This winner of 11 Academy Awards is presented in widescreen anamorphic with an uncommon but well-suited aspect ratio of 2.76:1. Given its lengthy running time, the film has been divided onto two sides of a single disc with the flip occurring (thankfully) during the "Intermission" break. The transfer itself has few flaws, but the actual print shows countless signs of age, including color loss and grain. The audio is in English (Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround) and French (Dolby Digital 2.0) with English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. Special features include a "Cast and Crew" section that is a mere film credit listing (no bios). An audio commentary track is provided by Charlton Heston and, though repetitive, it is an invaluable source of great stories and his own unique viewpoints. The track does not cover the entire length of the film, so the disc has a special, built-in "fast forward" feature which links the commentary sections together. Unfortunately, the language subtitle feature cannot be deployed during the commentary. Side B of the disc features additional extras, including an hour-long documentary entitled "Ben-Hur: The Making of an Epic." This excellent piece examines the entire history of Ben-Hur, from the initial novel to early theatrical productions and up to the film adaptations. Side B also includes a seven-minute "Screen Test" section which features actors Leslie Nelson and Cesare Danova in the roles of Ben-Hur and Messala, as well as a one-minute silent film of actress Haya Harareet that looks to be a makeup and wardrobe test. Rounding out the special features is a rather barren photo gallery with ten stills and illustrations, plus a theatrical teaser and trailer and an awards list. This disc does not match its subject's epic stature, but it's worthwhile viewing nonetheless.