Long Ago & Not So Far Away, An Empire Started Here

Rating: 10/10 (17 October 2006)

Quite long ago, on a planet that we are on, a 16 year old saw this movie & then with a vivid imagination, developed in his mind a science fiction saga which borrowed many elements from this film. When the scene of the stars in the sky form over Bethlehem & that special star forms, that image makes one wonder in awe about our universe. Wyler's awe inspiring sequence has definitely been extended. The magic star here marks where Christ is born, & it is that magic which would ironically become a death star in the teenagers mind. The universe that the star is located in, even more magical.
That teenager was George Lucas. This film has an evil Empire (Rome). It has an all powerful force (Christ) which unites Arab & Jew to overcome & defeat Rome. In fact, the Empire actually helps create its own defeat like Anakin Skywalker does by crossing into the dark side. Masala betrays his childhood & past by embracing the evil Roman Empire. Most folks don't realize, the novel this is based upon is a great work of Fiction, from the 19th Century.
Many people have realized the small parallel (pod races) between this movies chariot race & George Lucas saga. What most don't realize is the overall theme parallel between them as well. When a 16 year old Lucas saw this film, he built upon it's fictional plot to build an entire Science Fiction Empire. Even the slave theme,the betting sequence & the virgin birth are all borrowed in Episode 1.
Stephen Boyd in his greatest screen role as Masala is in the races here. The crime is that Boyd never got more roles like this as his talent here is great as basically a co-star. 4 horse chariots, & magnificent looking horses. Instead of Darth Vadar, we have the Emperior of Rome, his designate is Pontius Pilate whose role in Biblical History is more notable than Jabba the Hut's in Star Wars saga is.
This is the role Charlton Heston will be most remembered for. Granted, he played Moses & Taylor in the original Planet of the Apes film, but this film is his, all the way. The film story is centrally located on Judah Ben Hur. It has some diversions such as his relationship with Mesala,his encounters with Jesus Christ, his family, the Roman master from the slave ship, & the Arab Prince whose white horses he races in the great chariot race. All the supporting folks are excellent in their roles.
Heston compliments the British supporting cast acting particularly in making the film stronger.
The original novel by (Gen) Lew Wallace was actually written in the 1800's. It's theme is something which doesn't even work in the modern world, the alliance of an Arab with a Jew. This screenplay credit for this version is deceptive in that Gore Vidal and another writer rewrote the script as shooting was going on. Their work is amazing considering they were often one day ahead of shooting their rewrites. In the novel, & earlier 1925 version and the Broadway shows which preceded it, Judah Ben Hur is converted by his encounters with Christ to being a Christian. This was changed in the 1959 version to appeal to a wider audience.
Things to look for- the opening depiction of the birth of Christ by Wyler, the depiction of Christ teaching crowds of people, the stunning portrayal of the crucifixion without all the violence Mel Gibson found necessary later in the PASSION Of The Christ where he was trying to present graphic details rather than the existential ones which are done effectively here. The Carpenter shop & tie ins of Christ with Judah Ben Hur. The Roman galley ship battle sequences are well done too.
There is a silent version of this which is interesting made in 1925. The stories are roughly the same with a few differences including the ending. Full sized Roman Galleys were built for the 1925 film and one was accidentally torched & burned during filming with the actual fire being used in the final film. Both films were MGM's most expensive projects when they were made. Both included filming in Italy, though the 1925 version got so messed up in Italy that it had to be finished in the United States.
Heston spent a month prior to filming learning & practicing how to race the actual chariots. The white horses are named after stars whose names are later used in Science fiction works.