Confessions of a Film Junkie: A “Classics” Review of “Ben Hur”
By: Lauren Ennis
Following the advent of television in the early 1950’s,
Hollywood was forced to face its first serious competitor in popular
entertainment. In order to combat the easily accessible, and often light
weight, fare that enthralled television audiences, Hollywood struck back in a
big way with its new favorite trump card; the epic. In an era before premium
channels and mini-series, television could offer comedies and melodramas on par
with Tinseltown’s finest, but it simply could not compete with the sheer grandeur
of cinema’s period pieces. As cinema saw a return of box-office record
breakers, Hollywood responded by releasing a seemingly endless stream of
historical epics. Unfortunately, many of these films relied more heavily upon
special effects and exotic costumes than dialogue and plot development, and
have aged poorly as a result. Despite the fact that many films of this era are
now considered more camp than art, a few select films stand out from the trend,
including one of the most powerful films of the genre, Ben-Hur.
Over time, Ben-Hur has
become engrained in American pop-culture and inspired countless other films.
The film has been parodied and imitated so often that at first glance its many
twists and turns seem cliché. Upon closer observation, however, it becomes
evident that this is in fact a masterfully crafted work that ‘they don’t make
‘em like’ anymore. Despite the limited special effects of the time in which it
was released, the film is able to successfully transport viewers across a vast
scope of first century locations ranging from the market-places of Judea, to
the tents of Arab nomads, to the palaces of Rome. The famous chariot race in
particular remains a cinematic landmark. Not only does the scene utilize expert
stunts and breathtaking action, but it also excellently summarizes the central
conflict between the film’s hero and villain. |
| Actor Charlton Heston plays the title character Ben-Hur |
Ben-Hur was
released at the tail-end of the historical epic craze which also included such
classics as The Ten Commandments and Spartacus. Like The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur featured leading man Charlton Heston
and a cast of thousands. Unlike The Ten
Commandments, however, this film focuses upon the personal struggle of an
ordinary man forced to withstand extraordinary circumstances. The film
chronicles the efforts of a Judean prince to reclaim his former life and attain
vengeance after being convicted of a crime that he did not commit. After
refusing to act as an informant for the occupying Roman forces, Judah Ben-Hur is
betrayed by his former friend Messala and sent to the galleys as sentence for
an attempted murder charge. Messala openly admits that the charge is false but
still carries the charge even further by arresting Judah’s mother and sister as
co-conspirators. Through a combination of persistence and circumstance Judah is
eventually able to escape and make his way home with a new identity. Upon his
return, he immediately pursues obtaining revenge against Messala and freedom
for his mother and sister. Although he eventually does gain vengeance, his
victory is at best bittersweet, as he continues to blame himself for the arrest
of his mother and sister who have contracted leprosy and been banished in his
absence. This bitterness eventually consumes him and alienates those closest to
him. It is only after Judah learns to move on with his life and let go of his
hate that he is able to finally achieve redemption.
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| Messala in "Ben-Hur" (1959) |
One of the most difficult aspects of completing the screenplay reportedly
was resolving the motivation of villain, Messala. In the film, Messala betrays
his childhood friend after the latter refuses to act as an informant for the
Roman Empire. The writers found it difficult to believe that a man would betray
his friend over politics and attempted to include a gay subtext into the script
in order to explain Messala’s seemingly over blown reaction. Personally, I was
shocked to read that the writers would not see the significance and divisive
effects of politics a mere fifteen years after the end of the Second World War.
This is particularly striking when one considers the fact that Hollywood was in
the midst of the McCarthy era, which saw the destruction of countless
relationships and livelihoods, particularly in the motion picture industry, as
the result of a political ‘witch-hunt’.
Ultimately, the most compelling aspect of the film is the
protagonist’s psychological struggle after he regains his freedom. While
attaining his freedom was his immediate goal, achieving it is an empty victory
because he cannot share it with his family. Even after finally obtaining
vengeance against Messala, Judah is still a tormented man. He isolates himself
from his former slave turned love interest, Esther, and lashes out at her each
time that she offers him consolation. At one point, Esther becomes so
frustrated with Judah that she compares him to Messala and says she cannot love
the man he has become. Although his argument with Esther does lead him to
question his decisions, it is not until he witnesses the crucifixion of Christ,
another wrongly convicted man, that he gains a sense of perspective, which
ultimately leads to his redemption.
 |
| Ben-Hur meets Jesus |
The presence of Jesus is a recurring theme that puts the story
into a historical context without undermining its central conflicts. In many
ways, Jesus is a foil to Judah; both are citizens of an occupied country who
are persecuted for trying to do what they believe is right. The dignity that Jesus
exhibits during his trial and crucifixion directly contrasts the obsessive rage
that consumes Judah after his own conviction. Their acquaintance eventually
comes full circle after Judah recognizes Jesus as the stranger who gave him
water during his journey to the galleys. He asks a fellow spectator what Jesus
could have done to deserve such a fate. The man explains the prophecy that
Jesus was meant to fulfill by taking “the world of our sins onto himself” and says
that it was for “this beginning” that he was born. It is at this moment that
Judah is finally able to see the possibility for a new beginning at even the
most tragic endings and determines to rise above the bitterness of his past.
I chose to review this film in honor of Easter, but recommend it
to viewers of any faith to watch during any season. Although the film does
feature a religious motif, its central themes of family, hope, patriotism, and
justice are universal. The characters’ struggle to maintain their personal
lives in an increasingly politicized world continues to be relevant in today’s
world of economic and social uncertainty. Despite the advances of modern
special effects, the action sequences, sets, and costumes remain truly epic and
cannot be matched. At the very least, I recommend this film to any viewer
interested in seeing how truly great movies are made and to those curious to
see what exactly they ‘don’t make ‘em like’ anymore.
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