As though He were carrying in that cross the pain of the world. –Miriam
I am working my way through AFI’s top 100 list (10th anniversary edition).
So, let’s get started!
#100 Ben-Hur (1959)
William Wyler’s Ben-Hur is an epic masterpiece. The film contains over a million props, over 300 sets, 78 horses, 15,000 extras in the chariot race alone, and over 1,250,000 feet of raw film. It is arguably the first epic film to usher in a new era of filmmaking still used today. Take a look at Gladiator, Lord of the Rings, Troy or even Star Wars and you will find pieces of Ben-Hur.
The film depicts a Jewish man, Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston), living in the time of Christ. The life and death of Christ is beautifully woven into the fictional story. Christ remains a mysterious figure in the background, never speaking or revealing his face. His path merely passes in out of Ben-Hur's life. The Bible is a backdrop, but not the focus of the film which brings a fresh perspective, and displays Christian principals without over stating them.
Ben-Hur is not only a spectacular film, but it is historically significant. The following is a list of a few ground-breaking accomplishments:
• A remake of a 1925 silent film, it became the first remake to win an Academy Award for Best Picture.
• One of the widest prints ever made, with a ratio of 2.76:1.
• Shot with a revolutionary camera known as “MGM Camera 65.” It later became known as “Ultra Panavision 70.”
• Won a record 11 Academy Awards. The only other films to reach such a record are Titanic and Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.
Star: 4/5
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