04-03-2018, 09:16 AM
I've loved that movie from childhood. I have a soft spot the old "sword and sandal" pictures. And I think it may be Heston's best, although it might be a tie with Planet of the Apes.
Here's some trivia, from script doctor Gore Vidal, roughly as told in The Celluloid Closet: Stephen Boyd, who played Messala, says to Vidal that it just doesn't make sense that Messala would be so vindictive over a political disagreement. So Vidal tells him to play it like he's in love with Ben Hur. Boyd says that Heston would never go for that, so Vidal says "We won't tell him."
I've just started watching the remake, which seems like it will be crap, but I'll let you know.
Here's some trivia, from script doctor Gore Vidal, roughly as told in The Celluloid Closet: Stephen Boyd, who played Messala, says to Vidal that it just doesn't make sense that Messala would be so vindictive over a political disagreement. So Vidal tells him to play it like he's in love with Ben Hur. Boyd says that Heston would never go for that, so Vidal says "We won't tell him."
I've just started watching the remake, which seems like it will be crap, but I'll let you know.
the hands that guide me are invisible