The 1959 version of Ben-Hur is a cinematic event. Massive in scale and conception it could not, I venture, be made in the modern day. The vast crowd scenes could, of course, be carried-off quite competently using CGI and the chariot race could be even more visceral. But what would be missing would be the rather literary tone of the movie and what would intevene would be modish sensibilities. The film is therefore an impressive monument to an age of cinema that was already on its way out. I have seen it so often now that I can dip into and out of it quite happily every Christmas when it turns up on the schedules. The Groupie had never previously seen it in its entirety. The effort is worthwhile. 75/100.
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