The Race Is Not Over; It Goes On -- from Ben Hur
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ก.ย. 2024
- After the epic chariot race, Messala, horribly mangled, waits for Judah to come. Judah arrives, thinking vengance over and the great conflict in his life is at an end, but discovers from dying Messala that "the race is not over; It goes on" as Judah learns his mother and sister are "...in the Valley of the Lepers, if you can recognize them."
This ought to be one of the mandatory scenes for prospective actors to watch because there isn't a finer example of acting anywhere than this performance by Stephen Boyd and Charlton Heston. Just superb...and that is an understatement. Hatred, Revenge, Anger, Horror.....the emotions is dripping off of the film its so potent. Magnificent!
Stephen Boyd perhaps has given the best portrayal of his distinguished career.
This scene crushes it on so many levels. The shot composition with Judah standing in the door, then casually tossing aside his victory garland. The dramatic set lighting and use of shadow emphasizes where the characters are, spiritually (or are going). No one ever carried off a better villain death scene than Boyd here. You really believe his body has been destroyed and he’s just hanging on from pure hatred. Compared to the campy style villains died in this era (even in quite serious movies) the acting/directing is all the more incredible. Then the final shot - the grandeur of Rome set against a bitter victory - re-emphasizes that the corrupting power of Rome brought them all to this. Beautiful scene.
Is true......
he still says,messala says "the race is not over", "go and find your sister and mother in valley of lepers ,if you can identify them", how mcu hhated he has even in his death bed
……the final shot reminds me of the 1996 autobiography of Mr Charlton Heston, titled ‘In the Arena’………
The best movie ever made, Ben-Hur.
My favorite film. So many facets about it are still outstanding. Could not be re-made, although they tried and had modern technology helping them.
"If you can recognize them."
Now THAT is as evil as it gets! And Heston's reaction is flawless!
Earlier he had threatened to crucify a girl he knew to be innocent, whom he had grown up with, and whom he knew had a crush on him. He really is one of the most evil characters in film, even if others have caused more deaths or more suffering.
The final twist of the knife from Masala.
I saw the film when it first came out and many times since. There are some who look at Heston's later politics and yhink he was not worthy of the Oscar. Well, I disagreed wikth his NRA nonsense, but I thought he truly deserved to the Best Actor of 1959.
@@williamsnyder5616 One thing is the politics the other is his talent as an actor. He truly deserve it. And Stephen Boyd should have received the Oscar for better supporting actor.
@@AlbertoJorgeSoares Definitely agree on Boyd, Alberto. Boyd's fellow "Ben-Hur" actor, Hugh Griffith, was delightful as Shiek Ildirim, but he was just flashy in the role. Boyd had to show a good side and a bad side in the film. Incidentally, if you can find it on TH-cam, there is an old black and white video from 1959 showing Boyd, and Heston in a booth at the Brown Derby sharing coffee with their silent "Ben-Hur" counterparts, Francis X. Bushman and Ramon Navarro. Tremendous stuff.
Ben Hur is my FAVORITE movie. Saw it when I was about 7 years old and it has always stuck with me. I usually can't remember anything about movies I see, but many of the scenes I can almost recite verbatim.
+jivetalk69 Mine too !
one of the strongest scenes in a strong film. the sound of heston, when he is told "...in the valley of the lepers" is gruelsome, terrifying.
intense play, every gesture fitting in. masterpiece.
One of the best death scenes in cinematic history.
One of he great scenes from one the greatest movies ever made.
+Chris My favorite film and certainly the greatest of the "Biblical Epics."
It goes on, Judah - The race is not over!!!
The best scene in the whole movie.
His last words before his death tells you the evilness of Messala's soul.
……IMHO, the best scene was the first one after Intermission, when a magnificent jewel-encrusted dagger arrived for Messala, from ‘a man I’ve never met’.
THEN there’s the beautiful, booming bass-voice of Judah Ben-Hur, in an ante-room, pronouncing, ‘You’re wrong, Messala’. Oh boy, how good was that!
This whole scene, where Judah is attired, & coiffed, as a Roman Senator, far above Messala’s rank, just keeps getting better with Messala being a smart-@$$ to Judah, who ends up ORDERING him to get the Roman Governor’s approval to search for his mother, & sister. ‘Then get it!’ Fantastic!
