Ben Hur (Film, 1959)
| Ben-Hur | |
 | |
| Original Title | Ben-Hur |
|---|---|
| Realization | William Wyler |
| Scenario | Karl Tunberg |
| Art Direction | William A. Horning Edward Carfagno |
| Sceneries | Hugh Hunt |
| Costumes | Elizabeth Haffenden |
| Photography | Robert L. Surtees |
| Mounting | Ralph E. Winters John D. Dunning |
| Music | Mikls Rzsa |
| Production | Sam Zimbalist |
| Company (s) of production | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Company (s) distribution | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| Language (s) original (s) | English |
| Format | Colors - Stereo Sound 6 tracks 65 mm - 2,76:1 |
| Genre | Peplum |
| Duration | 214 minutes |
| Output | 1959 |
| Principal (s) award (s) | 11 Oscars |
Ben-Hur is an American film of William Wyler released in 1959.
He won eleven Oscars in 1960 , which gives the record for the most award-winning film, tied with Titanic (1998) and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2004).
Summary |
Judah Ben-Hur, a prince of Judea , finds his childhood friend Messala came to take the head of the garrison of Roman Jerusalem. Messala is drunk with the power conferred to him by the Roman emperor at the time, while Ben-Hur does not want to live in peace, despite the rebellion that threatens to Judea. Having to choose between his friendship towards Messala and his loyalty to his people , Ben-Hur choosing loyalty. Which earned him the hatred of Messala. Returning home, he learns that Esther, the daughter of his steward , a slave , wants to marry. Ben-Hur, despite his love for the latter gives him the freedom to gift of marriage. Later, she declared to him, but respect his commitment to his betrothed.
Following the fall of a tile of the house family tiles missing killing the governor who paraded lowest Messala betrays his friend that he knows innocent throwing in jail his mother and sister, while condemning Ben-Hur the galleys. The latter then swear to regain his freedom and prepares his revenge.
- What follows reveals key moments in the plot.
On the path that leads into captivity, Ben-Hur receives water from the hands of a mysterious man that even the Roman soldiers respect , it is Jesus. Three years later the Romans decided to purge the Mediterranean of pirates Macedonian. During the confrontation, the head of the galley, the Roman Consul Quintus Arrius, falls overboard and Ben-Hur saves his life. Its fleet decimated, convinced of his defeat, Quintus Arrius wants to end his days, but Ben-Hur would prevent that. Collected later, they learn the Roman victory. To thank him for the gift of life, Quintus Arrius adopts Ben-Hur and offers him freedom.
During his stay in Rome , Ben-Hur becomes a skilled charioteer. Despite his victories and paternal affection, he longs to return to Judea. Back in his homeland, the sheik Ilderius invited him to participate in a chariot race , but Ben-Hur declines. He returns home to discover his palace into disrepair, but his fortune intact thanks to the loyalty of his steward.
He meets Pontius Pilate , who announces that he became a citizen of Rome. Also, he learns that Messala part in the chariot race. Featuring Roman citizenship , Ben-Hur sees a way to take revenge on Messala. Before the race, Messala it requires to know the whereabouts of his mother and sister, or he will pay his life. At the start of the race, Messala arrives with a chariot Greek terrible destruction machine equipped with long points toothed. The race is terrible, because drivers are engaged in a fierce battle, Messala is the most formidable. It requires Ben-Hur to engage in various feats to stay in the race and stay alive, just. Following a clash between their violent tanks, Messala grave, is trampled by his own horses and horses of the other tanks. Ben-Hur won the race and accept the laurels of glory. He subsequently went to the bedside of the dying Messala, who tells him that his mother and sister have contracted leprosy , disease incurable contagious then.
Collapsed, Ben-Hur returns home. The next day, despite the danger to catch leprosy, Ben-Hur went to the Valley of lepers at the gates of Jerusalem, where reclusive lepers and plague victims. They then see distance his mother and sister, which are fed by Esther. Following an altercation, Ben-Hur accusing the woman of lying when she accuses him of having become such Messala feeding on hatred and seeking revenge. Later, Ben-Hur is reconciled with Esther, who claims to know someone who can cure leprosy. Hesitating, he will eventually return to the Valley of the lepers to be reunited with his mother and sister and take them to the healer. It turns out that it is none other than Jesus. But it is too late, as Pontius Pilate just to condemn to death !
