Charlton Heston stars as Ben-Hur in director William Wyler's 1959 big screen spectacular. Jack Hawkins, Stephen Boyd, Hugh Griffith, Martha Scott and Sam Jaffe co-star.

Ben-Hur returned to the silver screen in 1959 courtesy of MGM and director William Wyler. Starring Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Stephen Boyd, Hugh Griffith, Martha Scott, Sam Jaffe and Haya Harareet, Ben-Hur went on to win 11 Academy Awards and its own place in movie history. Ah, the spectacular chariot race!

Based on the Novel by Lew Wallace

Ben-Hur was based on the 1880 novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ by Lew Wallace (1827-1905), who had risen to the rank of major general in the Union Army during the Civil War.

Ben-Hur on Stage, Early Movies

Ben-Hur was brought to the stage in 1899 with William Farnum in the title role. An elaborate production, the stage version featured elegant sets, handsome costumes, large crowd scenes and even a chariot race with real horses.

Director Sidney Olcott filmed one of these live chariot races, added some interior shots and released his movie version of Ben-Hur via the Kalem Company in 1907. The Lew Wallace estate cited copyright violation, and successfully sued Kalem, winning a $25,000 judgment -- the first of its kind in motion picture history.

The Goldwyn Picture Corporation secured the movie rights to Ben-Hur in 1922. Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, made at a then-staggering $3.9 million, was subsequently released by MGM in 1925, starring Ramon Novarro and Francis X. Bushman.

Ben-Hur Returns in 1959

MGM had wanted to do a remake of Ben-Hur for years, but only with the right director. They found him in William Wyler, whose services they secured for a cool $1 million, the highest salary ever paid to a director up to that time.

Writing the 1959 screenplay was Karl Tunberg, with uncredited assistance from Maxwell Anderson, Christopher Fry and Gore Vidal.

Serving up the film's all-important music score was Miklos Rozsa, who completed his work in eight weeks.

Ben-Hur Cast

William Wyler had free reign in casting Ben-Hur. He eventually settled on Charlton Heston (Judah Ben-Hur), Jack Hawkins (Quintus Arrius), Haya Haraeet (Esther), Stephen Boyd (Messala), Hugh Griffith (Sheik Ilderim), Martha Scott (Miriam), Cathy O'Donnell (Tirzah), Sam Jaffe (Simonides), Finlay Currie (Balthasar) and Frank Thring (Pontius Pilate).

Those also considered for roles in Ben-Hur included Burt Lancaster, Paul Newman and Rock Hudson (Ben-Hur) and Robert Ryan and Leslie Nielsen (Messala).

Big Budget, Filming Locations

Budgeted at a whopping $15 million, Ben-Hur was filmed on location in Italy, with some additional scenes shot at MGM Studios in Culver City, California.

In Rome, MGM rented Cinecitta Studios, taking over sound stages, dressing rooms, offices and cutting rooms. A number of magnificent exterior sets were constructed, including the gate to Jerusalem, the House of Hur and Pilate's palace.

The Great Circus of Antioch, the site of the spectacular chariot race, was the largest of all the sets. Located off to the side was a practice track, where Charlton Heston and Stephen Boyd were taught how to handle horse-drawn chariots.

Filming the Chariot Race

The site of Ben-Hur's famous chariot race encompassed 18 acres, with 40,000 tons of sand trucked in to make the track. Hired to fill the stadium were 4,000 extras, who were then shifted around in military precision in order to film different angles. The chariot race sequence took five weeks to complete.

Joe Canutt, son of legendary stuntman Yakima Canutt, performed the most dangerous chariot stunts. The younger Canutt was nearly crushed to death in one scene, where Ben-Hur's chariot is seen leaping over wreckage from the race.

Jewish Prince, Lepers, The Crucifixion

The movie centers on Jewish prince Judah Ben-Hur, who is reunited with his childhood friend, Messala, the new Roman commander of Jerusalem. Concerned about escalating Jewish protests and criticisms of Rome's rule, Messala tries to enlist the assistance of his old friend.

When the two have a falling out, Messala condemns Ben-Hur to the galley of a slave ship and Judah's mother and sister, Miriam and Tirzah, to prison. While at sea, Ben-Hur distinguishes himself in battle, saving the life of the powerful Roman commander Quintus Arrius.

A free man once again with Arrius as his grateful sponsor, Ben-Hur learns the ways of Rome. He becomes an expert charioteer, driving Sheik Ilderim's team of white Arabian horses in a fabulous race in which the favored Messala is also entered.

Although told that his mother and sister had died, Ben-Hur eventually finds them alive in the Valley of the Lepers. After witnessing the execution of Christ, Ben-Hur discovers that his mother and sister have been cured of leprosy, a miracle attributed to the Crucifixion.

Release, Reviews

Ben-Hur premiered in New York City on November 18, 1959.

"A whale of a picture...The best of the Hollywood's super-spectacles..." reported Time (11/30/59).

"Blockbuster to top all previous blockbusters..." said Variety (11/18/59).

Box Office, Academy Awards

Ben-Hur was the top moneymaking film of 1959, grossing $36.922 million at the box office.

Ben-Hur won 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (Wyler), Best Actor (Heston) and Best Supporting Actor (Griffith).