Ben Hur

[Gene C]

The book was written by Lew Wallace, of Lincoln Assassination trial judge fame. Lew Wallace was also a very accomplished individual.

He wrote the book in 1880 and it was a top seller.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben-Hur:_A...the_Christ

I've read the book (pretty good), seen the 1959 movie with Charlton Heston (very good).

Any one seen the latest movie version, and what did you think?

[Thomas Kearney]

I saw it and would highly recommend it. Good chariot scene.

[Eva Elisabeth]

(08-28-2016 08:29 AM)Gene C Wrote:  The book was written by Lew Wallace, of Lincoln Assassination trial judge fame. Lew Wallace was also a very accomplished individual.

He wrote the book in 1880 and it was a top seller.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben-Hur:_A...the_Christ

I've read the book (pretty good), seen the 1959 movie with Charlton Heston (very good).

Any one seen the latest movie version, and what did you think?

Reminds me of this:
http://blog.onlineclock.net/ben-hur-wristwatch/

[L Verge]

I haven't seen the film, Gene, only some bad reviews. Movie moguls keep trying to "modernize" the epics of earlier years - and failing. They should leave the icons alone, like Heston's Ben-Hur and Leigh/Gable's GWTW.

[LincolnMan]

I have not seen it. Two things about movies that annoy me--too much use of CGI and political correctness. Hopefully the new Ben Hur minimizes both.

[Gene C]

Short biographical article from Fox News about General Lew Wallace, author of Ben Hur and judge on the Lincoln conspirators trial. Focus of the article is his authorship of the book.

https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/meet-a...ew-wallace

[LincolnMan]

And I still watch the original movie about once a year. They don’t make ‘em like that anymore!

[STS Lincolnite]

(09-07-2022 01:56 PM)LincolnMan Wrote:  And I still watch the original movie about once a year. They don’t make ‘em like that anymore!

Bill, I have to ask. When you say original, are you talking about the 1959 version (which I too love)?

The 1959 version is actually the third movie version of Ben Hur. The first was a short film in 1907 (It followed a successful theater production). That film, however, was produced without having obtained rights from Wallace’s estate. Wallace’s estate sued and won. It was a landmark case that established the guidelines around copyright infringement when making films from written works.

The first full length Ben Hur movie was made in 1925. In terms of viewer reception it was a great success. But although it made a lot of money, the cost to produce it was so great that it ended up being a financial loss for the studio.

I was supposed to deliver a talk about Wallace at the 2020 Surratt Conference (which got cancelled). I had that and lots of other interesting Wallace stuff compiled. His Civil War and post Civil War life were utterly fascinating. I may resurrect my work on that talk and see if I might present at one of the online Surratt Conferences down the road…

[Gene C]

(09-08-2022 09:50 AM)STS Lincolnite Wrote:  I was supposed to deliver a talk about Wallace at the 2020 Surratt Conference (which got cancelled). I had that and lots of other interesting Wallace stuff compiled. His Civil War and post Civil War life were utterly fascinating. I may resurrect my work on that talk and see if I might present at one of the online Surratt Conferences down the road…

I hope you do this, I have visited his study and museum (man cave) where he wrote Ben Hur. When my son was teaching at Wabash College, his home was right around the corner from Wallace's.

Wallace also did a painting of the conspirators.
We have talked about Lou Wallace some on the form before - http://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussio...-1763.html