There is a growing and welcome trend among DVD releases of classic films. If the title is a remake of a silent film version then the original is now being included along with the remake. Of course it’s the remake that gets all the headlines but that is as it should be since most people aren’t silent film enthusiasts. I was originally opposed to this idea on economic grounds as multidisc sets are expensive but then it occurred to me that without the remake we wouldn’t get to see the original at all and this way people can be exposed to the silent versions and hopefully learn to judge them on their own merits. Already we have the 1921 CAMILLE coupled with the 1936 Garbo version and the 1925 WIZARD OF OZ (plus other silent Oz films) newly restored with the classic 1939 version.
Now comes the celebrated 1925 version of BEN-HUR accompanying the even more celebrated 1959 William Wyler/Charlton Heston film on a 4 disc set. As a silent film enthusiast I will comment on the 1925 film as very little has been said about it compared to all that has been said about the much better known 1959 movie. BEN-HUR was once regarded as one of the magnificent follies of the silent era. It took years to make and cost M-G-M around $4,000,000 (over half a billion in today’s currency). although what they lost in money was more than gained in prestige. The film made M-G-M THE studio in Hollywood, a position they would not relinquish for 30 years. It made a star out of Ramon Novarro and gave Francis X. Bushman the role of his career as Messala. It featured Technicolor sequences (lovingly restored in this presentation), mammoth sets as well as the expected cast of thousands and has the original version of the chariot race which remains just as exciting today as back in 1925. The sea battle between the Pirates and the Roman galleys is even more exciting as it was shot in Italy with real ships and not miniatures.
The one thing that really stands out about this version is how powerful its condemnation of anti-semitism is. The Christian aspects of the story are still there of course but they are on an equal footing with the plight of what it means to be Jewish in a hostile world. The orchestral score by Carl Davis is outstanding and really helps to elevate this into one of the best silent film viewing experiences especially for people unfamiliar with silent films. If only the money were available to treat all of the great silent films this way. Perhaps it will be someday.
The Capsule Critic 