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Ben-Hur is a 1959 epic film directed by William Wyler, the third film version of Civil War vet Lew Wallace's 1880 novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. It premiered at Loew's State Theatre in New York City on November 18, 1959. The movie's reputation as a classic is primarily based on two spectacular action sequences: the great chariot race and a Roman naval battle, along with lavish production values and strong performances. The plot of Ben Hur revolves around a Jewish prince who is betrayed and sent into slavery by a Roman friend and how he regains his freedom and comes back for revenge. However, instead he finds redemption in Christ, the theme is ultimately about being saved in the Christian sense. The film went on to win a record of eleven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor (Charlton Heston as Ben Hur). This record-setting Oscars sweep has since been equaled by Titanic in 1998 and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in 2004, but never broken.

The entertainment experience of a lifetime.

Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, History

Starring: Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Haya Harareet

Released: December 26, 1959

Runtime: 212.0

Popularity Rating: 14.320

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

United States of America

Judah Ben-Hur Charlton Heston
Quintus Arrius Jack Hawkins
Esther Haya Harareet
Messala Stephen Boyd
Scheich Ildirim Hugh Griffith
Miriam Martha Scott
Tirzah Cathy O'Donnell
Pontius Pilatus Frank Thring
Simonides Sam Jaffe
Malluch Ady Berber
Balthasar Finlay Currie
Sextus Andre Morell
Drusus Terence Longdon
Jewish Slave in the Desert (uncredited) Lando Buzzanca
Roman Officer with Messala (uncredited) Giuliano Gemma
Flavia (uncredited) Marina Berti
Chief of Rowers (uncredited) Robert Brown
Guest at Banquet (uncredited) Liana Del Balzo
Galley Officer (uncredited) Enzo Fiermonte
Gaspar (uncredited) Richard Hale
Marius (uncredited) Duncan Lamont
Doctor (uncredited) John Le Mesurier
Captain of Rescue Ship (uncredited) Ferdy Mayne
Woman in crowd (uncredited) May McAvoy
Man in Nazareth (uncredited) Aldo Silvani
Aide to Tiberius (uncredited) Ralph Truman
Tiberius Caesar George Relph
Sportsman (uncredited) Joe Canutt
Metellus (uncredited) Richard Coleman
Senator (uncredited) Antonio Corevi
Quaestor (uncredited) David Davies
Gratus (uncredited) Mino Doro
Seaman (uncredited) Michael Dugan
Roman Soldier Who Brings Crown to Gratus (uncredited) Franco Fantasia
Mary (uncredited) Jose Greci
Spintho (uncredited) John Horsley
Hortator (uncredited) Howard Lang
Blind Man (uncredited) Stevenson Lang
Leper (uncredited) Tutte Lemkow
The Lubian (uncredited) Cliff Lyons
Roman at Bath (uncredited) Tiberio Mitri
Decurian (uncredited) Remington Olmsted
Joseph (uncredited) Laurence Payne
Bad Thief on Cross (uncredited) Aldo Pini
Villager (uncredited) Diego Pozzetto
Amrah (uncredited) Stella Rho
Supplier to Leper Colony (uncredited) Edwin Richfield
Officer (uncredited) Hector Ross
Rower No. 43 (uncredited) Maxwell Shaw
Galley Officer (uncredited) Gianni Solaro
Pilate's Servant (uncredited) Pietro Tordi
Old Man (uncredited) Raimondo Van Riel
Jailer (uncredited) Dervis Ward
The Egyptian - Chariot Racer (uncredited) Joe Yrigoyen
Roman Soldier with a Bow on Galley (uncredited) Nazzareno Zamperla
The Corinthian (uncredited) Jerry Brown
The Athenian (uncredited) Eddie Jauregui

Art — Art Direction: Edward C. Carfagno
Art — Art Direction: William A. Horning
Art — Assistant Art Director: Ken Adam
Art — Painter: Italo Tomassi
Art — Production Design: Vittorio Valentini
Art — Set Decoration: Hugh Hunt
Camera — Additional Photography: Harold E. Wellman
Camera — Additional Photography: Piero Portalupi
Camera — Director of Photography: Robert Surtees
Camera — First Assistant Camera: Edward Wahrman
Costume & Make-Up — Costume Design: Elizabeth Haffenden
Costume & Make-Up — Hair Setup: Gabriella Borzelli
Costume & Make-Up — Makeup Artist: Charles E. Parker
Crew — Additional Writing: Christopher Fry
Crew — Additional Writing: Maxwell Anderson
Crew — Additional Writing: S.N. Behrman
Crew — Sound Recordist: Sash Fisher
Crew — Sound Recordist: William Steinkamp
Crew — Special Effects: Doug Hubbard
Crew — Special Effects: Umberto Dessena
Crew — Stunts: David Sharpe
Crew — Stunts: Eddie Jauregui
Crew — Stunts: Jerry Brown
Crew — Stunts: Mickey Gilbert
Crew — Stunts: Tap Canutt
Directing — Assistant Director: Alberto Cardone
Directing — Director: William Wyler
Editing — Additional Editing: Margaret Booth
Editing — Color Timer: Charles K. Hagedon
Editing — Color Timer: Joan Bridge
Editing — Editor: John D. Dunning
Editing — Editor: Ralph E. Winters
Editing — Editorial Services: Fredric Steinkamp
Production — Casting: Irene Howard
Production — Executive Producer: Sol C. Siegel
Production — Producer: Sam Zimbalist
Production — Producer: William Wyler
Production — Production Manager: Dave Friedman
Production — Production Manager: Henry Henigson
Production — Production Manager: J.J. Cohn
Production — Unit Production Manager: Edward Woehler
Sound — Orchestrator: Eugene Zador
Sound — Original Music Composer: Miklos Rozsa
Sound — Recording Supervision: Franklin Milton
Sound — Supervising Sound Editor: Van Allen James
Visual Effects — Visual Effects: A. Arnold Gillespie
Visual Effects — Visual Effects: R.A. MacDonald
Writing — Novel: Lew Wallace
Writing — Screenplay: Karl Tunberg
Writing — Storyboard: Harold Michelson
Writing — Writer: Gore Vidal