available on 4K-UHD from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment now!
