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- Feb 8, 1999
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- Robert Harris
William Wyler's Ben-Hur is an interesting example of what happens to films, even some of the greatest and most important, over the years.
And many of these films wouldn't be saved, were it not for a desire to bring them out on Blu-ray. For that reason, and the desire to create a high quality home video release, film elements are handled in high resolution, and the act of saving, or in some cases restoring the films, occurs simply because of Blu-ray.
This is true in the case of Ben-Hur, a jewel in the crown of Warner's Turner / M-G-M library, that had become so worn and in disrepair, that it was on the verge of becoming irreparable.
Ben-Hur had a myriad of problems. Enough to make an archivist's head spin, and be the cause of an executive's look of befuddlement, when told that one cannot simply "make a print."
Ben-Hur was well past that.
The original 6-track mags deteriorated, the original 65mm negative in an embarrassing state of disrepair.
How does all of this affect the new Blu-ray?
In huge ways.
But the casual observer would never know it.
Archivists cannot seem to agree on a definition of the word "restoration." My belief is that if a negative has not faded badly, and can be color corrected, if the tracks survive, and even if the project must return to masters to pick up a few shots damaged over years of printing, the film is not in need of restoration, merely a well-handled digital clean-up. I recall getting into a discussion with a lab exec, who came up with a list of films he had "restored." His feeling was that if a negative came into the lab, was cleaned, and the next print produced had a bit less built-in dirt, that the film was "restored."
Of the most recent classics to make there way to Blu-ray, one, Breakfast at Tiffany's, has had a very nice digital clean-up. The other, Ben-Hur, is fully at the other end of the spectrum -- a film that was basically unprintable to achieve any result of quality.
Ben-Hur is a true restoration.
To the specifics, the tracks sound more representative of the film than did those of the last DVD release, which seemed heavy on the effects, the color is back, and very representative of the look of the original.
The Glory Days of Ben-Hur have returned.
Everything looks to have been dutifully handled, and the recipient of all of this work is the home theater enthusiast.
Director William Wyler was not a maker of epics. One of the most respected filmmakers of his era, he was known for intelligent films, that spoke to the human condition. The Little Foxes, The Best Years of Our Lives, Jezebel (a personal favorite), Wuthering Heights, The Westerner, The Letter, Mrs. Miniver, The Heiress, Roman Holiday, Friendly Persuasion, The Big Country, The Collector...
If two films stand out as productions that one would never equate to Mr. Wyler, but were the lucky recipients of his genius, they would be Funny Girl and Ben-Hur.
His work can (and should) film a disc shelf of those who love cinema.
Ben-Hur was not the Best Picture of 1959 by accident. An incredible cast, led by Mr. Heston, the cinematography of Robert Surtees, the score from Miklos Rozsa, all blend together to create one of the great masterpieces of the cinema.
As to the Blu-ray, the quality of the film shines through. The labors performed to get it back into shape look superb on the format. Some will discuss the aspect ratio. Filmed at 2.76:1, I'm happy with it anywhere between 2.5 and 2.76. I don't believe that it matters.
In over 200 minutes of film, I noted no major problems. A couple of mis-cuts, which will never be noticed. Even dupes are handled to perfection.
Ben-Hur is a glorious Blu-ray experience. The icing on this particular release is inclusion of the tinted and two-color 1925 silent version, from Photoplay, and with a score by Carl Davis. A silent masterpiece in its own right.
I must make the point. The way to see properly this film is on a huge screen, but in the world of home theater and Blu-ray...
Ben-Hur, from Warner, is Very Highly Recommended, and looks to be the major restoration to hit Blu-ray in 2011.
RAH
