IMDb >
Ben Hur (1907)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsBen Hur (1907) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 5 | slideshow) |
    |
Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
7 December 1907 (USA) moreTagline:
Positively the most super motion picture ever madeNewsDesk:
(3 articles)
'Ben Hur' Is Back In The Chariot (From CinemaSpy. 6 May 2009, 12:43 PM, PDT)
ABC Revisiting Ben Hur
(From TheMovingPicture. 26 March 2009, 9:54 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Watch it. It is short and an interesting insight to the capabilities of the era. moreCast
(Credited cast)
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
15 minCountry:
USAColor:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 moreSound Mix:
SilentFun Stuff
Trivia:
This version was unauthorized, and its makers were successfully sued for copyright infringement. moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Ben Hur (1907)Recommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Ben-Hur | Quo Vadis | Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ | The Last Days of Pompeii | Anno 79: La distruzione di Ercolano |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | News articles |
| IMDb Short section | IMDb USA section | Add this title to MyMovies |
I saw the first (1907) Ben Hur about 25 years ago in a film society back to back double feature with the Charlton Heston version. My memories are therefore fragmentary.
The film should be called "Illustrated scenes from the life of Ben Hur" as it really doesn't try to tell the story in the time available. If you hadn't read the book you wouldn't know what was going on. One of my recollections is my wife nudging me and saying "there's the tile that's going to fall". Above the rather pathetic and bored looking extras (showing off their knees in Roman army costume) one roof tile was very different from the rest - it wasn't painted onto the set!! Sure enough, Ben Hur leaned rather obviously on this brick.
The chariot race sticks in my mind too. A bunch of extras starts jumping up and down and two chariots race by the camera. The extras calm down and look bored for a while then start jumping up and down for the next rapid pass of two chariots. I can't remember how many times this was repeated, we were all laughing so hard that tears were running down my face.
It is mercifully short, and interesting to compare with the 1925 big budget spectacular (also silent of course) which foreshadows the third version with amazing special effects.