Charlton Heston had already played Moses three years earlier, so it made sense for him to tackle another religious epic as Judah Ben-Hur, a betrayed Jewish prince out for revenge. This 3-disc Blu-ray set truly lives up to the “Ultimate Collector’s Edition” label by including everything except a chariot with spiked rims. First up is the 222-minute film, the same version included on the 2005 DVD, restored in almost mesmerizing condition. There are also three feature-length documentaries and an insightful 128-page hardcover replica of Heston’s personal journal. The fact that a film made more than 50 years ago can still rival current blockbusters in scope makes this a collection to behold.
Video: 1080p 2.75:1; Audio: 5.1 DTS-HD MA; Special Features: Commentary by film historian T. Gene Hatcher with Charlton Heston; music-only track; “Charlton Heston and Ben-Hur: A Personal Journey” documentary, “Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema” documentary, “Ben-Hur: The Making of an Epic” documentary, 1925 silent version of Ben-Hur, “Ben-Hur: A Journey Through Pictures,” screen tests, Highlights from the 1960 Academy Awards telecast, Newsreels, trailers; packaging extras: 128-page “Charlton Heston: The Ben-Hur Diaries,” which also includes photographs, ticket stubs and other items; 64-page exclusive hardcover production art book.
