Ben-Hur coming to blu-ray and standard DVD

Kevin2 · Post by **Kevin2** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 2:13 pm

According to Digitalbits.com, this fall Warner will be releasing Ben-Hur: 50th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition on blu-ray and DVD, which will include the 1925 version as one of the many special features.

http://digitalbits.com/#mytwocents

WaverBoy · Post by **WaverBoy** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 6:55 pm

Hopefully the silent version will be in HD as well.

Brianruns10 · Post by **Brianruns10** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 7:19 pm

WaverBoy wrote:Hopefully the silent version will be in HD as well.

Ditto for me. I think I'd actually choose the silent version over the sound version (the latter is too long I feel), and if it's not in HD, it's a dealbreaker for me.

But we're in good hands with Warner I think.

Nick_M · Post by **Nick_M** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:01 pm

I'm hoping for the silent in HD, too, but the silents (and pretty much all the extras) included with The Wizard of OZ were in SD. Major letdown.

TheMajor · Post by **TheMajor** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 5:55 am

Does anyone know the date of the Ben-Hur release?

barafan · Post by **barafan** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 6:06 am

I would have to double-check, but I believe that the "Big Hollywood" website set the BH release for Easter.

Frederica · Post by **Frederica** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 10:54 am

barafan wrote:I would have to double-check, but I believe that the "Big Hollywood" website set the BH release for Easter.

Has there been any announcement of a blu ray release of Elizabeth Taylor's Cleopatra? Rumors? Rumblings? Should I lay in a supply of martini toothpicks now?

barafan · Post by **barafan** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 11:26 am

OK. I can't find the Big Hollywood Easter release blurb, but according to a 3/28 posting on the website www.blu-ray.com, the Ben-Hur release will be "next fall." There's no release date noted on Amazon, though Amazon UK has a release date of September 5.

Nothing in the pipeline about a Blu-ray version of Cleopatra, but since 2013 is the 50th anniversary, I'd expect something to be out that year.

Battra92 · Post by **Battra92** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 2:32 pm

I'd love to see this on Blu or even DVD (My dad has the VHS tape, though) but the problem with this is the same as The Ten Commandments, you have to buy the expensive set to get the silent version as an extra.

rollot24 · Post by **rollot24** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 3:01 pm

Battra92 wrote:I'd love to see this on Blu or even DVD (My dad has the VHS tape, though) but the problem with this is the same as The Ten Commandments, you have to buy the expensive set to get the silent version as an extra. :-(

I prefer to think of it as buying the silent version with the sound one as an extra.

gordonovitch · Post by **gordonovitch** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 3:59 pm

Frederica wrote:
barafan wrote:I would have to double-check, but I believe that the "Big Hollywood" website set the BH release for Easter.
Has there been any announcement of a blu ray release of Elizabeth Taylor's Cleopatra? Rumors? Rumblings? Should I lay in a supply of martini toothpicks now?

With the demise of Liz, would a bumptious Blu-ray edition be a good thing for sales? Yeah, I think so. I hate to say this, but I like the movie, and it would be stunning on Blu.

Gordon Thomas

rudyfan · Post by **rudyfan** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 4:10 pm

gordonovitch wrote:
Frederica wrote:
barafan wrote:I would have to double-check, but I believe that the "Big Hollywood" website set the BH release for Easter.
Has there been any announcement of a blu ray release of Elizabeth Taylor's Cleopatra? Rumors? Rumblings? Should I lay in a supply of martini toothpicks now?
With the demise of Liz, would a bumptious Blu-ray edition be a good thing for sales? Yeah, I think so. I hate to say this, but I like the movie, and it would be stunning on Blu.

Gordon Thomas

Oh I love this movie! It's a hootfest and always fun to watch. I've long wanted to see it on the big screen.

Frederica · Post by **Frederica** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 4:33 pm

gordonovitch wrote:
Frederica wrote: Has there been any announcement of a blu ray release of Elizabeth Taylor's Cleopatra? Rumors? Rumblings? Should I lay in a supply of martini toothpicks now?
With the demise of Liz, would a bumptious Blu-ray edition be a good thing for sales? Yeah, I think so. I hate to say this, but I like the movie, and it would be stunning on Blu.

