Ben-Hur, one of the most ambitious epics ever filmed, earned an impressive 11 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director (William Wyler) and Best Actor (Charlton Heston). The film has been hailed for many aspects - its grand size, incredible performances, 65mm Technicolor and its action sequences including the famous chariot race. Released several times on DVD, Warner Bros.' 2005 Collector's Edition is an incredible collection with amazing extra features. The cast also includes Jack Hawkins, Haya Harareet, Stephen Boyd, Hugh Griffith and Martha Scott.

Stephen Boyd &

 Charlton Heston

Director Fred Niblo took on the direction of the 1925 Ben-Hur, hich had been adapted from General Lew Wallace's 1880 novel subtitled "A Tale of the Christ." Structured around a story during the era of Christ's birth, Ben Hur is the tale of a Roman (Messala, Stephen Boyd) and a Jew (Judah, Charlton Heston) who grew up as friends but would become bitter enemies in a fight about religious beliefs. Remaining in polls as one of the best top 10 movies of all time, Ben Hur is noted as a story about forgiveness, love, revenge, Jews and Christians. Wyler once remarked, "We made it acceptable to all faiths; we never showed Jesus' face."

Ironically, William Wyler was one of the 60 assistant directors hired for the several-day shoot of the massive chariot scene in the Circus Maximus, the Roman stadium built in Culver City for the 1925 film.

Sam Jaffe, Stephen Boyd, Hara Harareet

Spurned on by producer Sam Zimbalist and a desire to make a big epic, Wyler decided to remake Ben Hur. His 1959 film had grand ideas and 300 sets, a story more about personal relations than religious differences and it saved MGM from bankruptcy - a daring move since at that time it was the most expensive movie ever made. Among its 12 Academy-Award nominations, the only won that didn't bring home the Oscar was for Best Screenplay by Karl Tunberg, which went to Neil Paterson for Room At The Top.

There were other names considered for the role of Judah Ben Hur including Kirk Douglas, Marlon Brando, Burt Lancaster and Rock Hudson. An open casting call went out and many men applied,  including Leslie Neilsen.  

Regardless, Charlton Heston was the perfect choice to play Judea Ben Hur, a Jew who by a strange set of circumstances becomes a very wealthy Prince and free man when sent to the gallows. Judea Ben Hur is also a good man who treats his slaves with respect and kindness. Heston spent two to three hours a day for weeks on lessons on how to drive the chariot. Joe Canutt was Heston's stunt double for the crash scene in the chariot race.

Some 40 scripts were developed before choosing the final one and controversies arouse over final script credit. Gore Vidal, Maxwell Anderson and Christopher Fry had worked on the script but Karl Tunberg got the only credit even after Wyler went to the Screenwriter's Guild and complained.

Author Gore Vidal, one of the writers on the 1959 screenplay and a participant in the 1994 Documentary Ben-Hur: The Making of an Epic in the 2005 DVD  collection, said, "This is not a tale of Christ - it's a story about a Jewish and a Christian boy."

When religious differences begin to divide Rome, Messala (Stephen Boyd) is part of the Roman force against the Jews. Messala becomes irate when a freak accident happens and blames Judah. He's surprised when Messala, his childhood friend who was like a brother to him, turns against him, even taking part in a raid and arresting Judea, his mother Miriam (Martha Scott) and his sister Tirzah (Cathy O'Donnell- Wyler's sister-in-law). Ben Hur's love interest, the slave Esther is played by Israeli actress Haya Harareet.

Judah Ben Hur saves the life of the Roman Consul Quintus Arrius (Jack Hawkins), who adopts Judah Ben Hur, giving him the prestige and financial status to pursue his desire to free his mother and sister. The story, about one man's rebellion against terrorist rule, is complicated but is unveiled in a compelling and extraordinary visual saga that of course includes the famous chariot race.

Charlton Heston &

Frank Tring

A camera four times the anamorphic size of today's camera was used. Robert Surtees' incredible cinematography still holds its own in today's visual masterpieces. He was modest about his work, saying, Robert Surttees, cinematographer of Ben Hur said, "Wyler's character's goodness or badness came from the characters, not from the lighting."  

Wyler was at times quite amusing. Charles Heston, said, "In one scene, Willy told me I had to do it better, and I asked him how, and he replied I don't know or I'd tell you."

Anyone who has seen this film, or not, will certainly want to take a look at Warner's 2005 Ben Hur Collector's Edition DVD and check out Diana Saenger's interview with William Wyler's daughter Catherine Wyler.

Director:  William Wyler

Writer: screenplay - Karl Tunberg, Maxwell Anderson (Uncredited), Christopher Fry, (Uncredited), Gore Vidal (Uncredited); novel - Lew Wallace

Cast Members: Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Haya Harareet, Stephen Boyd, Frank Tring, Hugh Griffith, Martha Scott

MPAA Rating: 1925 version -unrated, 1959 version "G"

Classic Movie Guide Rating: 5/5 stars

Run Time:  222 Minutes

Studio:  Warner Home Video

Photo credits: Warner Bros. Pictures