WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Ben-Hur
Genre:Classic

Reviewed In Issue 09 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Stephen Boyd.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 3.5
Sound Rating: 3.5
Download WSR Review
Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals
Five discs contain the 222-minute feature plus an hour long documentary, Ben Hur: The Making Of An Epic, presented in CLV on side nine. The documentary includes a segment on the production of the original 1925 Ben-Hur, along with details of the 1959 production. The boxed packaged is handsome and includes a descriptive narrative brochure on the history of the film.

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): MGM
(Catalog Number): ML104668
(MPAA Rating): G
(Retail Price): $99.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 222
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Theatrical Release): 1959
(LD Release Date): 04/01/94
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): William Wyler
(Screenplay/Written By): Karl Tunberg
(Story): NA
(Music): Miklos Rozsa
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): NA
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Ralph E. Winters, ACE & John D. Dunning, ACE
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): NA
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Sam Zimbalist

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.55:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.76:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): Mag Stereo & 70mm 6 Track Mag Stereo
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Winner of 11 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Ben Hur is a motion picture of immense scope, dramatic intensity and colossal spectacle. The film focues on the epic tale of the prince of Judea, Ben-Hur, and his struggle to lead his nation against the might of the conquering Romans.

LaserDisc Picture:
This special edition preserves the entire picture area as originally projected. It is a superb record of the era of the large format picture. The transfer’s picture quality is generally good and rich in the color spectrum. The cinematography and musical score is magnificent.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The sound is well balanced and grandiose. Miklos Rozsa’s grandiose musical score is isolated on the analog stereo tracks.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
(Aggressive System Surround):
(Intense 25Hz Bass):
(Deep Bass Challenging):
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield):
(Aggressive Split Surround):
(Center Back Surround Imaging):
(Directionalized Dialogue):
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: