Ben-Hur

Amazon.com essential video

Ben-Hur scooped an unprecedented 11 Academy Awards® in 1959 and, unlike some later rivals, richly deserved every single one. This is epic filmmaking on a scale that had not been seen before and is unlikely ever to be seen again. But it's not just running time or a cast of thousands that makes an epic, it's the subject matter, and here the subject--Prince Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) and his estrangement from old Roman pal Messala (Stephen Boyd)--is rich, detailed, and sensitively handled. Director William Wyler, who had been a junior assistant on MGM's original silent version back in 1925, never sacrifices the human focus of the story in favor of spectacle, and is aided immeasurably by Miklos Rozsa's majestic musical score, arguably the greatest ever written for a Hollywood picture. At four hours it's a long haul (especially given some of the portentous dialogue), but all in all, Ben-Hur is a great movie, best seen on the biggest screen possible. --Mark Walker

Description

After his boyhood friend Messala's fanatic loyalty to Rome makes him a powerful enemy, Judah Ben-Hur is found guilty of an attempted murder he did not commit. His family is banished and he is enslaved on a warship. Through his ferocity in a raging sea battle, he is able to escape and become a horse trainer. To exact his revenge, Ben-Hur decides to compete against Messala in the Roman chariot races. They race, locked in a battle to the death. Barely surviving, Ben-Hur forsakes the sword for Christ and finally finds redemption. Winner of a record 11 Academy Award, including Best Picture and Actor (Charlton Heston).

Customer Reviews:

The Original and Re-Make on a one DVD set!!!!.......2007-09-06

BEN-HUR The Four-Disc Collector's Edition

It is an ignominious fate that the Original Ben-Hur by which I mean the 1925 silent version has appeared as a bonus feature on the William Wyler's Ben-Hur Four-Disc Collector's Edition.

The 1925 Ben-Hur was a huge success. To this day it is still the most successful silent picture ever made. The sensational chariot race as with the William Wyler re-make was at the heart of the movie. It was the first time a Cinema audience had seen such awe-inspiring images. Such as four stallions and a speeding chariot racing directly over the top of a Camera sunk in the Arena track. The first the time a Camera followed a team of horses in close-up and at full gallop. So many film techniques that we take for granted in Action Cinema today were first born in this silent epic and they would be remembered.

William Wyler remembered them 34 years later.

William Wyler had been an assistant director on the 1925 Original. He had witnessed its staggering success and when the time came for a re-make he was just the man for the job. Maybe you balk at my use of the word re-make? But that is exactly what the William Wyler version was. The studio knew they had a product that worked and did not want to divert from that winning formula. If it ain't broke....!

The Arena built in Italy was a virtual replica of the one built in the silent version. They utilized the original construction drawings. They used some of the same moulds for various statues. They even had a complete chariot from the 1925 Original that had already proved itself on film. They had the original designs and drawings of virtually everything that had been constructed 34 years previously and they all worked.

On the Extras Disc there is a rather lame documentary called "The Epic that Changed Cinema" where filmmakers repetitively praise the 1959 re-make. A Production Designer expresses his amazement at the imagination it took to design the Arena specifically those gigantic statues at each end of it. Had he seen the Original 1925 Film he would have seen that the Arena and particularly the gigantic statues are all but the same.

None of this is touched upon in the two documentaries that are presented on the special features disc. Nothing is mentioned about the suppression of the Original Version by MGM in the run-up to the release of the William Wyler's Ben-Hur or it's eventual burial.

The 1925 Ben-Hur is a rather melodramatic and histrionic affair. Most of the performances are over the top and it has the feeling of recorded theatre rather than a movie but what lifts this film into the realms of a classic is simply the chariot race. It is as good as the William Wyler version if not better. It has more chariots!

It is a shame that the Silent Original does not have any bonus features. A documentary by Kevin Brownlow could have solved this shameful emission, as the man is responsible for it's restoration and survival. He is also one of the best documentary filmmakers out there. Just watch his Thames Television series called "Hollywood" about America's early film pioneers or "Unknown Chaplin" and you will see what I mean.

As for the William Wyler's re-make the same seems to apply. The chariot race is the highlight of the film. The race is remarkably similar in structure, blocking and interpretation as that of the Original. Most of the shots and camera positions are an exactly the same.

