I was struck yet again by the above scene, one of the most powerful depictions of Christ. A wonderful melding of music and dialogue as Christ goes silently to the aid of Ben Hur and gives him water. The wordless encounter between Christ and the Decurion was amazing, as the Decurion’s face registers bewilderment, shame and curiosity as he has a totally unexpected encounter with the Divine. Whatever the actor who played the Decurion, Remington Olmsted, was earning that day, it wasn’t nearly enough. It is interesting that Ben Hur, a good man, has no idea who has given him water while the Decurion, an evil man, can clearly sense who Christ is.
I remember seeing that movie back in 1961, and I recall that scene, & concur that it was very powerful.
I watched this yesterday before we went to Mass (on TCM at 6 AM) and the two encounters with Christ are remarkably well done.
Heston’s acting as Judah encountering with Christ on the Via Crucis isn’t quite as good as the Decurion at Nazareth, but his facial reaction is nevertheless also well done with the recognition and connecting the condemned Man with the one who gave him water.
1 of the best movies ever made. I could watch it 1,000 times. I have watched it many times. And the practical effects put the CGI crap we see In movies today to shame.
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