Awesome movie awesome dialog awesome act just flawless, it never gets old
The music, the lighting, the shots - all perfect in this greatest movie ever made.
One of the better cinematic croaking scenes. That body shaking is the nice touch, the hatred.
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF HATE. Even through his shattered body and excruciating pain Messala still had enough hate for Judah to give him one more piece of revenge (his sister and mother are lepers) before he died. Magnificent scene.
Fascinating how the script rider chooses these words to be Messala's final words.
Quite the opposite. There was no hatred left for either of them. Hence why Judah declared he no longer sees an enemy before him and why Messala expressed a desire to help him before he died. A greater middle finger would have been not to even tell him or mislead him in some way by telling them they’re alive and where to find them but not disclosing their condition but he told him the complete truth instead. I feel he genuinely wanted to help him with his final breath so that he could at least see his family one more time before they died.
Guess who really got the middle finger on the day he stood before the very God throughout the whole film that he mocked and scoffed at and saw what that got him for all eternity!!!!!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@@rexwallace9477.....True, the eternal torment that Messala is suffering pales to the pain from his broken body he went through on Earth.
That dude had insane hate inside him. Hard to believe they were once "friends".
Great acting makes it believable.
Their love for one another was beyond friends, more like brothers which makes the hatred between them later in the film that more tragic....😢
Still a wonderful movie, after all these years!
The most amazing death scene ever. Stephen Boyd IS Messala. There will never be another. Thank you for posting this.
toby kebbell is giving it a go, we'll see
I agree. GREAT death scene!
One of the best movies ever!
That Supporting Oscar should have been his, and he wasn't even nominated!
I read somewhere that back then only one actor could be nominated for each award from any one picture, so Hugh Griffith got the nomination and the award for playing Sheik Ilderim, another outstanding performance.
This is a pretty intense scene; especially for a 1959 film!
Stephen Boyd was great in this.
My favourite film ever! I had the privilege of wearing the Dagger that Ben Hur wears during this scene and the Chariot Race. My friend bought it at an auction of movie prop's and when I did my first Re-Enactment he allowed me to wear it during the battle. What an honour!
Cool. I would have felt the same way.
That’s amazing 😁👌🏻
They don't make it like this anymore
@@gorgeous6737 - Nowadays it's only explosions and special effects. Good text, good music, good actors ... pfff !!!!
Amazing
I was fortunate enough to see this film in the theatre for its 10th anniversary re-release. I still remember the dank claustrophobia of this scene, and the chilling effect of Messala's last moments. Brilliant performance from Stephen Boyd. Thanks for posting!
You gotta love when Judah must ungrip Messala's fist from his shirt even when he is already dead. I've seen that trope used in a number of films.
Finest death scene ever filmed. Boyd's performance was tremendously convincing.
I think what it actually meant to show is that this character is utterly unredeemable - all other Messalas after him got a backstory that made their betrayal somehow understandable, which ends with Stephen Campbell Moore playing him like a wuss and - well, let's just say that Toby Kebbell is far from being the calibre actor that Boyd was.
Messala literally is killed through his own pride and his ambition to strike a final blow at Judah - who at first seems to be just shy of forgiving him. He insists on the surgical procedure (I guess it would mean amputation) being delayed because he does not want to face Judah "half a man", it's both his hatred and his broken pride figuring here. We do not know how much time is meant to pass between the end of the race and his final conversation with Judah, but I guess it's quite some time for as far as I remember Judah's conversation with Pilate (where he is informed that he's been made a Roman citizen) is before this scene so I would assume at least an hour, perhaps more.
Perhaps Messala could have been physically saved if he had allowed the surgeons to start working earlier - but then on the other hand he did not seem to have an unbroken bone in his body and would have been done for anyway. But he clearly puts his hatred and the desire to get back at Judah before his own well-being and safety. Moreover, this makes this death scene to be the counterpoint for the other death scene that we do not get to see but which is much more important - the death of Jesus on the cross. While Messala's death initially sends Judah down the wrong path, revenge, the death of Jesus on the cross steers Judah towards redemption.
