Not to be confused for even one second with the VideoX production Bend Her, director William Wyler’s 11 Academy Award-winning epic pits holy hellraiser Chuck Heston against unruly Roman Stephen Boyd in a battle over religious ideology for three and a half hours, culminating in an electrifying chariot race that forces audiences to white knuckle it for over nine minutes. It’s Heston at his Jewish, fiery best, and since the source material—the 1880 novel by Lew Wallace—is the only work of fiction to be blessed by a Pope (Leo XIII), it’s pretty clear that someone or some thing thinks you ought to give it a try. If you can make it without a bathroom break, of course, consider your miracle done.
Wed., March 27, 7:30 p.m., 2013
