Beset by spiraling costs, production problems, and crew and cast replacements, the silent "Ben-Hur" still tells a good story without a lot of extraneous detail.

A few things aren't that optimal. There are over-acted scenes,...
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Beset by spiraling costs, production problems, and crew and cast replacements, the silent "Ben-Hur" still tells a good story without a lot of extraneous detail.

A few things aren't that optimal. There are over-acted scenes, and it's really un-necessary in this case as the story has good flow and a balance of ethereal, lustful, and dramatic elements already in place. The Roman galleys have a strange tendency to keep all their oars out of the water even when they are moving. But, Ramon Novarro is fine in the heroic role.

The production values are top-drawer. The miniatures, outdoor structures, indoor sets, optical effects, and paintings are as good as you get for the time. The two-color technicolor is a nice addition. I leave it up to other viewers to decide if speeding up the frame rate for the chariot race is effective, it certainly gives a demonic dervish effect to the scene. A classic that is a must-see.