Erstwhile childhood friends, Judah Ben-Hur and Messala meet again as adults, this time with Roman officer Messala as conqueror and Judah as a wealthy, though conquered, Israelite.
REVIEW
This program continues the festival's tradition of commissioning an original jazz score for a classic silent film. The score was composed by J.C. Sanford and will be performed by the Central New York Jazz Orchestra.
Ben-Hur is a wealthy Jew and boyhood friend of the powerful Roman Centurian, Messala. When an accident leads to Ben-Hur's arrest, Messala, who has become corrupt and arrogant, makes sure Ben-Hur and his family are jailed and separated.
Ben-Hur is sent to work in the galley of a Roman warship. Along the way he unknowingly encounters Christ, the carpenter's son who offers him water. Once aboard ship, his attitude of defiance and strength impresses a Roman admiral, Quintus Arrius, who allows him to remain unchained. This actually works in the Admiral's favor because when his ship is attacked and sunk by pirates, Ben-Hur saves him from drowning.
Arrius then treats Ben-Hur as a son and over the years, the young man grows strong and becomes a victorious chariot racer. This eventually leads to a climactic showdown with Messala in a chariot race, in which Ben-Hur is the victor.
Ben-Hur is eventually reunited with his mother and sister, who are suffering from leprosy but are miraculously cured by Christ.
| Year | 2009 |
|---|---|
| Country |
United States |
| Language | English |
| Category | Fiction |
| Runtime | 143 minutes |
| Rating | NR |
Director
Fred Niblo
Production Company
MGM
Producer
J. J. Cohn
Written By
Lew Wallace
Cinematographer
Clyde DeVinna, Rene Guissart, Percy Hilburn, Glenn Kershner, Karl Struss
Editor
Lloyd Nosler
Music
William Axt, Carl Davis, David Mendoza
Principal Cast
Ramon Novarro