Interestingly, it was originally Charlton Heston who was meant to play Messala, and the role of Judah was intended for Burth Lancaster (at least that's what I've head). I wonder what kind of scene we would have seen then.
The acting prowess of Charlton Heston and Stephen Boyd were chiselled to perfection by the legendry director-Willam Wyler. pilzperson, you are right in your assessment that "It is evident in Heston's performance that Wyler brought the very BEST out of him."Wyler, the master of retakes used to perfect his team of actors and demanded to get the very best out of the situation and out of any actor who confronted him. Heston once remarked that EL CID would had been a great movie, if directed by Wyler
A powerful scene that stays in the memory, and a remarkable film.
Great scene. Should have started earlier, when they want to cut off his leg to save his life and he says something to the effect of, "I don't want to confront him as half a man."
A masterpiece of a film!
The music is brilliant!
One of the (then record) eleven Academy Awards the picture won went to Miklós Rózsa for "Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture."
Rózsa researched "Greek and Roman music of the period to give his score an archaic sound while still being modern." The fully orchestrated score stands up well after all these years. The composer himself conducted the 100 piece MGM orchestra.
Randal Pilz He should won it again for El Cid in 1961. A total genius
Rozsa wrote for many of the epics of the big screen. John Williams, James Horner, and others followed in his footsteps.
In this media-centered era, some of the best orchestral music is being written for movies and television. Back in previous centuries, composers often had a patron--a king or other wealthy nobleman for financial support. In the past 100 years, movie studios often provided the incentive for further creativity.
One of the most gut wrenching deaths you'll ever see in a film.
Yes, it certainly is. It's been said that actor relish the opportunity for a death scene, and Stephen Boyd delivered an outstanding performance. This film remains my favorite Hollywood film for many reasons including the lead actors.
@@randalpilz8513 When I saw this as a child I thought he really died!
@@MrBulwer Whoever was inspired to depict Messala's death this way--the actor, director or both--gave it a gruesome realism with the spasms of pain and the final gasp. Makes me wonder if they talked to trauma physicians in preparing for the role.
I would like to see the end where messala survives and admits his faults. And reunite with Tirzah to whom he had an obvious sympathy at the beginning. It is all in the new movie but it is the only good thing in it. Actors are poor and happy end would be better in this version. Messala changed love to hate that was stupid of him😢
@@Mammadova1000 There are different versions of the story. The 1959 version is the one I like best. It has the strongest dramatic elements in it.
In the original novel, there's romantic conflict as both Messala and Ben Hur desire Iras, the beautiful daughter of Balthasar, the Wiseman (she's not in the 1959 movie). Also in the book, Messala does not die after the race, but lingers on as a bitter cripple with Iras. Five years after the crucifixion, Ben-Hur and Esther have married and had children. The family lives in Misenum. Iras visits Esther and tells her she has killed Messala, discovering that the Romans were brutes. She also implies that she will attempt suicide. After Esther tells Ben-Hur of the visit, but he tries unsuccessfully to find Iras.
Brilliant acting! What a great scene! I remember it ever since I saw it as a kid.
*ONLY YESHUA AND HIS GRACE overcomes the evil, the bitterness, the hate that men inspire in one another. ONLY Jesus.* ... this movie was a true masterpiece.
"The race goes on, Judah, it goes on!"
He so desperately wanted Judah to hate him because it would justify his hatred of Judah.
the most compelling death scene ever. watch the hands , the arms...how they portray hatred and desperation. nothing matches this. details were genius
about the hands--- when you view Christ giving ben hur water, the hands become a character of their own. in the prelude to the movie, michaelangelo's 'creation' depicts God givig life to Adam with a touch of His hand. powerful stuff.
cbi1991 that movie is greatness
+Ronald Arias are you related to moises arias who was in Hannah Montana and is in the 2016 version of this?
also, his character is playing a very athletic, strong man who just had his entire rib cage & organs crushed. the pain would be thru the roof.... the way boyd plays this, esp w/ his voice, you can literally feel & hear that hes be physically mashed inside. the brutality of that comes off so real here.... never a better death scene acting wise in the history of cinema.
