One of the most eagerly-anticipated 4K releases in recent memory, William Wyler’s landmark masterpiece, BEN-HUR – arguably the most important and influential of all Hollywood Golden Age epics – finally launches onto UHD for the very first time with a truly astonishing new digital restoration.
Winner of a then record-breaking eleven Academy Awards back in 1959, including Best Picture and Best Actor – a feat since tied only by Titanic (1997), and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) – the film stars Charlton Heston as Judah Ben-Hur, a member of the Jewish nobility in 1st-century Jerusalem, who finds himself thrust unwittingly into an heroic odyssey when he’s enslaved by the Romans and condemned to the galleys after peacefully opposing the tyrannical occupation of Judea by Rome.
A Monumental Hollywood Epic
Nearly seven decades on, BEN-HUR remains one of cinema’s greatest achievements, boasting fine performances from a top-tier ensemble cast, exquisite Ultra Panavision 70 widescreen cinematography courtesy of Robert L. Surtees, jaw-dropping production design – with the largest sets of any film produced at the time – and some of the most thrilling sequences in cinemas, notably the intense sea battle and the iconic, nine-minute chariot race, not to mention Miklós Rózsa’s monumental score.
For first-time viewers and long-time fans alike, BEN-HUR continues to thrill and excite, and though previous home entertainment releases have already impressed, this absolutely essential new 4K release is a true revelation, almost impossibly taking things up another level.
The 4K Restoration: A Reference-Quality Presentation
Native 4K From 8K Scan of Original 65mm Negative
Much like its famous chariot race, BEN-HUR now thunders onto 4K Ultra HD for the first time in a new, digitally-restored, native 4K (2160p) presentation with HDR10 and Dolby Vision, sourced from a new 8K scan of the original 65mm camera negative.
From the opening frames, the extraordinary quality of this 4K presentation is instantly apparent. Colours are truly astonishing, with the vibrant reds of the Roman cloaks and the earthy, rural landscape proving wonderfully rich and deep. Saturation throughout is beautifully balanced. Vivid purples, blues and golds dazzle throughout. Textures are details are crisp and sharp. Shadow detail is superb. The widescreen aspect ratio does full justice to the magnificent cinematography and production design on display.
If the likes of Lawrence of Arabia and The Ten Commandments are considered two of the top benchmarks for classic 4K UHD restorations, then BEN-HUR absolutely deserves to enter that conversation now. It is an astonishingly good transfer that allows us to appreciate and enjoy the extraordinary visuals in the finest possible format. Simply put, it is one of the most essential and beautifully restored 4K titles released to date. A flawless visual presentation.
Dolby Atmos And DTS-HD 5.1 Audio
Equally as strong are the lossless Dolby Atmos-TrueHD and DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio tracks, which both deliver a perfectly balanced mix of crisp dialogue, clean sound effects and a powerful presentation of Rózsa’s towering score.
The 5.1 option may offer a more theatrically faithful experience but the Dolby Atmos feels significantly more dynamic and expansive, with strong bass levels and crisp effects throughout. Each element is beautifully layered and really complements the visuals, helping to emphasise the epic feel of the score. From the thundering of hooves in the chariot arena to the clattering of oars in the galley, the Dolby Atmos presentation is a revelation.
The Digital and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc releases contain the following new and previously released special features:
Ben-Hur: Anatomy of an Epic (NEW)
The Cinematography of Scale (NEW)
Charlton Heston & Ben-Hur: A Personal Journey
Ben-Hur: The Making of an Epic
Ben-Hur: A Journey Through Pictures
Screen Tests: George Baker and William Russell
Screen Tests: Leslie Nielsen and Cesare Danova
Screen Tests: Leslie Nielsen and Yale Wexler
Screen Tests: Haya Harareet and Make-Up Test
Commentary by Film Historian T. Gene Hatcher with Charlton Heston (2 Parts)
Music Only Track Showcasing Mikos Rózsa’s Award-Winning Score (2 Parts)
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