Ben-Hur & Other Epics
Apr. 15th, 2019 10:38 amFun facts: Not only is it the 80th anniversary of 1939, Hollywood's Greatest Year (The Wizard Of Oz, Gone With The Wind, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, Stagecoach, Wuthering Heights, Young Mr. Lincoln, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, The Women, and many more), but it's the 60th anniversary of the 1959 Biblical epic, Ben-Hur, which won a record 11 Oscars.
I'm just guessing that the version of it made a few years ago won't be remembered in 60 years, ha! The 1959 film was the ol' Hollywood grandeur that also created the thundering chariot race without the benefit of CGI. They had to hire hundreds of extras to fill those stadium seats (and feed them, too!). In 1959, when you promised an epic, you didn't forget to deliver. Smaller moments and characterization would be included, but the Grand Sweep of the Epic was not forgotten.
Anyway, another '50s epic, The Ten Commandments, will celebrate its 63rd anniversary and it's doubtful that the Christian Bale version will be as fondly remembered or aired every Easter. Sometimes, people just want Grand Epics.
I'm just guessing that the version of it made a few years ago won't be remembered in 60 years, ha! The 1959 film was the ol' Hollywood grandeur that also created the thundering chariot race without the benefit of CGI. They had to hire hundreds of extras to fill those stadium seats (and feed them, too!). In 1959, when you promised an epic, you didn't forget to deliver. Smaller moments and characterization would be included, but the Grand Sweep of the Epic was not forgotten.
Anyway, another '50s epic, The Ten Commandments, will celebrate its 63rd anniversary and it's doubtful that the Christian Bale version will be as fondly remembered or aired every Easter. Sometimes, people just want Grand Epics.