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Posted: |
Nov 26, 2012 - 10:27 PM
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By: |
pp312
(Member)
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I just saw BEN HUR for the first time last night, on TCM. It was pretty good. I think it was a little long and could benefit from some judicious editing, but other than that I liked it.
It's a big story, and takes a while to tell. I'd be interested to know what you would have cut out, because right off the top of my head I can't think of any wasted space in the film (though that chariot race thingy does take up a lot of time!). I would agree, though, that it could be considered "pretty good," having won a mere 11 Academy Awards. (No sense going out on a limb.)
There's probably no wasted space in that sense, Dana, just a generally leisurely pace. It was always thus. We shouldn't think that today's ADHD generation just don't have the patience, because I can remember comments in 1960 along the same lines. Hell, even Heston complains of it being too long in his work notes.
My opinion is that it's probably too leisurely for a general audience but not for fans. I wouldn't cut any scenes, but if I were directing I might have speeded things up a little. On the other hand I'm not Wyler, and I think there were good reasons why he lingers where he does (in fact I'm still discovering this film's depths). For instance, the scene of Judah's and Arrius' rescue, where an inordinately long time seems to be spent drinking water, is of course part of Wyler's and Fry's water metaphor that runs throughout the film--one of many running metaphors.
Incidentally, has anyone noticed the Christ references throughout the pre and post race scenes? Judah's prayer before the race: "Into your hands I commend my life"; Pilate's crowning Judah after the race: "I crown their god", with Judah then looking very much like Jesus with the crown of thorns. And all this after Balthasar has mistaken Judah for Jesus at the oasis. Oh, there's much in those 3+ hours. 
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Posted: |
Nov 27, 2012 - 12:19 AM
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By: |
Dana Wilcox
(Member)
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There's probably no wasted space in that sense, Dana, just a generally leisurely pace. It was always thus. We shouldn't think that today's ADHD generation just don't have the patience, because I can remember comments in 1960 along the same lines. Hell, even Heston complains of it being too long in his work notes.
My opinion is that it's probably too leisurely for a general audience but not for fans. I wouldn't cut any scenes, but if I were directing I might have speeded things up a little. On the other hand I'm not Wyler, and I think there were good reasons why he lingers where he does (in fact I'm still discovering this film's depths). For instance, the scene of Judah's and Arrius' rescue, where an inordinately long time seems to be spent drinking water, is of course part of Wyler's and Fry's water metaphor that runs throughout the film--one of many running metaphors.
Incidentally, has anyone noticed the Christ references throughout the pre and post race scenes? Judah's prayer before the race: "Into your hands I commend my life"; Pilate's crowning Judah after the race: "I crown their god", with Judah then looking very much like Jesus with the crown of thorns. And all this after Balthasar has mistaken Judah for Jesus at the oasis. Oh, there's much in those 3+ hours.
Though certainly not the world's most patient 11-year-old at the time, I remember sitting in the theater watching BEN-HUR on the big screen, completely transfixed, so moved by the story and the music. And then it was over, and I was barely aware of how much time had passed. I do think that the experience of seeing it in a theater made a large difference (I was fortunate to see it 2 or 3 times that way). But I'm happy to be able also to watch it on Blu-ray in my living room, which I do once or twice a year, and as you say, to discover things I missed the last time I watched it. I have to be in the mood and have the time (I usually do it when my wife is out of the house for the afternoon and I can be sure there will be no distractions). I can understand how one might find 212 minutes just too long for any movie, period, but for me it's all good, and that's just how long it takes to tell this particularly story coherently.
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Posted: |
Nov 27, 2012 - 6:12 PM
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By: |
pp312
(Member)
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Totally agree with this. I was 14 at the time and totally mesmerised. Everything about the film was so grand and reverent and dignified; it touched me, as they say, where I lived, and is still my all-time favourite film. I must have seen it 30 times in the years since, but as you and Basil suggest it really must be seen under the best conditions--if not a cinema then at least a big screen TV in Blu ray. And again as Basil has mentioned, no one who wasn't there can imagine what a huge event this film was. They not only don't make them like that anymore, they don't present them like that.
Well spoken.
Ah... You live on dead dreams. the myths of the past. The glory of Camera65 has gone– do you think it will return? Heston will not rise again to save us, nor Wyler!
That should be "...no, not Wyler!" Get it exact, Basil!
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I think given the temper of the times heavenly choirs are best kept to a minimum, whatever the original was.
On the contrary, Messala, given the "temper of the times," heavenly choirs should be loud! 
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