Gordon Thomas

I don't hate to say it. I love, love, love Cleopatra, every single overstuffed, overheated, improbable minute of it. Bring on the Cleopatra's entrance into Rome, says I! Bring on Rex Harrison and Richard Burton in cheerleader skirts! Bring on the bevy of character actors, all of whom look vaguely embarrassed! Bring on the costume and wig changes for every scene...sometimes two! And last but absolutely, emphatically, not least, BRING ON ELIZABETH TAYLOR! Someone hand me a martini, I'm busy for the next four hours!

barafan · Post by **barafan** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 8:10 am

"I don't hate to say it, I love, love, love Cleopatra. . ."

And I agree with you, Fredrica. It's always nice to find someone who enjoys the whole overstuffed too much-ness of the thing (I joke I'm one of ten people outside the Mankiewicz family who like the movie; I did a nice post about it the other day at my blog).

I think my favorite scene is at the intermission, when Cleopatra leaves Antony, steps on to her boat and sails off, with only small dancing lights and the splash of oars for her goodbye as she floats away into the night. There's just something so right about the framing of the shot, it always takes my breath away.

I hope it does come out on Blu-Ray in 2013, if not sooner. And with extras. Lots and lots of documentaries and papers and 'lost' footage.

moviepas · Post by **moviepas** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 8:34 pm

So, then, where is the missing about 2 hours of footage from this film? Burnt??? Wasn't anywhere to be seen when they got the Laserdisc than DVD set on the go.

Spiritus · Post by **Spiritus** » Tue Apr 05, 2011 7:26 am

About 20 years ago in Paris (home of cinephile junkies)I saw a "construction" of all of the footage of Cleopatra. (Liz Taylor version). It was either 6 or 8 hours long, I don't recall. They announced it as a "Patchwork" the film varying in quality. It was all of the footage from the theatrical release plus all of the footage not used in the theatrical release.
I finally stopped squirming after the third hour, and then sat back and luxuriated in the most immersive film experience I've ever had.
I REALLY wish whoever did that event in Paris would somehow get that onto DVD's or a BluRay.
spiritus

oops, sorry I'm off topic here, I forgot what thread I was in.

syd · Post by **syd** » Wed Apr 06, 2011 5:03 pm

Where did this come from?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8xfKL23Ifw

(04/14/11)

WB took it down.

The Carl Davis score provides Ben-Hur with that
oomph that is needed to bring it fully to life.

If the Blu-Ray edition has the Carl Davis score,
I will purchase it. If it does not, then I will wait
for the Photoplay version to be released.

Kevin2 · Post by **Kevin2** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 10:03 am

Ben Hur (1926) is available as a digital download (PC Only)
http://www.wbshop.com/Ben-Hur-1926/1000 ... html?cgid=

Details of the forthcoming Ben-Hur Ultimate Collector's Edition from blu-ray.com
http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=6414

On the Amazon order page, they indicate the 1925 version is the Thames Television restoration with orchestral score by Carl Davis.
http://www.amazon.com/Ben-Hur-Blu-ray/d ... PDKIKX0DER

Battra92 · Post by **Battra92** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 12:22 pm

I guess if you only want a DVD the silent was released on the last big DVD set. It's pretty cheap to boot.

http://www.amzn.com/B0009UZG1O

JohnArmer · Post by **JohnArmer** » Thu Jul 07, 2011 11:54 am

There has been some discussion on various forums about the resolution of the 1925 Ben Hur on the forthcoming BD.

It seems that it may only be in SD... Warners have already indicated that the 1925 film will be the photoplay restoration and it is thought that the documentary that is to be included on disc 3 (confirmed in HD) will not leave room for 1925 feature to be in HD. If so, that will be a major disappointment.

If this is the case, I'll probably pick up the existing DVD, since I really only want the Novarro film.

JohnArmer · Post by **JohnArmer** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 3:09 am

DVDbeaver has confirmed that the silent version is indeed in SD on the third Blu-ray disc.

Major disappointment for me but expected.

