Charlton Heston

Rating: 8/10 (11 November 2013)

William Wyler directed this Academy Award winning(best picture and director) film about the biblical story of Judah Ben-Hur(played by Charlton Heston in an Academy Award winning best actor performance)who starts out as a rich Jewish prince and merchant, whose childhood friend Messala(played by Stephen Boyd)was recently appointed commander of the Roman Legions. Trouble starts when their political and religious views clash, and after an unfortunate accident in which the Roman governor was almost killed, Messala is forced to send Ben-Hur to the slave-ship galleys, and his mother and sister to prison. Betrayed and enraged, Ben-Hur vows revenge and escape, which he manages, leading to the thundering Chariot race where the grudge will be ended, though he still must find his family... Huge-scale production is magnificently directed and acted, with the climatic chariot race an all-time standout. Does go on quite long, but is still most worthwhile.