Francis X. Bushman (L) and Ramon Novarro as friends turned enemies. Image: allofcinema.com
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925) is a monumental film.
It’s a production that moves on its own Steam, where characters’ decisions seem to matter very little. A character may find himself in this or that situation, but the movie feels like everything is a set-up for the Prime Directive.
That is not a complaint. Sometimes you want a movie that has so much Spectacle, you’re almost left breathless.
Ben-Hur is a story of vengeance and redemption. A wealthy Jewish prince renews his friendship with a childhood friend, a military officer with occupying Roman forces.
Naturally, the friendship cannot survive because Judah Ben-Hur, the protagonist, refuses to deny his Jewish heritage, and his friend, the ego-driven Messala, refuses to deny power and prestige courtesy of the Romans.
The movie has magnificent crowd scenes, along with incredible action sequences, such as ships bashing into each other at sea, and a chariot race that contains some of the most remarkable footage in cinema history.
Yet, you have to ask: In a movie with this much internal combustion, does casting actually matter?
Now, this 1925 silent film has a very different acting style than movies we see today. Because it includes the birth and death of Jesus Christ, there is some overwrought and melodramatic reverence. However, it fits with the film, and the era, so we’ll Go With It.
The two main characters, Ben-Hur and Messala, were played by two of Hollywood’s most popular actors du jour. Francis X. Bushman plays the larger-than-life Messala, and although he’s a bit of a scenery-chewer, we love him for it.
Ben-Hur, on the other hand, is played by heartthrob Ramon Novarro. Novarro certainly has his share of over-the-top scenes, but he’s at his best when he Tones It Down. There are times when he appears surprisingly modern – if you can overlook the 1920s’ movie makeup.
We studied Novarro in action and wondered if just anyone could play Ben-Hur, given the self-generating Grandeur of the film. We had to conclude they could not.
First, Novarro is believable as a man of fierce courage and grit, but also of tremendous compassion.
Look at the scene where Novarro, a shipwrecked galleon slave, climbs onto a rescuing Roman ship. He knows he will be regarded as a Free man once he’s aboard, but he pauses as he climbs the netting on the side of the ship. He sees the slaves through a porthole in the galley, and his face is one of sad recognition, twinged with guilt.
Second, Novarro portrays a man of deeply-embedded Principle. He never breaks character, never winks at the audience, is never less than earnest.
While Novarro doesn’t overshadow the film, he makes it his own and, despite all the pageantry, we miss his steadfast character when he’s absent.
A thrilling chariot race. Image: Antonio Cain Rumor
Novarro was one of several legendary Hollywood stars born in 1899. He came from a prominent and influential Mexican family that fled the Revolution in 1913 to settle in Los Angeles. The family of his cousin, Delores del Rio, also left Mexico for the same reason and she, too, became a famous Hollywood celebrity.
Novarro began his Hollywood career in 1917 as an extra, and he Toiled in Obscurity for years until he was cast in The Prisoner of Zenda (1922). Of course, he became a hit with female moviegoers and was dubbed “The New Valentino”.
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ was his biggest role, in one of the top box office movies of the 1920s. Alas, cost overruns were so high, the studio (MGM) didn’t earn a profit.
Sadly, during the 1930s, Novarro’s film career began to slide. Although he did work on the stage, his film appearances mainly consisted of cameos. He also had Secrets: He struggled with alcohol and with being in The Closet. You can read more about that and his 1968 murder here.
However, in the 1925 version of Ben-Hur, Ramon Novarro plays an unlikely hero who inspires us to take Big Chances. As Judah Ben-Hur shows us, we never know where life may lead.
Notes
The 1925 version isn’t the original. According to IMDb, a Ben-Hur short was made in 1907.
You can read more about the extraordinary chariot race in the 1925 film HERE.
The 1959 remake of Ben-Hur, directed by William Wyler, won 11 Oscars.
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ starring Ramon Novarro, Francis X. Bushman, May McAvoy. Directed by Fred Niblo, Charles Brabin, Christy Cabanne. Written by Lew Wallace, June Mathis, Carey Wilson. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1925, B&W and 2-Strip Technicolor, 143 mins.
It was amazing! We saw it as it was meant to be seen… on the big screen in a silent movie picture palace with music played on the theater’s original Mighty Morton by one of film’s greatest organists. Phenomenal.
The older version is definitely worth a watch, especially for rhe chariot scene. They filmed part of it from UNDERNEATH the horses and chariots. It is astounding.