At the Stations of the Cross , Ben-Hur gave Jesus a drink, returning the favor done before. But his vow of healing can be realized: Jesus is crucified, becoming Christ. For Esther accompanies his mother and sister to the valley of the lepers, Ben-Hur pity on their plight.
Two miracles happen then: the storm broke, the earth trembles, and rain falls, refreshing and washing the land of Judea. Women, refugees in a cavity at the foot of Golgotha , a place of torment of Christ, are wet with blood flowing from the wounds of Jesus. Back at the palace, Ben-Hur discovers them healed. It can consider the future with serenity.
- End of Revelations.
Specifications
- Title: Ben-Hur
- Directed by: William Wyler What is the "Original Aspect Ratio" in "Ben Hur"
It is difficult to answer this question, recall the facts:
Since the release of The Robe in 1953 the vast majority of rooms with a projector was equipped with 35mm lens anamorphic CinemaScope screen and 2.55: 1. Needs room for magnetic sound tracks had nevertheless already reduced production at the 2.35:1 Cinemascope
The rooms "upscale" they were equipped for 70mm projector with a ratio of 2.21: 1 but with a picture quality and designed to be projected onto a flat screen.
There are also rooms Cinerama and other systems quivallent.
MGM's finances are in danger and "Ben Hur" was the project launched to restore the MGM afloat, so it was not the time for them to try to impose a new standard is the need for MGM was to shoot a film which could be screened in 35mm anamorphic 2.55 flat screens while having the visual quality necessary to make copies of 70mm flat 2.21: 1 (recall that the films were 70mm tunes in the 65 mm 5mm remaining for accommodating the magnetic tape 6 tracks stereo sound)
It is solely for that purpose they decided to shoot the film in 65mm anamorphic prism with a known ratio 1.25: 1 which gives us the famous 2.76: 1 while protecting the area 2.21: 1. This system called Ultra Panavision 70 was originally scheduled for permmettre, protecting at the time zone 1.85:1, released copies Cinerama 3 reels quivallent cheap thing to a 2.89:1 format, copies 35mm 1.85 flat: a 16mm anamorphic 2.40:1 copies and copies Flat 16mm 1.85:1 these possibilities were not exploited for "Ben-Hur."
In this way copies 2.5:1 35mm could be drawn from the negative and copies flat 2.21: 1 by 70mm high quality.
So at its initial release in theaters in 1959 it was mainly operated in 2.5:1 anamorphic 35mm print with 4-track magnetic stereo + the monaural track). We note with great interest at that time the 35mm anamorphic 2.35:1 had been reduced to the 2.5:1 was therefore obtained by hardmattant film.
It was also used in 70 mm flat 2.21: 1 with 6 tracks in stereo knobs upscale rooms. Few rooms were still equipped with 70mm Screen 2.76: 1 anamorphic and lens of 1.25x but it is very anecdotal.
During his second operation in 1969 copies in hardmattes 70mm 2.5: 1 were used together with copies again with 35 mm anamorphic 2.5: 1.
It is not obvious to define a single SRO for "Ben Hur" although the film was shot in 2.76:1 could legitimately say that the SRO is 2.5:1.
