An Indiana native holds the key to acclaimed classic movie “Ben-Hur,” which debuted on 4K Ultra High Definition Blu-ray Disc (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment) this week.
Civil War Union General, politician, and author Lew Wallace, born in southeast Indiana and inhabitant of Central and West Central Indiana, started it all for “Ben-Hur.”
Wallace wrote the 1880 novel “Ben-Hur: A Tale of Christ,” of which a silent film 45 years later was based on. Then, in 1959, actor Charlton Heston helped make “Ben-Hur” world famous. Directed by William Wyler and produced by Sam Zimbalist, the movie was a record 11 Academy Awards including best picture, director, and actor in a leading role.
The plot takes place in Jerusalem, where Judah Ben-Hur (Heston’s character) lives a religious life and peacefully opposes the tyrannical occupation of Judea by Rome. Soon, Judah, his sister and mother are arrested by Roman soldiers on a fabricated charge of treason.
In 2004, the film was deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the U.S. Library of Congress, and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.
Joining “Ben-Hur” on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray is the 1970s classic “All the President’s Men” (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment). Both titles feature a plethora of bonus features.
Other titles
“Flathead” (IndiePix Films) is an award winner for a reason, and this title does not disappoint. An Australian man in his 70s returns to his bygone home in Queensland and starts reflecting on the highs and lows of his life. This film about redemption is shot in monochrome, which is vital because it helps give the aura of realism. Some may describe the film as “hybrid docu-fiction.” As someone who spent several weeks in Australia last year, I can verify that the man’s memories are of a disappearing Australia, which makes the film that much more elegant. The film was a special jury award winner at International Film Festival Rotterdam and won an innovation award at Melbourne International Film Festival. Bonus features include two short films from Director Jaydon Martin.
“Nightcrawler” (Shout! Studios), the 2014 thriller starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Rene Russo, has been released as a sleek limited-edition Steelbook 4K UHD. The two-disc title contains several special features, including a few new ones: an audio commentary with film historian Joe von Appen and interview with composer James Newton Howard.