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My Good Friday ritual: watching "Ben-Hur" … all 3 1/2 hours of it
By Thomas Bean | What more can be said about a true film classic that was so grandiose in design and epic in its proportions that pop culture still occasionally gives a nod of respect its way even now, some 43 years after its theatrical release?
It is a story set in a classic time, filled with storylines worthy of a classic. Friendship, betrayal, revenge, forgiveness, life, death, sickness and emotion. It has blades, boats, chariots, violence, love and faith. It was Gladiator well before Gladiator made its triumphal appearance. And though Gladiator is indeed a fine and wonderful film, its overall scope and impact fall short of Ben-Hur. Yes, Ben-Hur, that classic film of years ago that starred Charlton Heston once again in a loin cloth. Ben-Hur, with its famous chariot race scene that can only be done justice on a big screen and DVD. Ben-Hur, the film that goes on for 3 1/2 hours. At least they still used intermissions back then! I know Lord of the Rings sure could have used one. Some may not feel Ben-Hur is as great of a film as I do. (I think Ben-Hur should be on anyone’s and everyone’s top ten movies of all time lists, certainly not 74th like it is on the AFI’s top 100). But few movies have made such an impact on other films of its own day, films of later years, public consciousness, pop culture, even cartoons (like Looney Tunes). When a movie is assimilated into the culture at large, its value and quality cannot be downplayed. Personally, however, Ben-Hur’s value and impact on pop culture, though not lost, means little overall to me. After all, other movies also have had large impacts on society, at least culturally speaking. Ben-Hur’s value is much more on a personal level for me and is why it is in my top three movies of all time. So children, gather around and I’ll regale a tale about how Ben-Hur — a movie made 18 years before I was born, in a different era for movies than the one I was born into and raised with — became of such import for me. Sometime back in middle school — you remember those horrible years? — I came down with the flu. I felt pretty rotten, as you might expect. I couldn’t do much more than drink some water and lay around. Well, my dad had bought Ben-Hur on video sometime before and, since I couldn’t very well jump around, what better for a kid with the flu to do than watch a 3-1/2 hour long film? I watched it three times. Well, like I said, I was sick. But the memory of that film has stuck. And the moment of the film that has stuck with me the most is not the chariot scene. It is not the galley scene. It is not Charlton Heston, even though he does readily come to mind with any mention of the film. My strongest memory and my favorite part of Ben-Hur is the ending. I have seen many films. I have seen films that depict Jesus Christ. I have never seen a film that represents the crucifixion as honorably as Ben-Hur. In fact, if you have never noticed (I had seen the film a few times before actually noticing this), the movie opens with a title shot. It reads: "Ben-Hur: A Tale of Christ." A tale of Christ? I thought this movie was about some dude named Ben-Hur? Ben-Hur is definitely a tale of Christ, with strong Christian teachings and tones embedded. More importantly, though, is how the story is told. Judah Ben-Hur (played famously by Heston) is a man from a wealthy and prominent Jewish family. His boyhood friend Mersallus, a Roman, has returned as a Roman Tribune to keep order in the land. After an accident kills the new governor, Messala decides to make an example of his dear friend and send him to the galleys while Ben-Hur’s mother and sister are thrown into a dark prison cell. The rest of the film is mostly devoted to Ben-Hur’s intense desire for vengeance. Through various circumstances, Ben-Hur is able to gain his freedom and return to Jerusalem. However, not to be lost is the occasional appearances of Christ. No face is ever seen, no voice ever heard. But Jesus is a powerful figure as his appearances begin to increase as does the inflection of the film. It begins to divide into Ben-Hur’s hate and the love Jesus teaches (as relayed through Esther, the freed slave who loves Ben-Hur). The last several scenes capture the building emotion and energy as Ben-Hur and Esther go to seek the "prophet’s" help. But they find that this man is on trial and has been condemned. Suddenly, Ben-Hur recognizes him. He is the man who had given Ben-Hur water and the will to live soon after Ben-Hur’s arrest. The film’s focus is on Jesus through the eyes of Ben-Hur and those closest to him. It is through these eyes that the symbolic washing away of hate, sin and pain is displayed. It is through their lives that redemption and "new life" is illustrated. Sure, the film is long, but its message and Christological mindset is priceless and always worth a viewing. But Ben-Hur actually holds more importance to me than just another great film. It personally affected me. More precisely, it has had an impact on my theology. Now that sounds a little blasphemous, but I promise you that it isn’t. Ben-Hur is not what I have based my entire Christian faith upon. That would be silly and immature. Films are not intended for that purpose nor should they serve such purpose. However, films can have profound effect on people’s views and emotions through what and how a subject is presented. For instance, it is no wonder that the Jesus film has been so widely used in missions, conferences, churches and the like. Ben-Hur did not lead me to salvation, mind you. I had already been a believer for seven or eight years. What it did was help me to see vividly and emotionally the power and importance of Christ’s crucifixion on the cross. As I said, no other movie has ever portrayed the Crucifixion so powerfully and yet honorably. (No offense to other films, many have done fine jobs with this scene; but Ben-Hur did not try to reenact it, just bring out the power of the message). The Crucifixion is the center of my theology, just as much as the Resurrection. I have often felt that churches do not do the Crucifixion justice. Christians do not appreciate just what the cross means. I think watching Ben-Hur is a way to help. It is not the answer, it is an assist. Easter weekend is the most important weekend to me. Christmas is great, but it means nothing without Easter week. And Easter never happened had Good Friday not first tragically occurred. But it did and I weep and praise God for that fact, that truth. For without the cross and the resurrection, I would still be lost and dead.
Anthony Obilor
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READER RESPONSES
its good to here from someone who cherish a particular film like
me.Ben hur is the best movie i have evere watch and it affected my christian life,
it tells me that no matter how one has betrayed you , you can still forgive.
the problem was i lost this movie 5 years ago i need another cd please help by
sending me a copy of this movie on vcd i wll be very happy.