Stephen Boyd 'best' role in a movie. (Life was to short for this great actor)
Born: William Millar
July 4, 1931 in Glengormley, Northern Ireland, UK
Died: June 2, 1977 (age 45) in Northridge, California, USA
'The race is not over'
The only role where he came close to Messala is when he played the Nazi spy in THE MAN WHO NEVER WAS. "Polar bear ... polar, bear."
I read that he should have been nominated for Best Supporting Actor, but rules back then said only one nomination per film, so Hugh Griffin got the nomination and the award for playing the Arab Sheik who befriends Ben Hur.
He died well before his time. The FUCKING cigarettes didn't help.
One of the best scenes EVER! Don't know of any actors who could do better.
What an epitomisation of the evil that soaks Rome, even to this day. Messala defeated, and yet content to take his hatred to the grave. Another epic scene in a masterpiece of cinema. Heston and Boyd at their best.
That death scene fits so well with Messala's personality. It reminds me of the scene when Judah has a spear aimed at Messala earlier and Messala would not speak until Judah dropped his spear.
great scene. stephen boyd was oscar worthy.
Yes, but he isn't a supporting actor, as I, also, mistakenly, thought, because he is playing a leading role, check out his role in "Fall of the Roman Empire" 1963 or 4
also I'm the only fool who feels sorry for Messala as by this point he is the doomed underdog
One of the best movies I have ever seen. Cannot ever make this kind of movie ever again. The talent is not there. Acting,direction,music,intelligent and moving writing,skill with the horses. The costumes,sets,editing and the feeling that you went on this journey with Judah Ben-Hur.
Before Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, Ben Hur held the record for winning the most Academy Awards. For all the reasons you stated, it is one of the finest movie productions ever, and my all-time favorite. I try not to watch it too often, so I can enjoy the story and the acting without noticing all the technical aspects too much.
@@randalpilz8513……AND it won TWO ‘Oscars’ in the Acting Category, which the others’ didn’t. This Category is higher in AMPAS, than CGI.
So ‘Ben-Hur’ is still the most honoured film of all time.
Shame it missed out on its’ 12th Oscar due to unionised factions’ snubbed ‘Best Adapted Screenplay’ because the writer wasn’t a union member…………
I was thinking Stephen (Boyd) should have won Best Supporting Actor instead of Hugh (Griffith) but, of course, Messala, as the primary antagonist, is a leading role, not supporting.
From what I heard, back in those days, the standard thinking was "only one nomination in each category per film," so Stephen Boyd lost out due to Griffith's nomination.
Agreed. Magnificent performance by stephen boyd.
@@randalpilz8513 Actually, multple nominations did happen. Think of Bette Davis and Anne Baxter in All About Eve , George C. Scott and Jackie Gleason in The Hustler.
@@patrickburns1408 well, that's what I had read on the subject, that they were limited in the nominations, but both Griffith and Boyd did an outstanding job in an outstanding film.
@@patrickburns1408 Yes, or many years later Tom Hulce and F. Murray Abraham in Amadeus, who were both nominated for Best Actor...I loved Abraham's acceptance speech when he did win - he said they should have given the award both to him and Hulce.
PS: THE LATE STEPHEN BOYD PASSED ON IN 1977 AFTER SUFFERING A HEART ATTACK ON A GOLF COURSE W/HIS WIFE AT THE TIME. HE WAS TRULY ONE OF THE GREAT ACTORS OF THE GOLDEN AGE OF HOLLYWOOD. ALONG W/ THE LATE CHARLTON HESTON, WE WILL NOT SEE THE LIKES OF ACTORS LIKE THESE AGAIN. (RIP) CHARLTON HESTON & THE LATE STEPHEN BOYD.
I saw this movie when I was a small child. Today I'm 64 and when I think of this movie this is the scene I remember most.
I don't think we can get to see such movies again.
I tend to agree. I fear the up-coming remake of Ben Hur will fall short of this version in many ways.
The Race goes on. The eternal struggle...it goes on Judah !
True hatred. Right to the end.
If you believe the veracity of Gore Vidal's statements about how he directed Boyd to play his character in relation to Heston's, this scene represents the sometimes unclear distinction between hate and love
davidpar2 where can you read this?
Yes, Gore Vidal said that he inserted a homoerotic tone to the scenes between Messalah and Ben-Hur
@@mkfd4571 here we go again...anytime two men are close as friends, they just HAVE TO BE homosexual, right? ENOUGH!!
