Born to Run... or race, rather

Rating: 10/10 (8 April 2004)

Watching a film like this and "The Ten Commandments", it's easy to see why Kirk Douglas had Charlton Heston in mind when he spoke about actors famous for playing heroes who must have really believed that heroes existed.
A few years after he scored a bulls eye with "The Ten Commandments", Charlton Heston plays the title character, Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish Prince enslaved by Masala (Stephen Boyd), the very man who was his best friend when they were children. In addition to enslaving Ben (Heston), Masala breaks up Ben's family and imprisons his mother and sister. After enduring years of pain and punishment, Ben is freed by Roman General Jack Hawkins for saving his life at sea, becomes his chariot racer and surrogate son, and is later freed to do what he will. Along with acquiring a girlfriend, Ben tracks down Masala and threatens to to beat the crap out of him if he doesn't release his family and if they're dead, then he's as good as gone. When they find that his mom and sis have the plague, his girlfriend lies to him and tells him that they're dead and that his mom's last words were to get on with life because they don't want him to see what they've become. But Ben is mad and does the only thing an angry man can do: he destroys his friend-come-enemy Masala in the chariot race, only to regret slaying him later, especially after Masala tells him his mom and sis are actually still alive.

After tracking them down and struggling with lots of conflicting feelings, Ben's mom and sis are cured by the Lord and they live as happily ever after as possible during this particular era, as it happens to be the time of Christ's death and resurrection.
This ranks with "The Ten Commandments" as being one of Heston's best films. Once again, Heston is right at home in this giant epic and his chiseled in stone features, physique, deep voice and dignity are utilized to great effect. Despite his lack of scren time, Boyd is a strong foil to Heston, who dominates almost every scene he's in. Plus everything surrounding Heston and the cast is great: beautiful sets, well designed costumes and the spectacular chariot race. This one deserves its place in the pantheon of Hollywood classics.