A few words about...™ Ben-Hur -- in Blu-ray

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark-P 

I can't wait. I just knew George Feltenstein wasn't lying at Comic-Con when he said it would be amazing. I put in my pre-order weeks ago.

Warner's Ned Price and his staff have done an incredible job.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdrianTurner 

 I'm not sure that Ben-Hur sits rather awkwardly in the Wyler career because its underlying pacifist message makes it part of a loose 1950s trilogy with Friendly Persuasion and The Big Country. I believe Mr Wyler turned down The Sound of Music but accepted Funny Girl after he saw how much money there was to be made from musicals at the time. Asked if he had any problems with Miss Streisand he said, "None at all, considering it was the first film she ever directed." In real life, Mr Wyler was a very witty man, not unlike Mr Wilder with whom he was often confused.

Quite correct, and usual of your thoughts, there certainly is a pacifist trilogy.  I'd never thought of it in that manner.

David Lean used to refer to his three favorite directors, by then all in the Colonies, as "the three foreigners," all of whom he admired immensely.

Wilder, Wyler and Zinnemann.

RAH 

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpippel 

Priceless! 

 

I'm REALLY looking forward to this, particularly after reading your commentary on the release Robert. Thank you. I'll probably go for the UK single-disc as well. I really wish that Warner would give up their "box set only" mentality on some of their high profile catalog titles here in the U.S.

I have less of a problem with the boxed sets, although I personally don't like them, and more with the fact that the discs themselves are packaged in an oversize hard paper holder, as opposed to standard sealable BD packaging, for protection from the elements.

RAH

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Anthony 

Hi Mr Harris, v pleased to hear that this classic has finally been rejuvenated!

Could you go into more detail about Warner's restorative efforts, I know they made an 8K scan of the 65MM O-Neg, but was all the damage/problems cured digitally and then a new archival 65mm negative output to allow the creation of prints going forward, or was it a digital/photo chemical hybrid?

With the exception of ....Mad World & The Alamo, are there any other major titles on your hit list that need this kind of attention before it's too late?

Kind Regards

M

Not certain what I can go into, but will check and find out what may not be proprietary information.

As to other titles, almost every Eastman color production made between 1955 and 1960.