……yeah, & he was sacked by Wyler eventually, thank goodness.
If Mr Charlton Heston had been told of this ‘aspect’, he would’ve resigned on the spit. His Christian values’ wouldn’t have agreed to that…………
……’spOt I meant……
great movie! saw it thrice in Metro, Bombay. And what a scene this one is. The moment Ben Hur saw victory he was stunned with the news of his mother and sister! The race goes on and so too the memories of this remarkable movie.
All that hate, Messala must've lived a really sad life.
Never happen invented people
James Strothers duh. Their talking about the characters life not implying it’s real
@@jamesstrothers8928: We had no idea Captain Obvious. FFS, don't take it so literally.
@@squallofthedai Nothing more grug-brained than the troll who feels the need to point out that fiction is fiction.
Very sad but many such cases!
Everyone is being grammatically correct and proper in regards to Mr. Strothers comment.
Not me. Mr. Strothers , you sir are a fucking idiot.
The Best played death part I have ever ever seen in any movie....Stephen Boyd was the best and such a hot man...he died way too young..
Death throes one does not forget. superb acting.
It's the old "The Devil made me do it" argument. Satan can make us do nothing He can only suggest and tempt. If there is goodness or rotteness in us we are the ones responsible for dealing with it and controlling our emotions.
I don't think Messala was corrupted by Rome as much as Rome's absolute power brought out a viciousness that was already in his character.
For this scene alone I think the best actor was Stephen Boyd.
exactly
I had seen this movie, when I was seven years, the scenes are engraved in my mind since than till now. Every part the film superb. It takes genius director to produce such a movie. Simply great, no more words can express. Love the film❤.
I still can't figure out why Stephen Boyd did not get the Best Supporting Actor award for this movie. This has to be the greatest death scene in the history of the cinema. Instead, the award went to Hugh Griffith, the Arab Sheik who enlists Judah to run his chariot in the big race - mainly a comic relief type of role.
It was a tough decision, could easily have gone to any of the other supporting actors in this flick too.
@@colliric I still think Heston and Stephen Boyd were the real winners of the oscars
I don't agree with you. The scene when the sheik goes to the Roman bath to make a wager on the race was classical.
I have a pretty good idea why.
Charleton Heston is like, "Chuck Norris, who?" LOL. They sure don't make movies like this anymore. This is EPIC.
……NO comparison in Acting skills’………Heston a better actor by far, across many differing genre of film………
Best death scene, best movie. We watch it every year on Christmas
best film ever, fantastically emotional, why remake it, stupid idea
will this movie itself is the 4th remake
It's the fourth, if you count the stage play. The first two movie versions were silent films. Nothing to improve upon in making another "talking picture" version, in my opinion, even with CGI special effects. The new feature film tried to change the dramatic impact by making the protagonist and antagonist into brothers. I prefer the original idea of best friends, closer than brothers, of the novel and 1959 film
Classic movie my favorite. I know it word 4 word
Wow
Amazing
Nobody plays evil like Stephen Boyd. Check out a movie called the " The Oscar" about and up and coming actor. He steps on everyone on the way up. Unbelievable movie!
I saw "The Oscar" many years ago. I didn't know that Boyd was in it though. THANKS.
Hatred, grudges and vengeance poison the soul and the essence of a human. Forgiveness is a virtue that is a priceless gift to oneself and no one else *~
Pound for Pound the greatest death scene ever filmed. It also helped that William Wyler was just off camera twisting Boyd's toes.
What? No way, dude.
Hands down, best death scene in film history. Close second is Marlon Brando as Fletcher Christian in Mutiny on the Bounty.
Thank you so much for uploading this scene! It's my favorite in the film and the most powerful, IMO. As you have mentioned, Stephen Boyd deserved (at least) a "Best Supporting Actor" Oscar nomination...
Cool! I envy you for being able to see it on the big screen. My wife and I once saw Singing in the Rain in a restored Vaudeville era theater, and it was a unique experience to not only see and hear it in a big way but to also hear and see the audience's reactions to the film. I'd love to do that with Ben Hur sometime. I've only seen it on TV, but once I did, it became my favorite film.
