Ben-Hur

Yesterday I went to see Ben-Hur on the big screen as part of the TCM Big Screen Classics series and it was an awesome spectacle!  Messala (Stephen Boyd) is a Roman tribune who returns to Jerusalem as the new commander of the Roman garrison.  He has a joyous reunion with his childhood friend Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston), a wealthy prince in Jerusalem.  Messala asks Judah to help quell the rebellion that is brewing in Jerusalem but they soon quarrel when Judah refuses to spy on his people.  During a military parade, a tile falls from Judah's house injuring the new governor and Judah, his mother, and sister are arrested.  Messala, wanting to curry favor with the governor, sentences Judah to be a galley slave while the fate of his family is unknown.  Judah vows revenge for this betrayal.  After several years, Quitus Arrius (Jack Hawkins), a Roman consul, is assigned to Judah's ship and notices his will to live.  Arrius has Judah's chains unlocked just before a battle allowing him to escape the sinking ship as well as rescue him.  In gratitude, Arrius takes Judah to Rome where he learns to drive a chariot.  Eventually, Judah returns to Jerusalem to seek his mother and sister.  When he, erroneously, hears that they are dead, he challenges Messala to an epic chariot race.  A parallel story to Judah's involves that of Jesus Christ and his birth, ministry, and crucifixion.  They have two brief but meaningful encounters with each other which allows Judah to forgive the Romans for what they have done to him and his family.  This movie is epic in every sense of the word.  It had the biggest budget of any movie up to that point with thousands of extras, horses, and costumes and a crew of 200 to create over 300 sets.  It was the highest grossing movie of 1959 and won 11 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director for William Wyler, and Best Actor for Charlton Heston.  I thought it was amazing, especially the chariot race which is absolutely thrilling.  It was so much fun to see this again on the big screen and I highly recommend it!  You have one more chance to see it on Wednesday (go here for tickets and information).