Ben-Hur (1959) | |
| Director(s) | William Wyler |
| Producer(s) | Sam Zimbalist, Sol C. Siegel (executive uncredited), Joseph Vogel (executive uncredited), William Wyler (uncredited) |
| Top Genres | Action, Adventure, Drama, Epic, Family, Film Adaptation |
| Top Topics | Ancient World, Book-Based, Religious, Remake, Romance (Drama) |
Featured Cast:
Ben-Hur Overview:
Ben-Hur (1959) was a Action - Adventure Film directed by William Wyler and produced by William Wyler, Sam Zimbalist, Sol C. Siegel and Joseph Vogel.
The film was based on the novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ written by Lew Wallace published in 1880.
SYNOPSIS
One of the cinema's greatest epics because it's based on a compelling human story of revenge, bitterness, redemption, and forgiveness. Heston is magnificent as the Prince of Judea, Ben-Hur, who confronts the conquering Romans. His actions send him and his family into slavery - and an inspirational encounter with Jesus. The story moves from Judea to imperial Rome and back to Judea, where Heston finally meets his rival Messala in a justly famous chariot race and rescues his suffering family - after once again encountering Jesus, this time on his way to Golgotha. This was a production of unheard-of scale, exhibiting the work of literally tens of thousands of people. The 1880 novel by Lew Wallace had previously been made to great acclaim in 1927 with Ramon Navarro.
(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).
.Ben-Hur was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2004.
Academy Awards 1959 --- Ceremony Number 32 (source: AMPAS)
| Award | Recipient | Result |
| Best Actor | Charlton Heston | Won |
| Best Supporting Actor | Hugh Griffith | Won |
| Best Art Direction | Art Direction: William A. Horning, Edward Carfagno; Set Decoration: Hugh Hunt | Won |
| Best Cinematography | Robert L. Surtees | Won |
| Best Costume Design | Elizabeth Haffenden | Won |
| Best Director | William Wyler | Won |
| Best Film Editing | Ralph E. Winters, John D. Dunning | Won |
| Best Music - Scoring | Miklos Rozsa | Won |
| Best Picture | Sam Zimbalist, Producer | Won |
| Best Writing | Karl Tunberg | Nominated |
BlogHub Articles:
The Return Of The Epic? – Ben-Hur (2016)
By Michael on Aug 14, 2016 From Durnmoose Movie MusingsSo a “featurette” focusing largely on the chariot race has been released to promote the upcoming Ben-Hur movie. I’ll admit I’m looking forward to this, largely because I’m curious how Hollywood is going to handle this kind of epic historical film today. Of course, a bi... Read full article
1001 Classic Movies: Ben-Hur
By Amanda Garrett on Mar 7, 2016 From Old Hollywood FilmsBen-Hur, starring Charlton Heston, is one of the 1001 classic movies you should see. Each Monday, I'm going to recommend a classic movie you should see (for the reasons behind the 1001 series and reviews of earlier films covered go here). Throughout March, I'll be celebrating the 60th anniversary... Read full article
Ben-Hur (1959)
By Michael on Dec 13, 2013 From Le Mot du CinephiliaqueBen-Hur (William Wyler, 1959) Still holding the record for the most wins at the Academy Awards with 11, tied with Titanic and The Lord of the Rings : The Return of the King, Ben-Hur directed by William Wyler and starring Charlton Heston as its title role, defines the genre of biblical epic film. ... Read full article
BEN-HUR (1925)
By Dan Day Jr. on Aug 9, 2013 From The Hitless Wonder Movie BlogBecause of all the movies that I've seen in my life, it's a very rare thing these days for me to watch a famous film for the very first time. But that's what happened last night when the Turner Classic Movies channel showed the 1925 version of BEN-HUR. The print TCM showed looked spectacular and fea... Read full article
BEN-HUR (1925)
By Dan Day Jr. on Aug 9, 2013 From The Hitless Wonder Movie BlogBecause of all the movies that I've seen in my life, it's a very rare thing these days for me to watch a famous film for the very first time. But that's what happened last night when the Turner Classic Movies channel showed the 1925 version of BEN-HUR. The print TCM showed looked spectacular and fea... Read full article
See all Ben-Hur articles
Quotes from
Judah Ben-Hur: [angrily, to Esther] Why did you tell me they were dead?
Esther: It was what they wanted. Judah, you must not betray this faith. Will you do this for them?
Judah Ben-Hur: Not to see them?
Esther: [seeing Miriam and Tirzah approach] They are coming... Judah! Judah, love them in the way they most need to be loved: not to look at them! Judah, let it be as though you had never come here. Please, Judah!
[Judah hides behind a boulder as Esther goes to meet Miriam]
Miriam: Is Judah well? Is he happy?
[Judah's face twists in anguish]
Esther: Yes. He is well. Your mind can be at rest for him. He is well, Miriam.
Miriam: I am content.
[she picks up the basket of food that Esther brought for them]
Miriam: God be with you.
[she and Tirzah go back into the cave]
Esther: [going back to Judah] They are gone. We can go back.
Judah Ben-Hur: [bitterly] Go back... to what?
Esther: Judah, they have one blessing left: to think you remember them as they were. Live your own life. Forget what is here.
Judah Ben-Hur: Forget? Forget? It's as if they were alive in a grave!
Esther: But what can you do?
Judah Ben-Hur: Undo what you've done! How could you have suffered them to come here? I must see them!
Esther: No Judah, please! Judah!
[Judah starts toward the cave but is stopped by Malluch]
Esther: Oh, think, Judah, *think*! It will tear them apart if they see you!
Pontius Pilate: A grown man knows the world he lives in. For the moment, that world is Rome.
Judah Ben-Hur: [after he is sentenced to the galleys] May God grant me vengeance! I will pray that you live until I return!
Messala: [ironically] Return?
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Facts about
The rumor that Stephen Boyd's double was killed during the chariot race is false. According to second-unit director Yakima Canutt, the "Messala" that was run over, a Roman soldier standing on the center island who was hit by a chariot and the driver of a spilled rig who jumped out of the way of one chariot but was immediately run over by another one were all articulated and weighted dummies (made with movable arm and leg joints), so when they were hit they "reacted" the way a normal human body would in that situation. A combination of adroit placement and expert editing made the dummies look like real people being run over.
Another problem concerned the color of the water in the pond holding the boat; it was too brown and murky. They hired a chemist to develop a dye to color the water Azure Mediterranean blue. The chemist dumped a huge sack of some powder into the pond, which, instead of turning the water blue, formed a hard crust on the surface of the water, which had to be chiselled off the boat at great expense. They finally found some dye that would make the water blue. During one of the battle scenes, an extra who fell into the water and spent a bit too much time there turned blue, and was kept on the MGM payroll until it wore off.
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