Cheap Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (Video) (Ramon Novarro) (Fred Niblo, Christy Cabanne, Charles Brabin, J.J. Cohn, Rex Ingram (II)) Price
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| ACTORS: | Ramon Novarro |
| CATEGORY: | Video |
| DIRECTOR: | Fred Niblo, Christy Cabanne, Charles Brabin, J.J. Cohn, Rex Ingram (II) |
| THEATRICAL RELEASE DATE: | 08 October, 1927 |
| MANUFACTURER: | Warner Studios |
| MPAA RATING: | NR (Not Rated) |
| FEATURES: | Black & White, NTSC |
| TYPE: | Classics (Silents/Avant Garde) |
| MEDIA: | VHS Tape |
| # OF MEDIA: | 1 |
| UPC: | 027616147431 |
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Customer Reviews of Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
A Great Film The silent version of Ben-Hur produced by the newly formed Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is a first rate epic. It was dogged by disaster: the replacement of the director (Fred Niblo took over), the actor playing Ben-Hur (George Walsh) and much of the location shot footage (done in Italy) was unusable. A warehouse fire destroyed many of the props. The production was moved from Italy back to the United States and, thanks to Irving Thalberg, the movie was an enormous success establishing MGM as the top movie studio.
It is indeed interesting to see how much the remake in the 50's borrowed from the 1925 version. The silent version, for me, has the better (and more violent) sea battle sequence, and although the chariot race (on which Thalberg spent $300,000) may not as spectacular as the 1959 version it is very well done. When Messala's chariot looses a wheel he is hit by three other drivers, which made quite an impressive stunt.
The budget for this version of Ben-Hur came to $3.9 million, a fortune in the 1920's but the money is on the screen. Francis X Bushman may be a little hammy but he is an effective villein. Ramon Navarro makes a heroic, yet vulnerable, Ben-Hur.
Much superior to the Heston version
Wow! Even if you have little experience with silent movies, even if you erroneously believe that the 1959 Charlton Heston version of this movie surpasses all, you must see this film. It is a cinematic masterpiece, sumptuously photographed, faithful to Lew Wallace's novel and many scenes will quite simply knock your socks off.
Ramon Novarro is handsome, boyish and enchanting as Judah Ben-Hur. His performance is infinitely beyond anything Heston is capable of delivering. He plays Ben-Hur as the character was presented in the novel, devoid of ths histrionics, anger and over-acting which plagued the remake. Francis Bushman does overact and give an excessively bravuro performance as Mesalla, but he's not on screen as much as Stephen Boyd would be later on.
And what about the color sequences? Yes, there was actually color movies made in 1927, a fact I did not know. There are several color sequences which stun and fascinate. The chariot scene is epic and among the most stellar scenes ever shot in movie history; the same can be said for the galley scene, where the slaves sit three in a row and are rammed to death by Pirates on the high seas. Again, the 1959 version cannot hold a candle to this version in the epic, grand scenes.
Get this movie and cherish it. I've watched it three times in the past month and am amazed at its scope, depth and power. Beautiful masterpiece!
DVD NOW!!!
Wouldn't it be neat if both editions of Ben Hur were availiable in a two pack or even a special edition with extras and compare/contrast commentaries on both? I think these studios are really missing the boat and missing a major moneymaking enterprise by not getting these silent classics out on dvd. I actually prefer this olderr edition. It moves along faster and seems like a greater accomplishment from a filmmaking pov. Both are brilliant, of course, and its just a matter of subtle differences.