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/dvdcompare/ben-hur.htm" target="_blank

bobfells · Post by **bobfells** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 8:17 am

Battra92 wrote:I guess if you only want a DVD the silent was released on the last big DVD set. It's pretty cheap to boot.

http://www.amzn.com/B0009UZG1O" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

This may sound silly (OK, it probably IS silly) but anybody can upload images on the Amazon pages. Clicking on the BEN-HUR link above shows that somebody, maybe Amazon itself, added several images from the Heston (OK, the Wyler) version. But I don't see where the silent version is represented by images so.... I have a couple of images from the Novarro (OK, the Niblo) version that I should probably upload there just to keep the SILENTS FOREVER flag waving. I encourage residents of N'ville to add their images to the Amazon page if they are so inclined.

telical · Post by **telical** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 10:07 am

bobfells wrote:
Battra92 wrote:I guess if you only want a DVD the silent was released on the last big DVD set. It's pretty cheap to boot.

http://www.amzn.com/B0009UZG1O" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank
This may sound silly (OK, it probably IS silly) but anybody can upload images on the Amazon pages. Clicking on the BEN-HUR link above shows that somebody, maybe Amazon itself, added several images from the Heston (OK, the Wyler) version. But I don't see where the silent version is represented by images so.... I have a couple of images from the Novarro (OK, the Niblo) version that I should probably upload there just to keep the SILENTS FOREVER flag waving. I encourage residents of N'ville to add their images to the Amazon page if they are so inclined.

If you have a seller account, you can. A seller account at the basic level is free.

--
Robert Pearson
http://www.paramind.net" target="_blank
http://www.telicalbooks.com" target="_blank
http://www.regenerativemusic.net" target="_blank

bobfells · Post by **bobfells** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 10:31 am

I just became an Amazon seller recently with the Kindle edition of THE ARLISS ARCHIVES (shameless plug) but I didn't realize that only sellers could upload images. So the whole BEN-HUR thing is up to me? Lord help us!

Post by **Christopher Jacobs** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 11:51 am

JohnArmer wrote:DVDbeaver has confirmed that the silent version is indeed in SD on the third Blu-ray disc.

Major disappointment for me but expected.

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/dvdcompare/ben-hur.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

I'm really looking forward to the Blu-ray of the restored 1959 BEN-HUR, and I often like to buy such classics during the first week of release to help boost the sales ratings statistics and encourage the release of more older product, but this definitely puts purchase plans on hold for a while. I was all set to order the full Blu-ray box set, but I guess I'll just wait now until there's a 1959-only Blu-ray release. I've already got the silent version on the pretty-good-looking standard DVD that came in the last DVD box set of BEN-HUR. If I can wait two extra years for the "50th anniversary" of the 1959 version, I can certainly wait another year until either it appears by itself and/or until there is an HD Blu-ray of the 1926 version (whether packaged together or separately).

It seems oddly ironic that a company as devoted to restoring and issuing its classics in the best quality possible like Warner Brothers should shrug off an upgrade to the silent version that is surely one of the biggest attractions to die-hard collectors, while a company like Paramount, that is notorious for neglecting the vast majority of its classics and virtually disowning its silent library, decided to include a beautiful HD transfer of the silent TEN COMMANDMENTS on Blu-ray, including a commentary track and several HD bonus features for the silent, even if it was barely mentioned in the publicity for the stunningly restored Blu-ray of the 1956 TEN COMMANDMENTS.

Warner Home Video is doing an amazing and admirable job with its library, easily the best of all the studios, but this is a cost-cutting decision that has lost at least one sale of the deluxe set. I expect the 1959-only edition may be available as an exclusive at some retailer like Target, Walmart, or Best Buy shortly after the box set comes out, and in another year it may be on sale for $10-$15 as happened with THE WIZARD OF OZ and GONE WITH THE WIND. With no HD Blu-ray of the 1926 BEN-HUR, I'm afraid I'll just have to wait for that to happen.

Brianruns10 · Post by **Brianruns10** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 12:28 pm

JohnArmer wrote:DVDbeaver has confirmed that the silent version is indeed in SD on the third Blu-ray disc.

