An enduring classic

Rating: Null/10 (4 January 2002)

I first saw this film in the Viking theatre in Philadelphia. That theatre was a true cinemascope theatre - the 50s equivalent of an imax experience. Needless to say, the film does not translate well to the small screen. The chariot race, easily the most spectacular sequence ever put on celluloid, loses much of its power when watched on the small screen. Yeah - you folk with the in home theatres still won't fully appreciate how spectacular that sequence is. The only sequence that comes close is the chase scene in Bullitt. But you can't appreciate that either by watching it on a TV.

The film won 11 oscars and deserved every one of them. A very long film - it had an intermission in it's original release, but it's never boring. A tribute to the writers and director.
This movie is a classic in every sense of the term. Heston has said that this film could not be made today. Sadly, he's right. Don't miss the opportunity to view this film - if it's in a theatre.