The rest of William Wyler's epic never really elevates above pure melodrama. The exceptional performance by Hugh Griffith lends the film a much-needed sense of intrigue but generally the film plays by the numbers. The weak latter half of the film almost feels as if you are watching Monty Python's "Life of Brian". The film uses all of the technologies available at the time to best effect. It is beautifully shot in Camera 65 by Robert L. Surtees. It has incredible matt paintings. The production design is romantic yet faultless. The Hollywoodised costumes are beautiful.

Gore Vidal is acknowledged to have written the first half of the film up until the chariot race. He is disgracefully not even credited. These early scenes are far superior to the latter plodding religious pontificating. In the first scenes between Ben-Hur and Messala, he has cleverly interwoven a homosexual love affair gone terribly wrong. It explains clearly Messala's brutal reaction. He also has a poke at the waning Un-American Committee by having Messala demand that Ben-Hur name names.

The problem with the films as a whole is the source material that they are based on. The Novel is melodramatic, shallow and episodic. Even the title is incorrect "A Story of the Christ". It might be the most read book other than the bible but it does not mean that it is any good. It is simply a compelling adventure yarn with Christ thrown in and as with the films the best part is the chariot race.

New 4-Disc DVD is a treasure of sight and sound...brilliant achievement..........2007-07-29

'Ben-Hur' is such a great film, it's a pleasure to report that the newly restored Wide Screen 4-Disc DVD version (which includes the 1925 silent screen film with Ramon Novarro) is right on the mark. The color has been restored to its original brilliance with every scene clearly in focus and the soundtrack gives full range to Miklos Rozsa's impressive score. More than ever, Rozsa's score seems to have an energy and force of its own, underlining all the drama inherent in a story of this kind. And Charlton Heston's work in the title role is sheer perfection. He captures the character so completely that he IS Ben-Hur.

Not often does such an epic have human characters that are not dwarfed by all the spectacle. The characters are all fully-dimensional human beings--particularly the two antagonists (Judah Ben-Hur and Messala), once great friends but now divided by political loyalties. Charlton Heston and Stephen Boyd are outstanding in the leads (Boyd should definitely have won an Oscar as Messala for his chilling death scene alone!).

All the other important roles are flawlessly cast. The chariot race is the most explosive and breathtaking seventeen minutes ever given to such a spectacular event--and all of the stunts look perfectly real. It's hard to believe that none of the stunts ended with more than minor injuries.

The final scene, which follows soon after the chariot race, with Ben-Hur returning home and slowly climbing the steps to find that his mother and sister have been cured, still gives me goose bumps when I see it. As does the poignant scene in the leper colony where he insists on seeing their cave dwelling. Both scenes are strongly bolstered by Miklos Rozsa's brilliant score.

Fully deserved all the awards it won. Should be released theatrically to show folks that even in 1959, Hollywood had all the technical skill to bring something like this off--with spectacular results! But in the meantime, this newly restored DVD is a keeper.

This is no young man's action movie, but . . ........2007-07-25

It is obvious from the acting, camera work, and overall epic quality of this film, why it won 11 Oscars. This movie is a true classic.

That said my wife thinks it is slow and boring and so do most of my friends, however I think it is one of the greatest films ever made.

From the life of a prince to a galley slave our star Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) is taken from his home in Israel and travels across the known world. He is despised and beaten by some and praised and honored by others along this forced journey. He meets everyone from Caesar to Jesus Christ along his path back to home where he must defeat his arch enemy and once best friend. He loses everything he has at one point, but at the end he receives a gift beyond any tangible possession that exists.

I wish I had the words to give this movie justice.

Ben-Hur.......2007-07-23

For those who enjoy the grandeur of a cast of thousands and the drama of movies when movies were movies set back in time in history, Ben Hur will fill the bill, A truly magnifient movie and as you watch the movie you begin to realize all the preparation it took to make it happen. Like othe movies such as Doctor Zhivago, Ben Hur had a main character and has an historical theme about that period of time.The music is exquisite to say the least. I recommend Ben Hur because movies like this are not produced anymore. In 1959 there were no computers to enhance the scenes and to help make many of the scenes easier to pull off. Charlton Heston was the right person for the part, a strong character in the making who portrayed Ben Hur as a lie-like character.

Ben Hur .......2007-07-13

I think it was a fantastic Movie that brings back memorable times when I was a youth. It opens my understanding to recollect the Lord's awesome nature.

Essential Classics - Dramas (The Maltese Falcon / Citizen Kane / Ben-Hur)

Average customer rating:

Drama Classics
Tremendous value and three classic films!

Essential Classics - Dramas (The Maltese Falcon / Citizen Kane / Ben-Hur)
Essential Classic Dramas
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000MV9O4A
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Amazon.com

This four-disc set, part of Warner's Essential Classics series, collects three truly classic films--The Maltese Falcon, Citizen Kane, and Ben-Hur--in one inexpensive package. The drawback is you don't get the bonus discs of the movies--one in the case of Citizen Kane, and two each for The Maltese Falcon and Ben-Hur (which still needs two discs just for the movie)--so if you're a documentary junky or if you simply have to see the earlier versions of The Maltese Falcon, you'll want to stick with the individual releases. But this set does include the commentary tracks, shorts, photo galleries, and other material that was on the movie discs of those sets, and best of all, they have the great remastered pictures of the previous releases. So if you just want the movies looking better than ever with some bonus features thrown in for good measure, the price per movie makes this set an attractive bargain. --David Horiuchi

Description

Disc 1: THE MALTESE FALCON Disc 2: CITIZEN KANE Discs 3 & 4: BEN HUR

Customer Reviews:

Drama Classics.......2007-09-16

Great Deal, 3 in 1. Have never seen these movies, Citizen Kane, Maltese Falcon, Ben Hur,and this 3 in 1, no excuse to not get these movies. Now I have them in my collection and can finally see these great films and share with friends and family.

Tremendous value and three classic films!.......2007-05-30

I recently purchased this dvd collection, and am very pleased with it. This collection contains the film-only discs from the multi-disc releases of Maltese Falcon, Citizen Kane, and Ben Hur. All have top-notch video and audio quality, and they all have very interesting alternate commentary tracks. If you want all the extra features for these films, you should buy the discs separately. If you are primarily interested in the films and commentaries, then this is a great way to get all three for a very reasonable price.

Average customer rating:

The Original and Re-Make on a one DVD set!!!!
New 4-Disc DVD is a treasure of sight and sound...brilliant achievement...
This is no young man's action movie, but . . .
Ben-Hur
Ben Hur

Ben-Hur (Four-Disc Collector's Edition)
Starring: Charlton Heston , Jack Hawkins , Haya Harareet , Stephen Boyd , and Hugh Griffith
Director: William Wyler , Christy Cabanne , and Charles Brabin
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0009UZG1O
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Amazon.com essential video

Description

The numbers speak volumes: 100,000 costumes, 8,000 extras, 300 sets and a staggering budget in its day the largest in movie history. Ben-Hur's creators made it the best, the greatest Biblical-era epic ever. Charlton Heston brings a muscular physical and moral presence to the role of Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish nobleman in Palestine whose heroic odyssey includes enslavement by the Romans, a bold escape from an embattled slave galley, vengeance against his tormentors during a furious arena chariot race and fateful encounters with Jesus Christ. Heston's charismatic performance brought him the Best Actor Oscar; the winner as 1959's Best Picture with the legendary William Wyler earning his third Best Director trophy, the film won a total 11 Academy Awards -- a tally unequaled until 1997's Titanic set sail.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Commentary by Film Historian T. Gene Hatcher with Scene Specific Comments from Charlton Heston
Documentaries:New Documentary: Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema - Current filmmakers such as Ridley Scott and George Lucas reflect on the importance and influence of the film 1994 Documentary: Ben-Hur: The Making of an Epic Hosted by Christopher Plummer Directed by William Wyler - 1986 Emmy Award-nominated documentary featuring the last interview with Wyler before his death
Featurette:Ben-Hur: A Journey Through Pictures - New audiovisual recreation of the film via stills, storyboards, sketches, music and dialogue
Other:The 1925 Feature-length Silent Version of Ben-Hur with a stereophonic orchestral score by composer Carl Davis. Vintage Newsreels Gallery Highlights from the 1960 Academy Awards Ceremony Theatrical Trailer Gallery
Outtakes:Screen Tests: Leslie Nielsen and Cesare Danova Leslie Nielsen and Yale Wexler George Baker and William Russel Haya Harareet Hair and Make-up Tests

Customer Reviews:

The Original and Re-Make on a one DVD set!!!!.......2007-09-06

New 4-Disc DVD is a treasure of sight and sound...brilliant achievement..........2007-07-29

This is no young man's action movie, but . . ........2007-07-25

Ben-Hur.......2007-07-23

Ben Hur .......2007-07-13

I think it was a fantastic Movie that brings back memorable times when I was a youth. It opens my understanding to recollect the Lord's awesome nature.

Average customer rating:

This movie is great.
Good off color humor.
Cult Coolness
What...are kidding me?!
Surprisingly good!

The Hebrew Hammer
Starring: Adam Goldberg , Judy Greer , Andy Dick , Mario Van Peebles , and Peter Coyote
Director: Jonathan Kesselman
Manufacturer: Comedy Central
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002WZTQQ
Release Date: 2004-11-16

Amazon.com

A cross between a Kosher Shaft and Airplane!'s shameless gag machine, The Hebrew Hammer is an unabashed burlesque about a streetwise Jewish private detective (a "circumcised dick" in his own parlance) named Mordechai Jefferson Carver (Adam Goldberg). Once ostracized by Gentile children, Mordechai has become a much-feared defender of Jews, so extreme that even the militant Jewish Justice League tosses him out. Until, that is, JJL leader Chief Bloomenbergansteinhal (Peter Coyote) and his lovely daughter Esther (Judy Greer) recruit him to take on the wicked Damien (Andy Dick), a snippy anti-Semite who murders Santa Claus in order to turn Christmas into a Jew-hating holiday. Written and directed by Jonathan Kesselman, this sporadically funny feature is based on a funkier short (included on this DVD) of the same name. The cast is better than the generally obvious material, and Nora Dunn (as Mordechai's mother) and Mario Van Peebles are very good in supporting roles. --Tom Keogh

Description

THE HEBREW HAMMER stars Adam Goldberg in the title role of this holiday farce as a handsome Orthodox stud and man of action who is called upon to save Hanukkah. When Santa Claus' evil son Damian (Dick) is pushed over the edge by his father's liberal policies, he murders the Christian patriarch and, stepping into the vacated role, launches a nefarious worldwide campaign to eradicate the Jewish Holiday. The Hammer joins forces with Esther (Greer), the gorgeous daughter of the chief of the Jewish Justice League to topple Damian and save Hanukkah for future generations.

Customer Reviews:

This movie is great........2007-08-10

We looked for this movie all over the place and finally found it on Amazon. Thanks.

Good off color humor........2007-05-23

The Hebrew Hammer is a great comedy central film for those who know how to laugh at themselves and those who know how to take a joke. Adam Goldberg stars as Jewish version of Shaft/Dolemite endeavoring to save the holiday of Chanukkah from destruction at the hands of an evil Santa Claus (Andy Dick), with assistance from the head of the Kwanzaa Liberation Front (Mario Van Peebles). Hillarious.

Cult Coolness.......2007-01-19

Oi Gevaldt!!! Just a Hoot ... if you like it ethnic ... If you like it on Rye Bread ... If you ever had a doting mother ... The Hammer hits on so many levels!

What...are kidding me?!.......2007-01-10

How could you not own this movie?! If you are reading this review, then you are already spending too much time on this decision... just spend the damn money and buy this movie. You probably already own Airplane, Undercover Brother and Space Balls. There's always room for a bit of Kosher filmwork in any growing collection of fine filmwork.

Surprisingly good!.......2007-01-04

This film was surprisingly good! I got it as a joke and found it was hysterical and right on. I have shared it with many friends.

Average customer rating:

this is a CARTOON
Homage to a classic
SINCERE BUT SECOND RATE

Ben Hur
Starring: Charlton Heston , Duncan Fraser (II) , Scott McNeil , Gerard Plunkett , and Tabitha St. Germain
Director: Bill Kowalchuk
Manufacturer: Good Times Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 5552515994
Release Date: 2003-02-25

Customer Reviews:

this is a CARTOON.......2007-06-30

I was dissappointed because it wasn't the real Ben Hur movie with Charlton Heston (not the cartoon). But we decided that instead of wasting the shipping sending it back...we would watch it. Besides the magic - special effects type stuff (lightning zaps from the cross) and the female angel- I like it better than the hateful, bloody "real" movie for my children. Charlton Heston sounds too old for the part.

Homage to a classic.......2003-05-13

This new animated adaptation of Ben Hur, has but one thing to recommend, namely the voice of Charlton Heston. It is delightful to hear his distinguished voice as he reprises his oscar winning role.

The animation is rather on the crude side by disney standards but as long as you don't watch this expecting too much you won't be dissapointed. Having a running length of 75 mins however liberties have to be taken with the plot as it progresses quickly from scene to scene, although it is supposed to be the most faithful version of Lew Wallace's tale to date.

Highlights include the sea battle and ofcourse the chariot race sequence which are enhanced through cgi but yet again they are only short segments.

Of the other voice actors none are distinguished as already commented upon by the above reviewer, but that doesn't matter much as Heston carries the movie and makes it more accesible for a young audience. It is particularly nice to see the role of Christ expanded upon from what we see of him in previous versions.

DVD features though few are nice as we see heston talking behind the scenes although he looks extremely unwell and frail.

Over all this new animated tale is a small treat for fans of Heston and the story of Ben Hur.

SINCERE BUT SECOND RATE.......2003-03-25

The latest film version of BEN HUR is an animated retelling that emphasizes the novel's original subtitle: A Tale of the Christ.

Charlton Heston reprises his Oscar© winning 1959 film role as the voice of Ben (and also narrator).

Sadly, the animation is second rate and nowhere near the quality of "Prince of Egypt." The voice work is not particularly imaginative with the exception of Heston who is more emotional and worldly wise than the blandly drawn young hero. Still, there's an admirable bravery to the provocative enterprise; after all, it's about a Jew on the road to revenge who stumbles across a forgiving Christ. How radical is that?

Product Description

Brand new, factory sealed, fully licensed DVD manufactured in Brazil. NTSC format. Playable on any North American DVD player. High quality widescreen color image. Original English dialog with optional subtitles in Portuguese. Portuguese subtitles do not appear unless turned on and they can be easily turned off. The following is a review which appears in Amazon for the VHS edition. "I think this is one of the best-ever medieval war films. Charlton Heston's role (Chrysagon Delacroix) is almost perfect: Rosemary Forsyth (Bronwyn) is mysterious and gorgeous. Bors (played by Richard Boone) is taciturn, rough and also unforgettable. Draco (Guy Stockwell, Heston's insanely jealous younger brother) is my favorite character. Other than a few visual (technical) gaffs - like arrows bouncing off the siege tower draw bridge, and using modern-looking recurve bows - the armor and weapons and fighting is very satisfying. The mixture of Christianity in the presence of the old unforgotten Celtic religion is a tense ingredient that adds depth to what is essentially a simple story of "boy meets girl" and keeps her, even when his world turns against him over it."

Customer Reviews:

A true and graphic depiction of the time.......2007-03-21

Over the years I have bought this movie several times as it really brings the life and times of its characters into full view. This has an exceptionally strong cast and will be watched and enjoyed by any history buff.

Average customer rating:

Great way to start your collection of Best Pictures
Eighteen of the best movies of all time
Best Picture Oscar Collection - fantastic present
good deal but not in collectible condition
This is a great deal; looks like they fixed the problems,,,

Best Picture Oscar Collection (18-Pack)

Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0007KXRZI
Release Date: 2005-02-08

Customer Reviews:

Great way to start your collection of Best Pictures.......2007-02-03

This is the set of 18 Best Picture winners on DVD that Warner Home Video controlled the rights to as of Feb. 2005, and spans the time period 1929-1992. Some of them hold up over time, and others were given the award because of technical achievements that no longer seem important. I'll go through each one and give my opinion:

Broadway Melody of 1929 - This was the first "talkie" to win the award. The screenplay is a mediocre love story, but the song and dance numbers are good. There's even a musical number in Technicolor - "Wedding of the Painted Doll".

Grand Hotel - Won in 1932 and contained a great ensemble cast about the personal lives of guests in a fancy Berlin hotel. This is a great one that still is worthy viewing today.

Mutiny on the Bounty (1935) - Probably the best of all the pictures about the famous mutiny. Still good viewing today. An odd aside - all of the nominees for best actor that did not win were from this film - Clark Gable, Franchot Tone, and Charles Laughton.

The Great Ziegfield (1936) - After the Hays code was fully in effect, the personal aspects of Ziegfield's life had to be modified for the screen. Still, a great movie with a great performance by William Powell as the famous showman.

The Life of Emile Zola (1937) - One of those period pieces that just didn't grab me. It is a very skillfully done film, very artistic, and Paul Muni gives a tremendous performance in the title role. It's hard to believe the articulate and gentile Emile Zola is being portrayed by the same actor who was equally convincing in "Scarface".

Gone with the Wind (1939) - This movie charts the life of a Southern belle who always wanted what she didn't have and took for granted what she did have as she lives through the Civil War and reconstruction. It is the most popular film of all time and probably the biggest money-maker if you factor in inflation. It was shown in movie theatres until it made its TV debut in 1976.

Mrs. Miniver (1942) - This is a good film, and it has great acting, but it is one of those films that probably won because of the times. It depicts how the British coped while under seige during World War II as experienced by one British family headed by Mrs. Miniver.

Casablanca (1943) - This one probably won because of the wartime theme, but it is a great piece of moviemaking that just gets better with time. The chemistry between Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart just oozes off the screen. It's more what's not said than what is in this film. The fact that Bogart didn't win best actor was one of the great injustices of all time.

An American in Paris (1951) - Of course the point of this film not the plot, it is Gene Kelly's dancing, which is fabulous as always. It inspired the quickly thrown together and even more popular "Singin In the Rain".

Around the World in 80 Days (1956) - A fun adventure, David Niven is great, and how they got all of those stars to play bit parts I'll never know. However, it really doesn't hold up as a great movie 50 years after the fact.

Gigi (1958) - The academy award winner in the year of my birth just does not inspire today. There are a couple of good songs, but not many. Plus the screenplay is antiquated and outright campy by today's standards.

Ben-Hur (1959) - One of those great Bible-era epics of the 50's. Even though it is a story on a large scale, it is all of the small scale stories going on that make it great - revenge, love, loyalty, loss.

My Fair Lady (1964) - One of the great musicals starring Rex Harrison in one of his greatest and most amusing roles. Nobody did stuffy British low-key comedy like Rex. He was robbed when it came to best actor, but fortunately the Academy rectified the situation a few years later.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) - Jack Nicholson is a rebel confined to a mental institution. When he doesn't conform, the evil nurse Ratchett has him lobotimized. A great film that will stir emotions even today.

Chariots of Fire (1981) - I personally love this film about the 1924 Olympic games and the conflict between God, country, and conscience seen through the eyes of two men - one a Christian who wants to be a missionary, the other Jewish who wants to be an insider in British society. It's a love it or hate it kind of film - either you find the internal struggles of these men compelling, or you'll find it torture to sit through.

Amadeus (1984) - Another of the modern era Oscars where you either love the message and love the film, or it puts you to sleep. I really loved this one too, partly because Mozart has always interested me, and partly because Salieri was such a ridiculous creature thinking he could best God by destroying Mozart. Didn't he ever realize that the fact that he recognized Mozart's talent before everyone else did was a talent in itself? If you can't build Microsoft yourself, then the next best thing was to have bought stock in it in 1975.

Driving Miss Daisy (1989) - The story of a wealthy elderly woman and her driver from 1948 up to the mid-70's. In spite of the difference in their races and the place - Georgia - they have much in common and slowly become friends. She is Jewish and he is Black in a time and place that wasn't ordinarily welcoming to either group of people. This is a sentimental favorite of mine, plus there's some good comic one-liners in it too.

Unforgiven (1992) - A different kind of Western in which Clint Eastwood wins his first award for Best Director. Eastwood is out to avenge the scarring of a prostitute in return for money when the justice the sheriff metes out on the offending cowboy is just not satisfactory to the prostitute or her friends. Eastwood plays an ex-criminal widower trying to make a go of farming when this assignment lands in his lap. In the end, he doesn't have a hard time finding his "inner killer". A really great film. Who'd have thought in 1965 that Ramrod Rowdy Yates had it in him?

This package is a good value at eleven dollars per Oscar winner, especially when you consider one of those Oscar winners is Gone with the Wind. Plus it has a good sampling of Oscar winners from all genres up to 1992. Depending on how you feel about the more modern Oscar winners (post 1965) that are usually slower, more thoughtful films, you may or may not feel the same. To me the only real dud is Gigi.

Also note that if you buy this set, "Studio Classics Best Picture Collection", and the new "Best Picture Collection", you'll have 29 of the soon to be 79 best picture winners. Not a bad start on your collection.

My only real complaints are that there have been four changes that should be incorporated into the pack to really make it complete as of Spring 2007 based on what is available, although it might require a price increase.
1. Ben-Hur is now available in a 4 disc special edition that includes the silent version of the film.
2. Cimarron, Best Picture 1930-1931, was released on DVD in 2006 by Warner Home Video and should be included.
3. After this pack was released "Million Dollar Baby" and "The Departed" won Best Picture for 2004 and 2006, respectively. These films are not included.
I'm really just pointing out minor flaws because, compared to all of the other studios, Warners has done the best job of putting all of the Best Picture winners they control into one attractively priced package.

Eighteen of the best movies of all time.......2005-09-26

This set contains 18 Best Picture winners from the Warner Video library. A few of them are fairly basic, with limited extras (Broadway Melody, Grand Hotel), while others are multi-disc deluxe editions (Gone with the Wind, Ben Hur). If you're looking to get your collection off to a start, with some of the all-time classics, I haven't seen a better boxed set than this one.

Best Picture Oscar Collection - fantastic present.......2005-09-21

This made my father very happy - has all the golden favourites and is great value.

good deal but not in collectible condition.......2005-06-11

It's a bunch of oscar winning movies from warner brothers with a great discount. but collectors beware of this set :

1. First of all, most of the items are not sealed. many of them looks like new, but some are not brand new, at least look like used!
2. I talked with 3 persons who purchased this item. all of them had complains about ruptures at the edge of some boxes which had caused with a blade or a sharp instrument.
3. there is not a huge outer box. only a wrap around all items.

after those negative points, lets say that, all of the DVDs are the best releases of each item. my word is, it's a good deal but don't expect to receive all of them in collectible condition! I don't want to blame warner but it seems that some of these DVDs are clean returned to market items!

This is a great deal; looks like they fixed the problems,,,.......2005-05-28

I purchased this set when the price was $140. However, I did not get Casablanca or Cuckoo's net SE's, but after I contacted AMAZON twice and waited for a while, they corrected the problem to my full satisfaction! I have never been happier with their service!

But, this is a great set because it has 18 of the best picture winners.

It has some of the best ones, and all the discs are the top of the line editions! way to go!!!

Now, if they could opnly get the last three best picture winners on DVD, I'd have them all!

Best Picture Oscar Collection - Adventures (Ben-Hur / Around the World in 80 Days / One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest / Mutiny on the Bounty / Unforgiven)

Average customer rating:

Single disc is a no-no for two movies out of five

Best Picture Oscar Collection - Adventures (Ben-Hur / Around the World in 80 Days / One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest / Mutiny on the Bounty / Unforgiven)
Starring: Best Picture Oscar Collection
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

ASIN: B0006V6TOY
Release Date: 2005-02-08

Customer Reviews:

Single disc is a no-no for two movies out of five.......2005-02-15

All the dvd's here if bought individually would amount to far more than is sold at this price. All the dvds are also excellent quality and in the case of Around the World in 80 Days it is even the 2 disc special edition. The one bad thing about this set and the only bad thing probably is the dvd of One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest which is the single disc edition with widescreen and full format on two sides, this is disappointing considering there is a very nice 2 disc special edition available and could easily have been included in the set. There is also an Unforgiven 2 disc special edition which also is replaced in this set by the single disc version. Therefore if you care about having such things as "special features" than I suggest you not buy this set. However if you love collecting movies than this and the 2 other Warner Brother's oscar collection sets (drama, and musicals) is a must for you.

Average customer rating:

Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ
Starring: Charlton Heston
Manufacturer: Good Times Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Adventure | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

Feature Films | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000089Q5U
Release Date: 2003-02-25

Average customer rating:

This movie is great.
Good off color humor.
Cult Coolness
What...are kidding me?!
Surprisingly good!

The Hebrew Hammer
Starring: Adam Goldberg , Judy Greer , Andy Dick , Mario Van Peebles , and Peter Coyote
Director: Jonathan Kesselman
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B0002Z0FA8

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

This movie is great........2007-08-10

We looked for this movie all over the place and finally found it on Amazon. Thanks.

Good off color humor........2007-05-23

Cult Coolness.......2007-01-19

Oi Gevaldt!!! Just a Hoot ... if you like it ethnic ... If you like it on Rye Bread ... If you ever had a doting mother ... The Hammer hits on so many levels!

What...are kidding me?!.......2007-01-10

Surprisingly good!.......2007-01-04

This film was surprisingly good! I got it as a joke and found it was hysterical and right on. I have shared it with many friends.

DVD:

DVD

DVD