The Epic BEN-HUR opens The 2009 GPO Federal Credit Union Stanley Movie Series
Date Posted: July 29th, 2009
5 BLOCKBUSTERS
5 GENERATIONS
5 FLIX FOR $15
UTICA, NY (July 29, 2009) -The eleven Oscar-winning epic Ben-Hur opens the 2009 GPO FCU Stanley Movie Series 7pm Tuesday August 4, 2009.
Starring Charlton Heston, this movie is celebrating its 50th Anniversary and it still holds the screen with memorable performances and extreme special effects.
Judah Ben-Hur is a Jewish prince who is betrayed by his best friend and sent into slavery in a Roman galley. He survives a sea-battle, saving the admiral of the fleet, securing his freedom. However, his obsession with revenge on his former friend is paralleled by the story of the rise of Jesus Christ.
This movie was the most expensive movie made to its date -- $1.5 million, with 400 speaking parts, 10,000 extras, and 300 movie sets, including the Circus Maximus set covering 18 acres for the climactic chariot race.
The movie was filmed in 65mm widescreen, one of the widest formats ever used for filming.
"Out of this sea of celluloid, a masterful director, William Wyler (Wuthering Heights, The Best Years of Our Lives), has fished a whale of a picture, the biggest and the best of Hollywood's super-spectacles," wrote Time Magazine in its review on November 30, 1959.
Some critics have complained that this movie is too long and wordy, but Bosley Crowther of the New York Times wrote:
"Where the excitement of the picture may appear to be in the great scenes, such as those of the ancient sea battle in which Ben-Hur is involved as a galley slave or those of his final contention with Messala, the Roman tribune, in a mammoth chariot race, the area of fullest engrossment is the scenes of people meeting face to face Ben-Hur verbally clashing with Messala, a Roman soldier suddenly looking upon Jesus." (November 19, 1959)
Ben-Hur won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Special Effects, Best Music, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, and Best Costumes, among others.
It is also the number 2 Best Epic on the America Film Institute's Top Ten.
The movie lasts three hours and 45 minutes, with one intermission. Showtime is 7pm Tuesday August 4, 2009 at the Stanley, downtown Utica.
Admission is $5 or a stub from a FLiX TiX (5 admissions for $15) now on sale at the Stanley Ticket office, 724-4000.
In addition to popcorn and snacks, specialty wines and beers will be on sale at this event.
The GPO FCU Stanley Summer Movie Series is sponsored by GPO Federal Credit Union.
This series continues every Tuesday in August. Still to come is the bravura performance by Bette Davis in Dark Victory August 11; the romantic comedy, Pillow Talk August 18;the great movie musical Oliver! August 25; and the series ends with the rock documentary, The Last Waltz on September 1.
Showtimes for all these movies are at 7pm.
As always, the Stanley features great projection and superb sound.
For information, contact the Stanley at 724 - 4000.
