There was one thing about this movie I did not understand. Perhaps someone else can help me out. Why did Iras laugh when she saw Massala's bloody and broken body? She was his mistress. Is the only point that she was cruel and heartless? Any insight would be appreciated.
shareI don't think it was mirthful laughter; I think it was meaned to be hysteria.
share I really have no idea why Iras laughed, unless it was a director's choice to show that she really had no feelings.
In the novel, Iras was the daughter of Balthesar the Egyptian, one of the three Magi. She was attracted to Judah Ben-Hur, but out of a lust for power. Judah was raising an army to help the Messiah, the Nazarene, overthrow Rome. This was shown in the movie. In the novel, on Palm Sunday, when the Christ does not proclaim Himself king, and Judah's men fall away, Iras laughs at Judah and dumps him. He cannot give her the power and wealth that she want. (Judah has the faithful Esther waiting for him.)
Years later, in Rome, Iras visits Esther. She and Judah are now married with children and are among the leading Christians of Rome. Iras comes to say that Judah has no need to fear Messala. In spite of his being crippled in the race, Iras went to him as she saw him the way to power and prestige. Even in his crippled state, Messala could be cruel and abusive. Iras admits that she grew tired of his abuse and killed him. Esther invites Iras to stay; that there is forgiveness and acceptness in the Christian community. Iras returns that may be true for others, but she cannot believe it true for herself. She then leaves, with the suggestion that she is going to commit suicide.
Sorry to have ramled on so, and I hope I have somewhat answered your questions.
Spin
Thanks for the context. It was very well written and easy to follow.
shareSince I first posted this question, I have read the novel and rewatched the movie more than once.
I think I can answer my own question now.
The book is strongly anti-imperialist, and the 1926 movie captures this directly. The Romans, one and all, are brutish conquerors.
Messala and Iras are representatives of Rome and her conquered provinces. Iras is Egyptian. Rome could demand the appurtenances of allegiance and trust from her provinces, but she could not demand true loyalty. It was merely a power relationship. Rome was the master. Egypt (and Judea and other provinces) were but slaves.
So with Messala and Iras. Messala is a powerful Roman who is wealthy. Iras is an opportunistic colonial woman who achieves a high standard of living by becoming his mistress. But Messala can only have the appurtenances of affection from her, never true love. Deep down she resents and even hates him as Egypt and Judea hate Rome. In the words of the old song, "she'll stand by your side while your winning, and laugh in your face at your fall."
I think the message from Wallace is for his American audience. Americans were torn over whether to join the European powers in the struggle for colonies. Wallace was warning that empires are not loved. And neither are imperialists.
When future Western movie star William S. Hart was appearing as Messala in the stage version of BEN-HUR, he actually had a chance to meet Gen. Lew Wallace. Hart was puzzled by the Iras character, too, and Iras was the subject of the following exchange:
HART: Yo, Lew, what up with that Egyptian ho? She one @#$%ed up bee-yatch.
WALLACE: Word!
(Source: Hart's autobiography, MY LIFE EAST AND WEST.)
Appreciate the posts re the novel, etc.
Carmel Meyers was very effective in the part.
In my opinion, Carmel Myers, as "Iras," is shown portraying tragic crying hysteria there, not laughter whatsoever. Either emotion can look pretty identical, when you can't also hear what sounds are coming from the person, and when the initial shocked grief reaction goes on strictly briefly. If you watch closely (I just now did multiple times), she's obviously very upset and horrified at first, then the shot switches to her most pronounced reaction, which is an hysterical cry. Look carefully, and you'll see that, as the shot ends, the look on her face is more clearly grief. I think many will always feel that Carmel Myers is shown inexplicably hysterically laughing there. But, to my eyes it's hysterical crying. I've seen, in person, on at least one family loved one, that exact sort of silent hysterical cry look, that registered, at first (five or so seconds), as looking like a soundless hysterical laugh, upon their receiving the shocking unexpected news that their child had just died. It's the reaction just before any sound can rise to the surface and come out of the mouth. The sobbing sounds of devastated absolute grief immediately follow. PS: Of course, Messala doesn't die from his terrible race smash-up. But, the accident has just occurred, and Iras doesn't yet know that he'll survive.
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