I’ll put it this way.The race is definitely over for Messala!!!!
I like this movie and this scene.
Ben Hur ist unvergesslich und wird es immer bleiben. Peter Mannheim 😢😢😢
"What do you think you see?
The smashed body of a wretched animal?
There's enough of a man still left here for you to hate
."
That quote sticks with me more than anything else in this scene. Because even when you win some fights, you lose a bit of your humanity.
followed by the unexpected line "Let me help you..." which immediately ratchets it up to another level of suspense
How Boyd utters these words are sheer genius because he doesn't sound human when he says them. Play the scene again and you will see what I mean.
Pls show full movie I like IT
Not one actor in the Hollywood of today could give these performances. This was when stars were stars because of talent & charisma not because of vulgarity & nudity. Who in Hollywood could make a movie of this caliper today? No one.
……’calibre’……
The best crown jewel between other crown jewels right here!
I see no enemy... me encanta.
THANK YOU FOR UPLOADING THIS. THIS IS LIKE A HOUSEHOLD PHRASE. GOD BLESS YOU
The best movie. I always wait for this part. Intense even after all these years. Saw originally when I was 5 years old,also in the theater last year.
Ben Hur and Sgt. Wilson, what a combo...
la mejor película de todos los tiempos, única.
My favorite film. No need for a re-make.
I know that. It never was truly over. And my white horses are standing by.
"The race goes on Juda it goes on"
Brilliant. In the Arena of Life the Race goes on.
Holy crap, that's John Le Mesurier covering the body at the end! I never realized he was in it until now!
……yep!
It's important to say that Judah forgave Messala in the end, remembering the childhood friend, and that it was the system (Rome) that had corrupted his friend. Messala was not evil he was possessed by the system, and weak. I like to think that even though he disclosed the information about Judahs sister and mother to hurt and through hate, that also in that moment it was the last offer of a friend long dead offering hope. With Ben-Hur the message is everything and sometimes you have to tap beneath the surface and avoid falling into the trap of just seeing things either as good or bad.
Best movie death rattle -- ever.
Vengeance knows no limits. Best not to embark on such a course.
I almost cried at this part
Its wonderful movement's --!
For the longest this movie held the record for most Oscar’s ever 11 titanic tied it the screen play is just awesome one of the best all time
Pfff ... Titanic won technicals. Ben Hur won because of the human touch.
‘Titanic’ didn’t win any Oscars’ for ACTING! ‘Ben-Hur’ won two, Best Actor Charlton Heston, Best Supporting Actor Hugh Griffiths.
Acting ability beats all the CGI in ‘Titanic’, hands down!
Charlton Heston...such a great actor. not like today's turds.
i see not enemy...great
Thank you South America I will never need head phones or need not want to hear a child’s 😂
Not sure what this has to do with the scene from Ben Our
Maybe it's just me, and I'm reading things too far, but the saddest part is that the friendship between them is somehow still there. Blinded by anger, hatred, revenge, but is there! As later stated by Judah; Messala as a human being has been completely changed (even destroyed) by Rome - that Rome is the one who can be truly blamed. When an idea can't tolerate another; when a religion can't tolerate another.... politics, war, greed! If we put aside everything, what do we get? Two young men, caring for each other, and a long forgotten friendship.
@ Adam Hunor Magony Very well written and thought out. The betrayed friendship between the Boys of Judah Ben Hur and Massala is one of the tragedies of Life. The script writers were able to fashion this in a very poetic and tragic way just as the Actors Charlton Heston and Stephen Boyd were able to translate it visually onto the big screen. Kudos!
If not Best Actor ...... as, I think of Mr Boyd and this scene when I think of this film ...
To the bitter end !
He was a wretched animal.
Charlton Heston et Stephen Boyd au sommet de leur art.
Stephen Boyd is a fine looking man!
not only because we help a person we can do what we want or say what we want if not we must teach them and be an example
Awesome actoring
Juda broke Messala's heart by doing WHAT exactly? WHY would a mentally stable person want his brother/ex lover/best friend to be a mindless pawn who does literally everything Messala says? Juda is his own man with the will of his own and his own POV. " I love you " doesn't mean blind obedience.
Stephen Boyd died so young