FILMLIVEKONZERT: »BEN HUR« (1925)

Wherever it says "Ben Hur", it's always been a big deal - and this monumental film from 1925 is no exception. It was not only the biggest silent film hit (including its scandalous genesis), but also the most expensive film to date in the MGM annals. Embedded in the story of salvation from the birth of Christ to the crucifixion, "Ben Hur" tells the story of a friendship between the Jew Judah Ben Hur and the Roman Messala, which turns into deadly enmity and finally culminates in a brilliant chariot race. In order to make the race as dramatic as possible, the producers offered a prize of 5,000 dollars for the winner - a calculation that worked out perfectly. In 1987, Carl Davis created an opulent new composition that pulled out all the sound stops to accompany the suspenseful action.