1959 Ben-Hur

1959 Ben-Hur

I think everyone I know had seen this movie, so I don't know how I went through life not having seen it, but I'm glad that now I have.

Here's the story:

Ben-Hur runs parallel to, and intersects with, the story of Jesus.  Ben-Hur is a wealthy and prominent Jewish man living in Jerusalem with his mother and sister, when his childhood friend, Messala, a Roman soldier, comes to town.  Messala has been put in charge, and he wants Ben-Hur to turn in the names of his fellow citizens that don't support the Roman regime.  Though willing to support Messala in any way he can, Ben-Hur cannot justify betraying the people that have confided in him: "If I cannot persuade them, that does not mean I will help you...murder them. Besides, you must understand this, Messala. I believe in the past of my people, and in their future."  Messala transforms from best friend to mortal enemy of Ben-Hur so fast it makes your head spin.


Then an unfortunate incident during a Roman parade, in which a loose stone falls from Ben-Hur's balcony when his sister leans on it to get a better view and hits a soldier below, leads to Ben-Hur's unjust arrest.  He is sentenced to work in the galleys (on the way, he meets Jesus, who gives him some water), and his sister and mother are arrested as well, even though Messala knows it was all an accident.  Messala says that "By condemning without hesitation an old friend, I shall be feared."  When Ben-Hur's ship goes down in a battle, he rescues the Roman Consul, Arrius, and is adopted by Arrius, becoming like a son to him.

Of course, Ben-Hur is not going to sit around in luxury while the fate of his sister and mother remains unknown, so he returns to Jerusalem.  His love interest, a former servant girl named Esther who has continued to love him despite all the years he's been gone, discovers that they are in a leper colony, having contracted leprosy in jail.  They make her promise not to tell Ben-Hur.  Having become a renowned charioteer, he enters a chariot race against Messala, and emerges victorious, with Messala mortally wounded.  You'd think Messala would want to make peace, considering he's on his death bed, but nope, not really.  He does, however, tell him that his sister and mother are still alive and in the leper colony (kind of a "Haha, your mama's a leper, and now....I...will...die..." moment).

Esther, in the meantime, has discovered Jesus, and wants to take Ben-Hur's sister and mother to see him.  Unfortunately, Jesus has already been arrested and is on the way to His crucifixion.  Witnessing this, and recognizing Jesus as the one who gave Him water, Ben-Hur finally accepts His message of forgiveness, letting go of his hatred and yearnings for vengeance, and his mother and sister are healed: "Almost at the moment He died, I heard Him say, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."...Even then. And I felt His voice take the sword out of my hand."

Wow, right?  Quite an epic.

There's pretty good acting (though I preferred Charlton Heston in The Greatest Show on Earth), and the plot went right along without dragging, which is impressive since it's almost 4 hours long.  The famous chariot race has stood the test of time, and is still suspenseful and exciting.  It has the feel of an Oscar winner.