Mission and Madness
In the arena and in the air
by Robin Simmons
March 25, 2010

In this season of Passover and Easter, we are drawn to notions of grace and forgiveness. Films have long explored this rare human experience from many sides and points of view. One unique exploration of this mystery is from the perspective of an angry Jew caught on the fringe of this not so subtle spiritual conundrum in William Wyler’s 1959 version of Ben Hur.

William Wyler, who won a Best Director Oscar© three times, is arguably the most highly-regarded of all American directors. He never resorted to flashy gimmicks or trendy styles. He was an intuitive artist with a refined sense of the emotional thread of a story or screenplay. Many consider Wyler the best director of performance in the American cinema.

Perhaps the finest example of Wyler’s work is on display in MGM’s 1959 Ben-Hur.

When Civil War General Lew Wallace began the novel, it was on a bet that he could write a story that would destroy the divinity of Jesus.

The provocative premise: A Roman-betrayed Jew, on the road to revenge, crosses paths with a Man many call Messiah. A Man who says “Love your enemies.” (The irony of Rome and Israel alive in our post–modern world is not lost in this story that has seen a new manifestation just about every 20 years since 1880!)

When Wyler got the assignment to direct, he said he wanted to “out De Mille De Mille. And who better to direct a tale of the Christ than a Jew?” The material was familiar. As a newcomer to Hollywood, Wyler helped wrangle extras in the 1925 silent version (available in the multi discs DVD set)

By 1957, the production was the biggest, most expensive film ever and MGM’s future was riding on it. In today’s dollars, the cost would be over $250 million.

The film went on to win in all the major Academy categories and no film to date has won more Academy Awards©. Heston won a Best Acting Oscar. He delivers an intense performance of a man who senses -- but can’t understand why, if not for revenge –- that his life has been apparently directed and protected by Providence. (What a wonderful moral dilemma!) Still, his free will remains his own to do as he chooses.

Before the chariot race, he seeks forgiveness but surrenders to the course that has been set. His profound moral quandary is palpable as destiny and fate collide in the arena. But does God have anything to do with it?

The DVD transfer of this Ultra Panavision 65 widescreen (2.76:1 aspect ratio!) is sharp and clean. The Blu-ray version has not yet been announced but is much anticipated.

Charlton Heston narrates some revealing moments. He says when he was required to do a simple jump down stone steps, it suddenly reminded him of a recurring nightmare of a similar setting. Wyler noticed something was wrong. When Heston faced his fear and did the jump, his dream disappeared.
The bonus material includes a picture gallery, an excellent “making-of” featurette, screentests (see a serious Leslie Nielson trying out for the role of Massala!).

This film has been meticulously preserved in a beautiful digital transfer. The chariot race, the finest sustained action sequence ever with a sound mix created from 53 separate audio tracks, is still an incredible experience in remastered Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround and full widescreen. From MGM Home Entertainment. (1959, G, Widescreen, 212 Minutes)

DR. STRANGELOVE (SPECIAL EDITION) Blu-ray
Playing God is one of the underlying themes in this iconic film from the 60s. Deciding the fate of millions of innocent person in a mad game of political one-upmanship of sincerity and power run-amuck has never been darker, colder, funnier -- or truer.

When the late Stanley Kubrick finished directing “Lolita” he said he read about 50 books on thermonuclear war and with his producing partner James Harris paid $3,500 dollars for the rights to Peter George’s novel “Red Alert.” Immediately, Harris and Kubrick began developing a screenplay for their next production they called “The Edge of Doom.”

In late night creative sessions, Kubrick and Harris got silly, wondering what kind of food the President and his advisors would order while dealing with an accidental nuclear attack on Russia. Harris went off to be a director and Kubrick worked with the late Terry Southern. The new title announced was “Two Hours To Doom.”

After two months with Southern, Kubrick found the tone and story he felt best expressed his very serious concerns for an eminent nuclear holocaust.

This brilliant, dark farce with its numerous haunting images has become a part of our collective experience. Although released in 1964 at the height of Cold War fears, the madness of nuclear war for whatever cause has never been better portrayed -- now even more relevant with the very real threat of nuclear terrorism.

Peter Sellers inhabits three distinct characters in a performance that is unmatched anywhere. Incredibly, some of his most memorable lines, like the fey phone apology to the Soviet Premiere for the accidental nuclear strike, were improvised! George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, Keenan Wynn and the extraordinary Slim Pickens (in a part that was originally to have been played by Sellers until he fell 15 feet out of the B-52 set and hurt himself!) are all operating at the peak of their remarkable powers and under the direction of a perfectly focused Kubrick.

“Dr. Strangelove” has been available in other digital edition, individually and as part of a Kubrick DVD collection. The last hi-def version includes a digitally mastered audio and video transfer that is even sharper and the incredible black and white cinematography is now pristine. Superior bonus material includes a terrific documentary on Kubrick as well as an “Inside The making of Dr. Strangelove” and more. From Columbia Pictures. (1964 UK, PG Black & White, “Full Theatrical Transfer”, 104 Minutes)

STARGATE ATLANTIS (The Complete Series)
A new gate will open. A lost city will rise again.

Explore the celestial wonders of an unknown world and experience the ultimate Sci-Fi TV adventure from MGM Home Entertainment.

Anchored with a great cast, “Stargate: Atlantis” continues the journey begun in “Stargate: SG-1” and explores the great mythic city of Atlantis allegedly built thousands of years ago by highly evolved “Ancients” and the new home base for an elite expedition team from earth. These brave and curious military leaders and scientists leap through the city’s Stargate to explore the wondrous Pegasus Galaxy and battle the treacherous Wraith who seek submission of Atlantis. Overflowing with exciting quests and surprises, fans will experience every captivating, spine-tingling mission of the Intrepid Team from their first hostile encounter to their last rescue mission.

Winner of the 2008 People’s Choice awards for Favorite Sci-Fi show and three-time Emmy© nominee, “Stargate: Atlantis” The Complete Series contains all 100 episodes from season one through five including a bonus disc with exclusive never-before-seen special features. Seeing it uninterrupted is like getting lost in perfectly detailed fantasy novel of epic scale and scope. There is a strange enveloping power in this finely executed series of wonders and delights so far removed yet in many ways so much with us.

Comments? RobinESimmons@aol.com