Distribution
Stephen Boyd (Messala)
Jack Hawkins (Quintus Arrius) 
Hugh Griffith (Sheik Ilderius) 
Haya Harareet (Esther) - Charlton Heston (VF: Jean-Claude Michel ): Judah Ben-Hur
- Jack Hawkins (VF: William Sabatier ): Quintus Arrius
- Haya Harareet (VF: Maria Tamar ): Esther
- Stephen Boyd (VF: Marc berry flats ): Messala
- Hugh Griffith (VF: Robert Manuel ): Sheikh Ilderius
- Andr Morell (VF: Rene Arrieu ): Sextus
- Martha Scott : Miriam
- Cathy O'Donnell (VF: Janine Freson ): Tirzah
- Sam Jaffe (VF: Henry Ebstein ): Simonides
- Finlay Currie (VF: Jean-Paul Miller ): Balthazar
- Finlay Currie (VF: Jean Marchat ): The narrator of the beginning
- Frank Thring (VF: Jean-Pierre Marielle ): Pontius Pilate
- Terence Longdon : Drusus
- Mino Doro (VF: Gerard Frat ): Gratus
- George Relph : Tiberius
- John Le Mesurier (VF: Roland Mnard ): The surgeon arenas
- Stevenson Lang (VF: Paul Villa ): A blind
- Aldo Silvani (VF: Gerard Frat ]: A Nazarene
- Noel Sheldon (VF: Michel Gatineau ): A centurion
- Marina Berti (uncredited): Flavia
Honors
- Awards
- Oscars 1960 :
- Oscar for Best Picture for Sam Zimbalist , producer
- Oscar for Best Actor for Charlton Heston
- Oscar for best supporting actor for Hugh Griffith
- Oscar Best Director for William Wyler
- Oscar for best art direction for William A. Horning , Edward Carfagno and Hugh Hunt
- Oscar for Best Cinematography (color) to Robert Surtees
- Oscar for best costume design for Elizabeth Haffenden
- Oscar for Best Special Effects for Milo B. Lory (audio), A. Arnold Gillespie and Robert MacDonald (visual)
- Oscar for Best Editing for John D. Dunning and Ralph E. Winters
- Oscar for best film music for Mikls Rzsa
- Oscar for best sound for Franklin Milton
- Golden Globes 1960:
- Best drama
- Best Director for William Wyler
- Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Stephen Boyd
- Special Price for Andrew Marton as director of the chariot race
- British Academy Film Award Best Film 1960
- Appointments
- Best actor in a drama for Charlton Heston
- Oscar for best adapted screenplay for Karl Tunberg
Box Office
-
U.S. : 74 million
Trivia
- Other players have been offered the role of Ben-Hur: Rock Hudson , Paul Newman and Burt Lancaster. The latter declined the offer because he disagreed with the moral violence of history. As for Paul Newman's coquetry, he pretended not to have the legs to carry the proper coat.
- The scene where Ben-Hur is rejected at the end of his car and managed to go back there, is actually an accident made by the unexpected stunt. Catches have been retained and incorporated into the film with a close-up dummy of Charlton Heston.
- White horses were transported from Czechoslovakia in Rome in air (first class!).
- To prevent the decorations are reused without permission of the producers in Italy , MGM has decided to destroy them at the end of filming.
- The galley used in some fight scenes also posed many problems.
- The model made after the plans of a professional history was too heavy and did not take on water during the tests Wed. It was then installed in a pool with cables attached to the anchor to ensure its stability.
- The pool water without the color of the Mediterranean Sea , a chemist was hired to remedy. However, the chemicals he used created a crust on the surface of the water, he had to snatch at great expense sides of the ship.
- The large 65 mm cameras that can be operated on board the galley was removed from the pool, cut in half and placed on a shelf for filming interior scenes.
- The trains , too long, had to be shortened, but became too light to handle, they became unreliable. The problem was solved this time by using hydraulic jacks that pulled them down.
- The group of death metal Children of Bodom has used a passage from the intro movie for their song "The Nail.
- The French expression "stop your car, Ben-Hur" had previously existed in the form of "stop your Charre" within the meaning of "spoof", and was subsequently amended in popular speech after the film's success in 1959 .
See also
Bibliography
- Claude Aziza, Do not stop your car, Ben-Hur "in History, No. 312, September 2006, pp. 30-31
External link
Also on Wikibooks the quotes "Ben-Hur (film, 1959)".- (En / fr) Ben-Hur on the Internet Movie Database - more complete version in English
References
- Assisted by Yakima Canutt and Andrew Marton for the chariot race, and Sergio Leone and Mario Soldati for 2nd team (not credited in the credits).
- CNC, " Box Office 1960 ", NCC, 2010. Accessed December 2, 2010
- [1]
Loading ...