MovieChat Forums > Ben-Hur A Tale of the Christ (1927) Discussion > Two different Thames Silent versions

Two different Thames Silent versions

posted 15 years ago by angmc43
8 replies | jump to latest

There are several differences in two versions of the Thames Silent print. Both are the UK print restored by Thames Television and Turner Entertainment, produced by Kevin Brownlow and David Gill, with a music score by Carl Davis. Here are some points:

Version 1: Made in 1988, released by MGM/UA on VHS and Laser Disc; Broadcast on TNT several times (Notably as part of its 'Silent Night' marathon on Christmas Eve 1989/1990 and MGM: WHEN THE LION ROARS movie marathon in March 1992).
-Most of the Technicolor title cards appear in freeze-frame.
-During the Chariot Race, Messala has a stormy exchange with the Greek Charioteer. Their words are subtitled on a scene of a charging chariot.
-During the Crucifixion, there is a close-up of Christ's nailed hand. It makes a blessing before going limp.

Version 2: Made c. 1999, released by Warner Home Video on DVD (as part of its BEN-HUR Collection set); Broadcast on TCM several times.
-The Technicolor title cards seem to be running on an actual speed (or, due to improvements in restoration, the freeze-framing is not so noticeable).
-In Ben-Hur's Technicolor parade in Rome, the music plays in a different synchronization than version 1.
-The exchange between Messala and the Greek Charioteer appear in normal title cards (text on a black background).
-The 'Christ's nailed hand' is deleted.
-The Thames Silent production credits at the beginning and the end are in a different font.

[–] J. Spurlin 13 years ago

Why would they delete the nailed-hand scene, I wonder?

...Justin

[–] dan1664 13 years ago

Apparently, the print used for the DVD was not the same one used for the earlier VHS and laser disc editions of "Ben-Hur". It was, after the fact, discovered to be a "censored" version which eliminated the shot of Christ's hand nailed to the cross. Why was the shot deleted? Probably because it was considered to be too "strong" or "intense" for some 1925 audiences; it may even have been thought to be "disrespectful" in its depiction of the Christ figure. I, for one, consider the shot essential, and hope it's restored for the upcoming Blu-Ray edition of the film.

[–] J. Spurlin 13 years ago

I can certainly see the scene being censored in 1925, but not now—certainly not after Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ. It must be what you say: the modern distributors were working with a print that was censored long ago. I can't imagine that anyone would deliberately censor it today.

...Justin

[–] angmc43 8 years ago

I found another excision.
In the older Thames version, the final Technicolor scene of the Hur/Simonidies families watching Golgotha is introduced by a title quote from the Psalms (pictured by a scroll with the title PSALMS): "Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning."

The newer print removed this title.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] BrentReid 8 years ago

The missing and altered footage in the DVD version has nothing to do with censorship; to put it simply, it's the result of a cock-up. The VHS and LD use Photoplay's complete 1987 restoration, which is also the one still used for live screenings. When a new master was created for the DVD, the errors slipped in due to a lack of quality control and have not been corrected since, either for the DVD or Blu-ray issues.

Remember: "Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity."

Brenton Film: The past, present and future of silent film
http://www.brentonfilm.com/

[–] mlink-36-9815 7 years ago

there is a committee who passes all video that goes thru a tv screen to the public. this committee determines the restoration cuts and changes that you see here. and IN OUR BEST INTERESTS have decided to censor a 100 year old movie. It was made outside of bank(st)er control. the committee are banksters.

I have found another instance in which the two versions differ. In the midst of the chariot race, Messala is angry and is telling the Arab driver next to him "he is going to kill him so he can get at the Jew behind him"

This title is written on the screen during the race and you can see the action.
The 2nd dvd version removes the title from the screen and places it in a separate title.
The reason it was on screen was so as not to interrupt the race footage. I would say WB took a bad liberty altering this.

The image quality of the 2nd version is superior and the color scenes are more vibrant. but they fked up the movie by senseless changes.

The 1925 version is far superior to the 1959 version. This type of movie is better served by the magic of silent films and Ramon Navarro gave a great performance - best of his career. Its just better and that is obvious. carl davis music was awesome.

[–] mlink-36-9815 7 years ago

I own two vhs tapes of the original MGM home video THAMES SILENTS BEN-HUR 1925.

I got them by mistake. I am willing to give one tape away free. Write me at
[email protected].

This is becoming a rare item now that more fans are becoming aware of the changes WB did to it.

the tape is free including postage.