Editor Reviews:

Description:
After his boyhood friend Messala's fanatic loyalty to Rome makes him a powerful enemy, Judah Ben-Hur is found guilty of an attempted murder he did not commit. His family is banished and he is enslaved on a warship. Through his ferocity in a raging sea battle, he is able to escape and become a horse trainer. To exact his revenge, Ben-Hur decides to compete against Messala in the Roman chariot races. They race, locked in a battle to the death. Barely surviving, Ben-Hur forsakes the sword for Christ and finally finds redemption. Winner of a record 11 Academy Award, including Best Picture and Actor (Charlton Heston).

Amazon.com essential video:
Ben-Hur scooped an unprecedented 11 Academy Awards® in 1959 and, unlike some later rivals, richly deserved every single one. This is epic filmmaking on a scale that had not been seen before and is unlikely ever to be seen again. But it's not just running time or a cast of thousands that makes an epic, it's the subject matter, and here the subject--Prince Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) and his estrangement from old Roman pal Messala (Stephen Boyd)--is rich, detailed, and sensitively handled. Director William Wyler, who had been a junior assistant on MGM's original silent version back in 1925, never sacrifices the human focus of the story in favor of spectacle, and is aided immeasurably by Miklos Rozsa's majestic musical score, arguably the greatest ever written for a Hollywood picture. At four hours it's a long haul (especially given some of the portentous dialogue), but all in all, Ben-Hur is a great movie, best seen on the biggest screen possible. --Mark Walker

Rating : - A Tale That You Will Not Forget! The Second Greatest Film in History!
There are tales that have been told and this is a tale that will stay with you long after you have seen it! It is an epic spectacle in film making. This particular DVD set gives you the full background of this film including the feature version and it also includes the silent version of 1925 that is glorious. This version of 1959 is the second greatest film ever made coming a close second to 'The Ten Commandments.' William Wyler has wrenched his full emotions while making this film and the magic has been brought out alive on the screen also principally through the majestic score of Miklos Rozsa. In fact, this score even eclipses the super effort of Elmer Bernstein for the Ten Commandments. The theme of Christ and the individual themes of Judah Ben Hur, Messala and the suffering leprosiac mother/sister are excellent examples of background scoring. Charlton Heston scores in a big way once again in the principal role of Judah Ben Hur. Stephen Boyd as Messala is stunning and is as forceful as Heston. They are ably supported by Jack Hawkins as Quintus Arrius. This is a Tale of the Christ with Christ shown only in the background. This is done in a masterful way. The crucifixion, the storm succeeding it, the Sermon on the Mount, Christ helping Judah with water and the reverse during the climb to Golgotha are very subtly captured with mesmerising music by Rozsa. If you feel films are a document of a director's expression, then this is one jewel to be treasured. Lew Wallace's novel has been given a crown with this screenplay. This is Wyler's best effort. This DVD set is a Collectors' item that I will cherish eternally.