Major disappointment for me but expected.

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/dvdcompare/ben-hur.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank

Too bad for Warners, because that's a deal breaker for me. The '59 Ben-Hur is a decent film, but like most epics suffers from bloating. For my money the '25 is a superior film.

bobfells · Post by **bobfells** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 1:07 pm

I uploaded pages from the 1925 BEN-HUR souvenir program on the Amazon page for the 4-disc SD version. Amazon currently does not allow any customer uploading the the blu-ray set.

http://www.amzn.com/B0009UZG1O" target="_blank

ClayKing · Post by **ClayKing** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 3:48 pm

JohnArmer wrote:DVDbeaver has confirmed that the silent version is indeed in SD on the third Blu-ray disc.
Major disappointment for me but expected.
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/dvdcompare/ben-hur.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank

The silent version has some spectacular things and it would be nice if it had been transferred to HD. But as to the film itself... it suffers all the flaws of the original novel. The '59 version is superior in every respect, other than the obvious miniature monoremes. It seems fashionable nowadays to dump on the '59 version, but its a tremendously entertaining and uplifting film.

As to the '63 "Cleopatra," I read that Fox is working on an HD release for 2012. Both films are among my favorites.

Post by **Christopher Jacobs** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 7:08 pm

ClayKing wrote:
JohnArmer wrote:DVDbeaver has confirmed that the silent version is indeed in SD on the third Blu-ray disc.
Major disappointment for me but expected.
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/dvdcompare/ben-hur.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank
The silent version has some spectacular things and it would be nice if it had been transferred to HD. But as to the film itself... it suffers all the flaws of the original novel. The '59 version is superior in every respect, other than the obvious miniature monoremes. It seems fashionable nowadays to dump on the '59 version, but its a tremendously entertaining and uplifting film.

As to the '63 "Cleopatra," I read that Fox is working on an HD release for 2012. Both films are among my favorites.

I like certain elements of the silent BEN-HUR better than the sound version, and certain elements of the sound version better than the silent. I can't really assert that one is better, but that they are both different and I prefer one or the other at any given time (and I'd like the option to see them both in HD).

That's really good news about CLEOPATRA, if Fox actually releases it with the care they gave to SOUTH PACIFIC and the original THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL rather than sublicensing their transfers to smaller no-frills companies like they did with THE EGYPTIAN and PRINCE VALIANT (but that is certainly better that than no release at all, as they still look simply wonderful on Blu-ray, whatever their dramatic merits). Big-screen epics are exactly what Blu-ray does best. The lavish details and numerous long shots all become highly diluted by standard-definition video, drastically reducing their dramatic impact, which was originally due at least as much to the spectacle as to plot and character. Without the full picture quality, the faults of their dramatic values become all the more obvious, and with the original clarity of their image those faults can often be forgiven. I do hope they've made more progress on reassembling the footage that was cut before the film's release to include as either bonus material or (preferably) as an alternate version through seamless branching. Now, if only someone can discover an uncut nitrate of the 1917 Theda Bara CLEOPATRA before the Blu-ray goes into production! Maybe Fox might at least consider including a hi-def transfer of the surviving clip and a stills-gallery reconstruction of the rest.

classicmovieman · Post by **classicmovieman** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 5:27 am

I certainly agree blu-ray is great for epic movies. Its a pity about the silent version of Ben Hur and I wouldn't hold my breath about seeing it released in a future set or on its own in HD. Warners or any other big studio are hardly falling over themselves to release silents properly on DVD never mind Blu-ray. Warners yes used to be the top studio for releasing their movies from the vaults but now they dump them all on overpriced DVD-Rs. In the last year the only classic movie (say pre 1960) I recall Warner releasing on pressed DVD was Night Flight. As for Ben Hur my opinion is the silent is better overall as a movie, all the conflict/drama goes out of the story in the 59 version after the chariot race.

Ben-Hur coming to blu-ray and standard DVD

Ben-Hur coming to blu-ray and standard DVD

Cleopatra

cleopatra

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Re: Ben-Hur coming to blu-ray and standard DVD