Iconic Movies Of The 50's: Ben Hur

One of the greatest movies to come of the fifties was Ben Hur - it may have been a sword and sandal epic but it was brimming with action.

Along with more recent movies such as Titanic and Lord of the Rings: Return of the King the William Wyler directed movie leads the way when it comes to winning Oscars - they all have eleven.

It’s the scale and the scope of this film that is so breathtaking; a recent remake didn’t even come close to matching the epicness that exudes from every frame of this superb picture.

The movie follows a Jewish prince who is betrayed and sent into slavery by a Roman friend. But when he regains his freedom and comes back for revenge and to save his family.

 Ben Hur was made at a time when Hollywood knew how to make epic films the likes of Gone With The Wind, Lawrence of Arabia and Spartacus also spring to mind.

Before the age of special effects the actors had to do all their own stunts and the chariot race is perhaps one of the greatest action sequences every committed to film.

Now over fifty years later that moment in the movie really does pack an almighty punch - not to mention that the arena is just a stunning backdrop to the action.

And while Ben Hur does have a religious theme to it it’s not a preachey or in your face message - much like central character Judah you are left to make your own choices and decisions.

Of course, like many movies of the time, if does suffer a little from being far too long but you just get too caught up in the story and the battle for freedom to really care.

This is a rousing epic that was made on an epic scale that really has stood the test of time!

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw