#ben hur

[zanephillips]

JOSEPH MORGAN Ben Hur (2010)

[fuckyeahgoodomens]

Fun fact: the Job's courtyard in Good Omens S2 a homage to Ben Hur, the 1959 film :)

concept art:

Ben Hur film:

the GO episode:

[captainfantasticalright]

Good Omens: A companion to Owls- biblical-cinematographical references.

Since Cecil B. DeMille played such a big role, here are some side by side scenes from The Ten Commandments and A Companion to Owls.

And most importantly, side by side scenes with the Book of Job and A Companion to Owls.

[audreyhepburninblackandwhite]

Audrey Hepburn and Mel Ferrer during the premiere of Ben-Hur at Loew's State Theatre in New York City. Photography by Bernie Abramson November 18, 1959

[bodybebangin]

AFI's 100 Greatest American Films Of All Time 100. Ben-Hur (1959)

[citizenscreen]

William Wyler’s BEN -HUR enjoyed its premiere in New York City 65 years ago today, #OnThisDay in 1959.

[theglitterdome]

Charlton Heston relaxing on the set of Ben-Hur - 1959

[trinityofone]

Queer cinema buffs, just wanted to point out something that leapt out to me about OFMD 2x02. The scene where Ed and Izzy talk after Izzy has had his leg amputated is framed and shot in a way that I think deliberately echoes Ben-Hur (1959).

We know Davey Jenkins is a classic cinema fan, and Taika and Con have compared Ed and Izzy to Jesus and Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar. I swear Con referenced Ben-Hur at one point too, though now I can't find a source. But it's a film with infamous gay undertones: Gore Vidal came on board and queered up the relationship between Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) and his boyhood bestie/rival, Messala (Stephen Boyd) -- Boyd played them as former lovers intentionally, while Heston was, uh, not informed. (Vidal is a huge bitch about Heston in his memoir; recommended.)

Pictured: just bro stuff.

Anyway -- uh, spoilers for Ben-Hur -- in the scene in question, Messala, who has betrayed Judah and gotten him sold into slavery (it's a whole thing), then faces his rival in a chariot race, cheats, and is the source of his own downfall, getting trampled by horses. He is told he needs to have both his legs amputated or he will die, but he refuses and instead confronts his former friend (lover?) one last time.

I wish I could find better caps of this, but the way it's shot -- the dark room, the way the light plays across his face, even the angle of his head -- immediately popped into my head when I saw the parallel scene in OFMD 2x02.

(Gif by @hgedits)

Now of course, Izzy is not the cause of his own predicament to the extent that Messala is; he and Ed have both made the bed he now lies in together. Which is why Izzy gets to get up from his death bed and Messala doesn't.

Maybe, unlike Messala, he'll also be able to escape the Celluloid Closet! *manifesting Izzy Hands gay makeout scene in S2*

Anyway, Ben-Hur is a real good movie, you should watch it.

[willowsfanarts]

spare the sympathy- latest artwork

[vildo]

Messāla and his fours Ben-hur 1959

[illustratus]

A Roman Chariot Race by Ulpiano Checa

[nitrateglow]

Did I post this? I don't remember. Here it is. I take a look at a 1920s' equivalent of an online geek battle.

[citizenscreen]

William Wyler making BEN-HUR (1959)

[dropboxofcuriosities]

Stephen Boyd et Charlton Heston sur une Vespa dans les Studios de Cinecittà à Rome sur le tournage de Ben-Hur, réalisé par William Wyler en 1959.

[queer-cinephile]

30 Days of Classic Queer Hollywood

Day 21: Ramon Novarro (1899 - 1968)

Ramon Novarro was a Mexican-American actor famed for his leading roles in silent films and early talkies, including the epic Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925). He became a Hollywood heartthrob in the 1920s and 1930s, known for his "Latin lover" image. He is recognized as the first Latin American actor to succeed in Hollywood.

Novarro was a closeted gay man. He struggled to reconcile his sexuality with his Roman-Catholic faith, and his battle with alcoholism is often attributed to this. In the early 1920s, Novarro had a relationship with composer Harry Partch, but broke it off when he became more successful as an actor. He was also in relationships with Hollywood journalist Herbert Howe and philanthropist Noël Sullivan.

In 1968, Novarro was brutally murdered by two young brothers who believed him to have a large sum of money hidden in his house. The men gained entrance by posing as gay men seeking Novarro's companionship. The men tortured Novarro for hours, trying to obtain the location of the (non-existent) stash of money. Novarro died from his injuries and the brothers were sent to prison.