Ben-Hur (silent film)
"Ben-Hur" (1925) is a silent film adaptation of Lew Wallace's 1880 novel, recognized as the most expensive silent film ever made and a landmark in cinematic history. Set in the first century CE during the life of Jesus Christ, the narrative follows Judah Ben-Hur, a wealthy Jew, and his childhood friend turned adversary, Roman officer Messala. After being falsely accused by Messala and enduring enslavement, Judah seeks revenge, ultimately becoming a renowned charioteer. The film is particularly celebrated for its iconic chariot race, a groundbreaking action sequence that has inspired filmmakers for generations.
Despite a troubled production that began in 1922 and faced numerous challenges, including weather and creative disputes, "Ben-Hur" achieved critical and commercial success upon its release. The film's themes of redemption and forgiveness are embodied in Judah’s journey, culminating in his conversion to Christianity following miraculous events involving Jesus. Starring Ramon Novarro as Judah, it also revived the career of Francis X. Bushman. "Ben-Hur" has left a lasting legacy in American cinema, earning a place in the Library of Congress for its historical significance.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Ben-Hur (silent film)
Identification: Silent film set in the Roman Empire
Director: Fred Niblo
Date: 1925
Ben-Hur, a religious epic featuring lavish sets and frequent use of two-strip Technicolor, was the most expensive film of the 1920s and the most expensive silent film ever made. The film is perhaps best known for its climactic chariot race, a spectacular action sequence that greatly influenced the future of filmmaking.
Based on the best-selling 1880 novel by Lew Wallace, Ben-Hur takes place in the first century c.e., concurrent with the life of Jesus Christ. The central characters are Judah Ben-Hur, a Jew from a wealthy Jerusalem family, and the Roman officer Messala. Once childhood friends, the two quarrel at the start of the film, ending their friendship. When a minor accident occurs, Messala takes the opportunity to blame Judah, having him enslaved and his mother and sister imprisoned. Judah becomes a galley slave, but he is freed and adopted after saving the life of the wealthy Roman fleet commander Quintas Arrius. Although he yearns to return home and find his mother and sister, Judah instead becomes a famed charioteer focused on revenge. Fate brings Judah and Messala together again in the arena, where Judah is victorious and Messala dies. Judah’s mother and sister, who had been released from prison without his knowledge, are afflicted with leprosy, but an encounter with Jesus cures them. Inspired by this miraculous healing as well as by Jesus’s words of love and forgiveness, Judah converts to Christianity.
Although preproduction of Ben-Hur began in 1922, the film’s troubled production delayed its completion for two years. Shooting began in Rome in early 1924, after several months of preparation in Italy. At that time, Ben-Hur was a Goldwyn Pictures production, with Charles J. Brabin directing and George Walsh cast as Judah. After months of trouble with weather, cost overruns, and creative differences, the studio halted the production and recalled the cast and crew. Production resumed in Italy in June of 1924, with Fred Niblo as the new director and Ramon Novarro as Judah. Filming continued in Rome, off the coast of Livorno, and in North Africa before the production returned to the newly merged Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) studios in Culver City, California.
Impact
Ben-Hur was a critical and popular success, earning a significant amount of money from its release and subsequent rerelease in the 1930s. The film turned Ramon Novarro into a major star and revived the career of popular 1910s leading man Francis X. Bushman. For its significance to American cinema, Ben-Hur has been selected for preservation in the Library of Congress.
Bibliography
Mayer, David, ed. Playing Out the Empire: “Ben-Hur” and Other Toga Plays and Films. Oxford, England: Clarendon Press, 1994.
Wallace, Lew. “Ben-Hur”: A Tale of the Christ. Nashville, Tenn.: Elm Hill Books, 2005.