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Title: Two great films on this dvd collection.
Review: The second and more recent one from 1959 is really slightly better as it looks a little more authentic than the '25 version (see my amapedia review for more on the '59 version). By more authentic I mean that in one scene in the '25 version a lady is romancing a man and she has a ridiculously 1920's hairstyle (probably to appeal to contemporary audiences). This is all that takes away from an otherwise brilliantly done silent film starring Ramon Navarro as Judah Ben-Hur. The scenes where Judah is taken away from his mother and sister by the evil Messala (Francis X. Bushman) are poignant and memeorable. I understand part of this movie was shot in Italy. Very good use of Christ as a (supremeley important) supporting character in this film and nice scenes early on of the lady playing the Virgin Mary as well.
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