BBC iPlayer is showing ‘greatest film ever made’ based on famous book | Films | Entertainment
There’s nothing like snuggling up with a great film during the winter months, and a major favourite is currently available to view on BBC iPlayer. Sometimes, when the weather is cold, all people want to do is cosy up indoors with a good film, and it looks like you may need to add a particular one to your watchlist.
The film was talked about on Reddit when a viewer admitted the movie has been on their mind since they first saw it. It got several people talking about just how gripping it is and, to make things better, it’s currently available to view for free on BBC iPlayer.
It’s not the only film on the platform to have captivated people lately either. Last month, they were also raving about an amazing action film.
A viewer wrote:”I watched Ben-Hur (1959) around two weeks ago, and I still can’t stop thinking about it. My god, that shot of Heston slowly walking towards the light of the arena is one of a kind.
“I watch a lot of movies. Sometimes I binge a genre or a series. I did a long binge of classic epics back-to-back. There are a lot of masterpieces there.
“Ben-Hur was something else. It had two things that made it special for me. It had incredible pacing and sectioning, and ‘the moment’.”
It’s clear other viewers agreed, as they were quick to share their thoughts too. One said: “It’s one of my favourite movies. I’m not even religious in the slightest, and yet even I appreciate the scenes where they don’t show Jesus’ face. Just the reactions of the people who look upon it. Genius.
“And yes, that chariot race will never be beaten, in my opinion. The final scene of the movie always brings a tear to my eye too. Fantastic.”
Another wrote: “Ben-Hur is arguably one of the greatest movies ever made, which is why their decision to remake it a few years ago was baffling.”
A third replied: “You can see Ben-Hur a million times, and it will still be as good as you are watching it for the first time. Top quality movie.”
Meanwhile, a fourth also commented: “One of my favourite movies ever. I saw it on the TCM channel years ago for the first time. Every bit to me was masterful filmmaking.”
What is it about?
If you haven’t seen it, Ben-Hur is a 1959 American religious epic film directed by William Wyler, and it stars Charlton Heston as the title character. The plot was adapted by Lew Wallace’s 1880 novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ.
The cast also includes Stephen Boyd, Jack Hawkins, Haya Harareet, Hugh Griffith, Martha Scott and Cathy O’Donnell. In a nutshell, it focuses on the story of Judah Ben-Hur, a wealthy Jewish Prince in 1st-century Jerusalem.
His life ends up being destroyed by a childhood friend and he endures much heartache. He gets forced into slavery on a galley and has to witness the cruel persecution of his family, but he still survives.
With dreams of seeking vengeance, a battle at sea and a chariot race remain among the film’s memorable sequences. To make the movie, 300 sets at Rome’s Cinecitta Studios were used and it bagged a record 11 Oscars.
Another fan claimed: “I watched this for the first time a few months ago, and felt much the same way you did. I see why that chariot race scene is so famous. Absolutely excellent. I thought the scenes out at sea on the ship were great, too. The whole film is amazing.”
