The story behind this movie is amazing. It was a pain to make – scenes were shot in Italy but had to be re-shot in California, horses died, extras drowned, the original director was fired and replaced. Oh, the drama! The total budget was almost 4 million dollars. (In the 1920’s – can you imagine?) It could have been a disaster, but it ended up securing MGM’s reputation as one of the best studios in Hollywood.

If you’re skeptical about enjoying a silent film shot mostly in black and white – the religious scenes are shot in two-strip Technicolor – consider the following: In 1959, MGM was in financial crisis. They decided to do a remake of their 1925 success, this time with a 15-million-dollar budget, and the story of Ben Hur saved them again. It broke box office records, and was nominated for twelve Oscars, of which it won eleven.

The story just makes for great cinema, silent or talkie, black and white or color. This is a film worth watching if you’re passionate about the history of Hollywood or if you enjoyed the 1959 remake.