h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Ben Hur - the Film - A2128934
Author: Shazz PRME(emeritus) - U48304

A greatly abridged version of this was used in the 'We Didn't Start the Fire' entry.

I don't know how you managed to sum up the plot so succintly.

Excellent entry

Sums up perfectly one of the best films of all time. Certainly deserves to be in the Edited Guide (IMO).

This film is on my all-time top ten list.

Can't resist it when I see it in the schedules, well done Shazz.

"Filmed in 'glorious technicolor' for wide-screen viewing" oooh, you're gonna get a slap on the wrist for that - I did in my 'Flintstones' entry. I'll see if I can find the thread to explain:
F2464696?thread=961214 post 33


"Judah confronts Messala and demands to know what has happened to his mother and sister. Messala complies and they are found, still imprisoned but suffering from leprosy" - this needs a sentence to explain why Messala complied with Judah's request:
Judah did not arrive and request admittance to Messala's presence as Judah Ben-Hur. He arrived as the son of Arrius, and presented a gift of a fabulous dagger, prompting a discussion between Messala the bearer of the gift, who tells him in response to his "I didn't know Arrius had a son" that "Arrius adopted a slave"

Also at the beginning, I think Judah & Massala's relationship was much more than friendship, they were more like brothers - which is why they so spectacularly fell out with one another. They loved each other - not in a homo-erotic way but in a close-male-relative way.

I'm so pleased that you haven't mentioned that Heston wore his watch in the first chariot race, and the scene had to be re-shot, or is that just an urban myth?

Well done Shazz, I can't wait to see this film again

GB

prompting a discussion between Messala AND the bearer of the gift,

There is a myth about there being a little red sports car visible in one of the chariot racing scenes. I have looked for it in vain. has anybody else seen it?

When watching that scene (and I've lost count how many times I've seen it) I find it very difficult to watch anything but the action, even though I try.

The last time there was some kind of "list" on channel 4, they managed to interview one of the stuntmen - the one who got tipped out of his chariot and chucked against the inner wall. He said it was real, and it took him months to recover from his injuries, and the expression on his face - visible in the film - of utter horrified fear just before he crashes - he didn't have to act it, he really was in fear of his life.

I guess there were no "Health & Safety" issues in those days

Thanks for that GB. I have added a little more detail to the plot as you suggested and changed the reference to 'technicolor.

I have also added a paragraph at the end about the myths and continuity problems.

Any other points or problems let me know

shazz

Brill. "Messala complies Miriam and Tirzah are found, still imprisoned but suffering from leprosy." Just needs a comma after "Messala complies,"

Two of your blockquotes have quote marks which aren't necessary, otherwise I give this a great big "thumbs-up"

How about including a section of trivia about the film - things that reportedly happened during the shooting, contemporary reactions to the movie when it came out, that sort of thing? I'd just like to see a little beyond a plot summary.

IMDB has a trivia section:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052618/trivia

Comma added thanks GB

I think that this is as far as I want to go really. I think that the awards and accolatations mentioned underline the popularity of the film. I mention the urban legends associated with the film. Anyone really curious about further details could search for more details. I don't want to overload the entry with trivia but present the bare facts.

Hello Shazz

For my money, the 1925 version is the better of the two Anyhow, that's what I thought I was going to read about.

Given that the entry is about the 1959 version, perhaps the title could reflect that?

I'll come back with more detailed comments later

Fb

Hi FB

So - 'Ben Hur - The 1959 Film' as the title?

*Quakes in anticipation of FB's comments*

shazz

That looks fine to me

Don't quake Shazz, I'll be gentle...

Blimey.. I haven't even read it yet....

The plot is brilliantly summarised I wonder if the entry could be fleshed out a bit? Read on...

As it stands the title could be Ben Hur - the book, or Ben Hur - the story. It's not specifically about the 1959 film (except for the intro and the actors' names). In order to make it more specific, some stories from the set would be interesting. Any chance of some of the 'myths and legends' that you allude to in the final paragraph?

Where was it filmed in Italy? Was it all filmed there?

Did it really take 6.5 years to film, or was that preparation time - the sentence about it doesn't quite make it clear?

What impact did the film have upon the actors/director etc involved?

Is the story based on anything from the bible btw? I've always assumed it's a work of complete fiction, but maybe not?

Fb

>>The plot is brilliantly summarised<<

I'll take another look at it Fb and maybe consider a change of title. I must admit that the original entry was written for the 'Fire' series of Master B and, as with most of that song, it was hard to tell whether it referred to the man or the film so I tried to cover all bases.

I should be able to track down the exact film location so I'll get on to that tomorrow and check that ambiguous sentence about filming. If it stays as 'Ben Hur - The Film' then I'll have to upset GB and include the bit about CH wearing a watch and elaborate on the ever decreasing/increasing/decreasing chariots.

As far as I know the characters of Judah, Messala etc are all fictional and just interwoven with the facts presented in The Bible - think 'The Robe'. I will check to make absolutely certain.

shazz

OK - here goes:
"Nine chariots start the chariot race. After the first crash, there appear still to be nine chariots in the race. After the third crash, six are shown, but as Ben Hur passes to catch up, clearly there is a total of seven in the race. After five have crashed, five are left. Messala is the sixth chariot to crash, but Ben Hur and three others finish the race. Thus, nine chariots start the race, six crash, and four finish."

Messala damages Ben-Hur's chariot with his saw-toothed wheel-hubs, but when Ben-Hur drives up to Pontius Pilate to receive his prize, his chariot is undamaged.

During the chariot race, shadow lengths/directions clearly show that passage of time (filming) inconsistent with length of "actual" race.

During the chariot races Ben Hur's horses go from lilywhite to white with grey spots (different horses for different shoots).

When Ben-Hur's and Messala's chariots lock wheels Messala's wheel shatters but in the shot of the overturning chariot, the wheel is intact.

The Arab horse trader at one point swears "by the beard of the Prophet". The Prophet Mohammed was not born until 600 years after the movie is set.

While serving as a slave on the Roman war ship, Ben Hur is referred to as "number 41" but the roman numerals on the wall next to his position are LXI which is 61.

Sheik Ilderim pins a star of David onto Ben Hur's belt before the race, obviously to goad the Romans, but the star of David wouldn't not become a symbol of Judaism until the Middle Ages, in Eastern Europe.

Take your pick, Shazz, I can't find any reference to Charlton Heston wearing a watchso maybe it's an urban myth.

All the above doesn't spoil the enjoyment of the film,

oh and I *really* think this deserves a mention:
The film was one of the first to involve huge marketing tie-ins, including hundreds of toys as well as 'Ben-His' and 'Ben-Hers' towels (if you're gonna include trivia)

GB That's brilliant Great stuff.

I would only include this: "nine chariots start the race, six crash, and four finish"

Hey, who's counting?

and the marketing of the s and the Roman-numeral b*lls-up - but it's not my entry

Whatever Shazz puts in, I'll be happy

RL beckons, gotta take my parents to the but I'll be back to update my entry on QEII