Ben-Hur : a tale of the Christ
(DVD) 

Based on the novel by Lew Wallace.

Originally released as a motion pictures in 1925 and 1959.

Widescreen (2.76:1) and full screen (1.33:1) presentation; Dolby Digital 5.1 surround.

Silent black and white version was presented by Thames Television and Turner Entertainment as part of the Channel 4 (Great Britain) television series, Thames Silents. It had a new orchestral score by Carl Davis, and shown in black and white with original tints and technicolor sequences restored. The restoration was produced by David Gill and Kevin Brownlow.

Special features: Commentary by film historian T. Gene Hatcher with scene-specific comments from Charlton Heston; new digital transfer from restored 65MM elements; music-only track; Disc 3: the 1925 feature-length silent version of 'Ben-Hur with a stereophonic orchestral score by composer Carl Davis. Disc 4: 2005 documentary: 'Ben-Hur: The epic that changed cinema'; current filmmakers such as Ridley Scott and George Lucas reflect on the importance and influence of the film; 1994 documentary: 'Ben-Hur: The making of an epic' hosted by Christopher Plummer; 'Directed by William Wyler' the 1986 Emmy Award-nominated documentary featuring the last interview with Wyler before his death; 'Ben-Hur: A journey through pictures' a new audiovisual recreation of the film via stills, storyboards, sketches, music and dialogue; screen tests: Leslie Nielsen and Cesare Danova, Leslie Nielsen and Yale Wexler, George Baker and William Russel; highlights from the 4/4/1960 Academy Awards ceremony; vintage newsreels gallery; theatrical trailer gallery.

[1959] Director of photography, Robert L. Surtees ; art director, Edward Carfagno, William A. Horning ; editors, John D. Dunning, Ralph E. Winters ; music, Miklós Rózsa ; costume designer, Elizabeth Haffenden.

[1925] Photography, Rene Guissart, Karl Struss, Percy Hilburn, Clyde DeVinna.

[1959] Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Haya Harareet, Stephen Boyd, Hugh Griffith, Martha Scott, Cathy O'Donnell, Sam Jaffe, Finlay Currie, Frank Thring, Terence Longdon, George Relph, André Morell.

[1925] Ramon Novarro, Betty Bronson, May McAvoy, Francis X. Bushman, Carmel Meyers.

Judah Ben-Hur is a young Jewish nobleman from a prominent who is reunited with his childhood friend Messala. Messala returns to Judea as a Roman tribune. There is a genuine friendship between the two men, yet the clash of their cultures drives a wedge between them. That wedge finally drives Messala to banish Judah to the slave galleys and sends his mother and his sister to prison. From that point forward, Judah's life becomes a quest: a quest to survive and a quest for vengeance. Judah survives the galleys to become the adopted son of a Roman general, and his triumphant return to Judea permits him to challenge and subsequently confront Messala in a chariot race.

Not rated.

DVD, NTSC; dual layer, Region 1, widescreen (2.76:1) and full screen (1.33:1) presentation; Dolby Digital 5.1 surround.

English or dubbed French dialogue with optional English, French or Spanish subtitles (1959 feature film only) ; Closed-captioned.

Silent film with English intertitles and musical accompaniment.

Academy Awards, 1960: [Ben-Hur, 1959 version] Best Picture ; Best Director (William Wyler) ; Best Actor in a Leading Role (Charlton Heston) ; Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Hugh Griffith) ; Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture (Miklos Rozsa).

BAFTA Film Awards, 1960: [Ben-Hur, 1959 version] Best Film from any Source.

Golden Globes, 1960: [Ben-Hur, 1959 version] Best Motion Picture - Drama ; Best Director (William Wyler) ; Best Supporting Actor (Stephen Boyd) ; Special Award (Andrew Marton, for directing the chariot race).

National Film Registry, 1997: [Ben-Hur, 1925 version].

National Film Registry, 2004: [Ben-Hur, 1959 version].