WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Ben-Hur
Genre:Classic

Reviewed In Issue 01 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Haya Harareet, Stephen Boyd, Hugh Griffith, Martha Scott, Cathy O’Donnell & Sam Jaffe

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 4
Sound Rating: 3.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): MGM
(Catalog Number): ML101525
(MPAA Rating): G
(Retail Price): $49.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 211
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Theatrical Release): 1959
(LD Release Date): 11/88
(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): NA
(Costume Designer): Elizabeth Haffenden
(Editor): Ralph E. Winters, ACE & John D. Dunning, ACE
(Supervising Sound Editors): NA
(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): No
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Winner of 11 Academy Awards®—including Best Picture—Ben-Hur, is an epic of spectacular proportions...and one well-worth both it’s critical and commercial acclaim. It tells the story of Judah Ben-Hur (Heston, in his Oscar®-winning role), who lived at same time as Jesus Christ (met him a few times, too). Ben-Hur is a Jewish nobleman whose life is fraught with trouble after being falsely accused of attempted murder. He is taken away from his family and forced into slavery. But he is determined to exact revenge on those who accused him.

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 soundtrack on this presentation has been matrixed to Dolby Surround® stereo from the original master tracks. The sound is well balanced and grandiose. I recommend it unequivocally.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): No
(Aggressive System Surround): No
(Intense 25Hz Bass): No
(Deep Bass Challenging): No
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): No
(Aggressive Split Surround): No
(Center Back Surround Imaging): No
(Directionalized Dialogue): No
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: