28/12/2011
- Radio Times
- Review by:
- David Butcher
a Canadian/German co-production shot in Morocco with stars in unlikely places (Marc Warren as a surly zealot; Ben Cross as an emperor) and crowds of extras in cheesecloth.
We’re in first century Palestine, where two boys have a playful race in their hay carts, foreshadowing the you-
know-what race due in three hours’ time. Joseph Morgan plays Judah Ben Hur with the right air of bruised nobility while Stephen Campbell Moore smoulders as his Roman frenemy Messala. Hugh Bonneville and Ray Winstone cruise through cameos.
About this programme
New governor of Judea Octavius Messala arrives in the region and meets his estranged friend Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince and merchant in first-century Jerusalem. Their differing political views over local dissent lead to a bitter quarrel, and Messala uses the pretext of an accident to sell the trader into slavery. Years later, the outcast wins his freedom by saving the life of an admiral and is determined to exact revenge on his return home, seeking justice in a battle to the death during a chariot race. Historical drama based on Lew Wallace's novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, starring Joseph Morgan, Stephen Campbell Moore, Ray Winstone, Emily VanCamp, Kristin Kreuk and Hugh Bonneville.
Cast and crew
Cast
- David
- Marc Warren
- Quintus Arrius
- Ray Winstone
- Ilderim
- Art Malik
- Ruth
- Alex Kingston
- Emperor Tiberius
- Ben Cross
- Marcellus
- James Faulkner
- Pontius Pilate
- Hugh Bonneville
- Pilate's physician
- Dick Ward
- Simonides
- Simon Andreu
- Hortator
- Michael Nardone
- Tirzah
- Kristin Kreuk
- Jesus
- Julian Casey
- Athene
- Lucia Jimenez
- Esther
- Emily VanCamp
- Octavius Messala
- Stephen Campbell Moore
- Pilate's tweezer
- Jonathan Stamp
- Judah Ben-Hur
- Joseph Morgan
- Young Messala
- Toby Marlow
- Young Ben-Hur
- Eugene Simon
- Gaius
- Kristen Holden-Ried
- Conspirator 3
- Guy Faulkner
- Conspirator 2
- Leo Faulkner
- Antegua
- Miguel Angel Munoz
- Young Tirzah
- Daniella Ereny
- Conspirator 1
- Ricky Simmonds
- Athene's body servant
- Bauchra El Saddki
- Ilderim's female reader
- Ghita Tazi
- Officer
- Alex Walters
Crew
- Director
- Steve Shill
- Executive Producer
- Frank Konigsberg
- Executive Producer
- Michael Prupas
- Executive Producer
- Manuel Corbi
- Executive Producer
- Dirk Beinhold
- Executive Producer
- David Wyler
- Producer
- Simon Vaughan
- Producer
- Roger Corbi
- Writer
- Alan Sharp
- Categories
- Drama
http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/n4ghp/ben-hur--28122011