Film epic, Ben-Hur, Remastered with Bible Study Guide

A Tale of the Christ

Four-Disc Collector’s Edition DVD with Bible Study Guide

Award-Winning Epic, Now Stunningly Restored from Original Elements Specially Tailored for the Christian Audience

Newly Remastered from Original 65mm Film Elements With More Than 10 Hours of Bonus Material

Available September 13 from Warner Home Video

Burbank, Calif. – Ben-Hur, winner of 11 Academy Awards ®, will debut as a Four-Disc Collector’s Edition DVD with Bible Study Guide on September 13 from Warner Home Video. Reverend Dr. Robert H. Schuller and son Reverend Dr. Robert A. Schuller, Co-Chairmen of Crystal Cathedral Ministries, have authored this guide as part of what truly is a unique collection. The Crystal Cathedral is home to a congregation of more than 10,000 members and “Hour of Power,” the most widely televised one-hour church service in the world, watched weekly by over 20 million people.

Additionally, William Wyler’s epic masterpiece has been newly remastered from the original 65mm film elements. The DVD now boasts more than 10 hours of bonus features including an all-new documentary on the film’s influence with leading filmmakers including Ridley Scott (Kingdom of Heaven, Gladiator) and George Lucas (Star Wars films), a making-of documentary hosted by Christopher Plummer, scene specific commentary by Charlton Heston, rare screen tests, a reproduction of the original theatrical souvenir program, plus the 1925 silent version of the film with musical score by Carl Davis. The Four-Disc Collector’s Edition DVD with Bible Study Guide will sell for $39.92. Look for the specially-marked edition available in Christian retail stores and wherever DVDs are sold.

“Ben-Hur appeals to audiences of all ages with its spectacular action set pieces and its timeless tale of faith and redemption,” notes George Feltenstein, Senior Vice-President of Classic Catalog . “A perennial best-seller, Ben-Hur has sold more than five million copies on home video.”

About Ben-Hur
With 100,000 costumes, 8,000 extras, 300 sets and a budget that, at the time, was the most expensive in MGM’s history, Ben-Hur is widely considered to be one of the most accomplished Biblical-era epics ever made. Based on Lew Wallace’s best-selling novel and adapted by Karl Tunberg and a number of uncredited writers including Gore Vidal and Maxwell Anderson, Ben-Hur stars Charlton Heston, Stephen Boyd, Jack Hawkins, Haya Harareet, Hugh Griffith, Martha Scott, Cathy O’Donnell and Sam Jaffe.

Heston brings a solid physical and moral presence to the title role of Judah Ben-Hur, and his charismatic performance earned him one of the film’s 11 Academy Awards ( a feat equaled only by Titanic and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King). In addition to the Best Actor award, Ben-Hur also captured Oscars ® for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor (Griffith).

The movie was filmed in a process known as MGM Camera 65, one of the widest prints ever made with a width almost three times its height. This allowed for spectacular panoramic shots and bold action sequences. Even by today's standards, Ben-Hur’s now legendary chariot race still astonishes. The lack of computer-generated effects, the visually stunning MGM Camera 65 process, and excellent cinematography all make the scene one of the most memorable in modern cinema. Rating: NR, Run Time: 222 Minutes (Film Only).

Synopsis
After his boyhood friend Messala’s fanatic loyalty to Rome makes him a powerful enemy, Jewish nobleman Judah Ben-Hur (Heston) is found guilty of an attempted murder he did not commit. His family is banished and he is enslaved on a warship. Yet, through his ferocity in a fierce sea battle, Ben-Hur is able to escape and become a horse trainer. To exact his revenge, Ben-Hur competes against Messala (Boyd) in the Roman chariot races. They race, locked in a battle to the death. Barely surviving, Ben-Hur forsakes the sword for Christ and finally finds redemption.

DVD Special Features Include:

Disc One & Two: The Movie

• Newly Remastered and Restored from Original 65mm Film Elements
• Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio
• Commentary by Film Historian T. Gene Hatcher with Scene Specific Comments from Charlton Heston
• Music-Only Track Showcasing Miklos Rozsa’s Score

Disc Three: The 1925 Silent Version

• The Thames Television Restoration with Stereophonic Orchestral Score by Composer Carl Davis

Disc Four: About the Movies

• New Documentary: Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema - Current filmmakers such as Ridley Scott and George Lucas reflect on the importance and influence of the film
• 1994 Documentary: Ben-Hur: The Making of an Epic Hosted by Christopher Plummer
• Ben-Hur: A Journey Through Pictures - New audiovisual recreation of the film via stills, storyboards, sketches, music and dialogue
• Screen Tests
• Vintage Newsreels Gallery
• Highlights from the 1960 Academy Awards Ceremony
• Theatrical Trailer Gallery