I’ve seen the 1959 Ben Hur loads of times, it was on tv here the other day actually, but I’ve never seen this classic version of silent cinema. Sees ever bit as epic tho!
The 1925 film is truly an epic. The crowd scenes alone are incredible, never mind the chariot race. Plus, Francis X. Bushman is fab as Judah Ben-Hur’s adversary.
A truly epic film. Ramon was a wonderful actor and it doesn’t hurt that he was gorgeous too. His murder was absolutely horrific. Nice to see you mention him as he doesn’t seem to get discussed that often these days even amongst the classic film community.
It is, I saw Hollywoodland recently. There are so many sad stories in Hollywood X I read that link you referred to, really sad that this happened to him.
Although the 1959 Ben-Hur is the definitive version, this version is pretty underrated. The chariot race is just as impressive and it was neat to find out about all the elite Hollywood actors in the stadium.
Ben-Hur is also notable as being the film with the most animals killed or injured–over 100 horses killed during production from what I understand. Luckily, today there tougher regulations and better ways to film scenes like that without hurting the animals:-)
Spectacle? What’s wrong with spectacle? We all have guilty pleasures, and sometimes you can satisfy them with only certain things. Spectacle is just movie junk food 🙂
Navarro was definitely perfect casting for “Ben Hur,” and he provides quite a contrast for Francis X. Bushman’s bravado. Although, Bushman must have had fun swanning around with his giant helmet. 🙂
Silver Screenings 
The Chef and I saw this on the big screen about 4 years ago. Watching it in its intended setting was marvelous.
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Oh wow – that would’ve been AMAZING to see it on the big screen! I bet that chariot race was phenomenal.
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It was amazing! We saw it as it was meant to be seen… on the big screen in a silent movie picture palace with music played on the theater’s original Mighty Morton by one of film’s greatest organists. Phenomenal.
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No. Way. Awesome!!
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I’ve seen 1959’s Ben-Hur a million times, but I’ve never seen this older version, that’s very interesting, thanks!
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The older version is definitely worth a watch, especially for rhe chariot scene. They filmed part of it from UNDERNEATH the horses and chariots. It is astounding.
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I’ve seen the 1959 Ben Hur loads of times, it was on tv here the other day actually, but I’ve never seen this classic version of silent cinema. Sees ever bit as epic tho!
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The 1925 film is truly an epic. The crowd scenes alone are incredible, never mind the chariot race. Plus, Francis X. Bushman is fab as Judah Ben-Hur’s adversary.
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This sounds so good, will have to check this out when I get a chance.
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A truly epic film. Ramon was a wonderful actor and it doesn’t hurt that he was gorgeous too. His murder was absolutely horrific. Nice to see you mention him as he doesn’t seem to get discussed that often these days even amongst the classic film community.
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Novarro had Looks and Talent, didn’t he? He had me utterly convinced he was Judah Ben-Hur.
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That he did.
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What a sad story behind the scenes, but you have given him such a wonderful tribute. Thanks for giving him this moment…
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A very sad life, as you said. Heartbreaking to see how it ended for him…
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It is, I saw Hollywoodland recently. There are so many sad stories in Hollywood X I read that link you referred to, really sad that this happened to him.
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It is tragic, isn’t it? No one deserves that.
Ooh – Hollywoodland. A haunting and sad movie.
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Agree, and you are right about the movie too.
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Although the 1959 Ben-Hur is the definitive version, this version is pretty underrated. The chariot race is just as impressive and it was neat to find out about all the elite Hollywood actors in the stadium.
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Oh yes, lots of extras in this film ended up as famous stars. It’s worth doing a post on that alone.
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Ben-Hur is also notable as being the film with the most animals killed or injured–over 100 horses killed during production from what I understand. Luckily, today there tougher regulations and better ways to film scenes like that without hurting the animals:-)
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Sadly true. Tougher regulations for animal safety is one good thing that resulted from animal cruelty. Those horses were top-notch athletes.
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Spectacle? What’s wrong with spectacle? We all have guilty pleasures, and sometimes you can satisfy them with only certain things. Spectacle is just movie junk food 🙂
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Ha! Perfectly said.
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Happy New Year Ruth, and Congratulations on your Sunshine Award,
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Navarro was definitely perfect casting for “Ben Hur,” and he provides quite a contrast for Francis X. Bushman’s bravado. Although, Bushman must have had fun swanning around with his giant helmet. 🙂
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Ha! Bushman looks like he was having a little too much fun in that movie. And who could blame him? If I had that helmet, I’d be swanning around, too.
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This is true, lol–plumes like that invite swanning.
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