AdventureDramaRomance

Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

- Amazing! Thrilling! Colossal! Mighty!

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. A slip of a brick during a Roman parade causes Judah to be sent off as a galley slave, his property confiscated and his mother and sister imprisoned. Years later, as a result of his determination to stay alive and his willingness to aid his Roman master, Judah returns to his homeland an exalted and wealthy Roman athlete. Unable to find his mother and sister, and believing them dead, he can think of nothing else than revenge against Messala.

Release Date : 1925-12-25

Language :No Language

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Judah Ben-Hur

Original Name : Ramon Novarro

Gender : Male

Character Name : Messala

Original Name : Francis X. Bushman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Esther

Original Name : May McAvoy

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mary

Original Name : Betty Bronson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Princess of Hur

Original Name : Claire McDowell

Gender : Female

Character Name : Tirzah

Original Name : Kathleen Key

Gender : Female

Character Name : Iras

Original Name : Carmel Myers

Gender : Female

Character Name : Simonides

Original Name : Nigel De Brulier

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sheik Ilderim

Original Name : Mitchell Lewis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sanballat

Original Name : Leo White

Gender : Male

Character Name : Quintus Arrius

Original Name : Frank Currier

Gender : Male

Character Name : Balthazar

Original Name : Charles Belcher

Gender : Male

Character Name : Amrah

Original Name : Dale Fuller

Gender : Female

Character Name : Joseph

Original Name : Winter Hall

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Reginald Barker

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : John Barrymore

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Lionel Barrymore

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Clarence Brown

Gender : Male

Character Name : Roman Guard (uncredited)

Original Name : Manuel Caballero

Gender : Male

Character Name : (uncredited)

Original Name : Gilbert Clayton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Joan Crawford

Gender : Female

Character Name : Wealthy Man (uncredited)

Original Name : Jacob Dance

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Marion Davies

Gender : Female

Character Name : Charioteer of Corinthian Bay Team (uncredited)

Original Name : William Donovan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Bill Elliott

Gender : Male

Character Name : (uncredited)

Original Name : Ray Erlenborn

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Douglas Fairbanks

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : George Fitzmaurice

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Sidney Franklin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Slave Girl (uncredited)

Original Name : Rosita Garcia

Gender : Female

Character Name : Slave Girl (uncredited)

Original Name : Janet Gaynor

Gender : Female

Character Name : Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : John Gilbert

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Dorothy Gish

Gender : Female

Character Name : Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Lillian Gish

Gender : Female

Character Name : Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Samuel Goldwyn

Gender : Male

Character Name : Centurion (uncredited)

Original Name : Harry Gordon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Sid Grauman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : William Green

Gender : Male

Character Name : Crowd Member (uncredited)

Original Name : Noble Johnson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Rupert Julian

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Henry King

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Harold Lloyd

Gender : Male

Character Name : Slave Girl (uncredited)

Original Name : Carole Lombard

Gender : Female

Character Name : Charioteer (uncredited)

Original Name : Cliff Lyons

Gender : Male

Character Name : (uncredited)

Original Name : Mickey Millerick

Gender : Male

Character Name : Slave Girl (uncredited)

Original Name : Carlotta Monti

Gender : Female

Character Name : Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Colleen Moore

Gender : Female

Character Name : Jesus Christ (uncredited)

Original Name : Claude Payton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Mary Pickford

Gender : Female

Character Name : Extra (uncredited)

Original Name : Satini Pualoa

Gender : Male

Character Name : (uncredited)

Original Name : Leonora Summers

Gender : Male

Character Name : Charioteer (uncredited)

Original Name : Tom Tyler

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hedonist (uncredited)

Original Name : Christiane Yves

Gender : Female

Character Name : Roman Guard (uncredited)

Original Name : Gary Cooper

Gender : Male

Character Name : Roman Guard (uncredited)

Original Name : Clark Gable

Gender : Male

Character Name : Slave Girl (uncredited)

Original Name : Myrna Loy

Gender : Female

Reviews

sykobanana

@sykobanana

2021-06-23

What an epic. Watching this, you can see why Wyler wanted to remake it in the 50s. In this, you can see the emotions of the characters that are much more fleshed out compared to the first (unauthorised) screen version. Set design and costumes are grand, though the hairstyling is reminiscent of the 1920s (but maybe Romans were into that). The score is typical silent movie fare. Colourising the "Biblical scenes" is a neat touch (reminiscent of "red letters" in a lot of Bibles), it focuses the viewers attention to where Wallace wanted the attention drawn. This is very faithful to the book. The set pieces are what you watch this for though and they do not disappoint. The naval battle is great and the chariot race... is jaw dropping for its time. Two and a half hours though feels a bit long though. Given that this is nearly a century old, this is a great look into cinema's past.

Tourma

@Tourma

2023-11-14

What an amazing, absolutely beautiful film. Especially for nearly a century ago, but for any movie ever. The backgrounds, the grand sets, the sheer amounts of extras, and the animation of the stars and the coloring of the biblical scenes. Just...wow. And topless women! Its got everything. (not Mary) WI first heard about this version after seeing a video on TCM about silent films. Gonna watch the '59 version tomorrow. An absolute must watch if you like Bible fanfiction. ~~~ It's Public Domain and free on the Internet Archive. Better than paying Google for it.

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2024-07-27

With the Roman legions securely ensconced in his Judaean homeland, Prince "Judah Ben-Hur" (Ramon Navarro) hopes that the arrival of his childhood friend "Messala" (Francis X. Bushman) might make things a bit easier for his conquered people. Fat chance! His erstwhile friend is far more concerned with impressing his boss and keeping the locals under control. An incident during the arrival procession of the new Governor gives the new regime exactly the opportunity it wants to stamp it's authority and that sees "Ben-Hur" sent to the galleys and his mother and sister to prison. Luck hasn't quite abandoned our hero, though, as the fleet on which he serves goes into battle and he ends up rescuing the Consul "Arrius" (Frank Currier) who proceeds to adopt him as his son and give him the opportunity to race his teams of horses in the great circus of Rome. He's determined to get back home to find his family, though, and soon returns to find them dead and his former friend a champion of the races. With the backing of "Sheik Ilderim" (Mitchell Lewis) he takes to the track to avenge himself on his rival. This is all set at the time of the rise of Christianity and culminates with the crucifixion of Christ - a man in whom "Ben-Hur" had enormous faith. Perhaps even a faith strong enough to restore his loved ones to him? It takes a little while to get going, this, but once the action elements of it take shape, it's an astonishing piece of cinema. The maritime scenes - not just the battles, but the triremes and the sheer scale of the cinematography are truly impressive. I suspect there quite literally was a cast of thousands involved at the chariot race which is photographed excitingly with some creative direction (and editing) making for compelling stuff. Navarro is a natural in this part with his characterisation animated and personable. The supporting characters deliver well too, with Betty Bronson's "Mary" and May McAvoy's enamoured slave girl "Esther" giving us a little more than fluttering eyelashes and vacant smiles. Parts of it are in twin-strip colour and when in Rome, well they have the effect of making it look like Oz as compared to Kansas. The sacred imperial city in it's gold and purple contrasting with the dark grimness of his monochrome native land oppressed by a great fortress. It does take a few liberties with Lew Wallace's book, but I think Fred Niblo decided to leave the more biblically focussed epics to Cecil B. and what we have here makes 2¼ just fly by. This is great film-making with actually very little need for a musical accompaniment or even inter-titles.