WILLIAM WYLER

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BBB.5

USA, 1959.  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.  Screenplay by Karl Tunberg, based on the novel by Lew Wallace.  Cinematography by Robert Surtees.  Produced by Sam Zimbalist.  Music by Miklos Rozsa.  Production Design by Vittorio Valentini.  Costume Design by Elizabeth Haffenden.  Film Editing by John D. Duning, Ralph E. Winters.  

“Gorgeously junky” is how uncredited screenwriter Gore Vidal described this pseudo-Bible epic, and no truer word could possibly be said about it. Everything about this expansive screen version of Gen. Lew Wallace’s novel is as loud as it can be, no expense was spared , but what you get while watching it is an impressive but weighty and tiring story that really only needs about an hour and a half to tell it fully. Charlton Heston plays the title character, a mistreated Jewish nobleman who goes to prison for something he didn’t do, but finds redemption in the end at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Lots of jolly performances all around, but the first half’s spirit of high adventure seems at odds with the second half’s higher concentration on preachiness. The most fun to be had is in watching Stephen Boyd as Massala overplay Vidal’s subtheme of sexual relationship with the clueless lead, plus the totally thrilling chariot race which is everything you’ve heard about it and more (not to mention a masterpiece of editing). Haya Harareet is above average as the love interest, but give me Elizabeth Taylor and her eyeliner in Cleopatra any day; even though that clunky epic feels like it goes on for seven days non-stop, it’s somehow more enjoyable because, unlike Ben-Hur, it seems to be aware of how ridiculous it is.

Academy Awards:  Best Picture; Best Actor (Charlton Heston); Best Supporting Actor (Hugh Griffith); Best Director (William Wyler); Best Cinematography-Colour; Best Special Effects; Best Art Direction-Colour; Best Costume Design-Colour; Best Film Editing; Best Sound; Best Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture
Nominations: Best Adapted Screenplay

Golden Globe Awards:  Best Picture-Drama; Best Supporting Actor (Stephen Boyd); Best Director (William Wyler); Special Award, Andrew Marton, for direction of the chariot race
Nominations: Best Actor-Drama (Charlton Heston)