Ben-Hur: Difference between revisions

* [[Hero of Another Story]]: This happens in the background of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, arguably a more important series of events.

* [[Homoerotic Subtext]]: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxecELnxMYU A deliberate example.] Director William Wyler and co-screenwriter Gore Vidal told Stephen Boyd, the actor portraying Messala, to play him as if he and Ben-Hur had been lovers as youths and that his vindictiveness is therefore motivated by a sexual and romantic rejection as much as a political one. They did not, however, tell Charlton Heston, who found out years later and was ''not'' pleased. This did add an interesting dynamic to the scenes between Ben-hur and Messala, since Heston's uncomfortable reactions to some of Boyd's behavior came off as reluctance towards his former lover.

* [[Ironic Echo]]: "We keep you alive to serve this ship. Row well, and live."

** As Ben Hur is dragged off to the slave ship, Jesus gives Ben Hur much-needed water despite the Roman guards threatening to stop him. Later, when Ben Hur sees that the "miracle healer" is Jesus, he tries to return the favor of offering Jesus some water during his tribulation {{spoiler|only for the Romans to successfully stop him.}}

* [[Large Ham]]: You can tell Hugh Griffith is enjoying himself as Ilderim. Heston as Judah has a few moments as well.

* [[Letterbox]] The chariot sequence is ALWAYS presented in letterbox, even if the rest of the movie is a [[Pan and Scan]] format.