This 1959 version of Lew Wallace's
best-selling novel, which had already seen screen versions in 1907 and 1926,
went on to win 11 Academy Awards. Adapted by Karl Tunberg and a raft of
uncredited writers including Gore Vidal and Maxwell Anderson, the film once
more recounts the tale of Jewish prince Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston), who
lives in Judea with his family during the time that Jesus Christ was
becoming known for his "radical" teachings. Ben-Hur's childhood friend
Messala (Stephen Boyd) is now an ambitious Roman tribune; when Ben-Hur
refuses to help Messala round up local dissidents on behalf of the Emperor,
Messala pounces on the first opportunity to exact revenge on his onetime
friend. Framed on a charge of attempting to kill the provincial governor,
Ben-Hur is condemned to the Roman galleys, while his mother (Martha Scott)
and sister (Cathy O'Donnell) are imprisoned. But during a sea battle, Ben-Hur
saves the life of commander Quintus Arrius (Jack Hawkins), who, in
gratitude, adopts Ben-Hur as his son and gives him full control over his
stable of racing horses. Ben-Hur never gives up trying to find his family or
exact revenge on Messala. At crucial junctures in his life, he also crosses
the path of Jesus, and each time he benefits from it. The highlight of the
film's 212 minutes is its now-legendary chariot race, staged largely by
stunt expert Yakima Canutt. Ben-Hur's Oscar haul included Best Picture, Best
Director for the legendary William Wyler, Best Actor for Heston, and Best
Supporting Actor for British actor Hugh Griffith as an Arab sheik.| Charlton Heston | Judah Ben Hur |
| Stephen Boyd | Messala |
| Jack Hawkins | Quintus Arrius |
| Haya Harareet | Esther |
| Hugh Griffith | Sheik Ilderim |
| Sam Jaffe | Simonides |
| Martha Scott | Miriam |
| Cathy O'Donnell | Tirzah |
| Finlay Currie | Balthasar |
| Frank Thring | Pontius Pilate |
| Terence Longdon | Drusus |
| Andre Morell | Sextus |
| Marina Berti | Flavia |
| George Relph | Tiberius |
| Adi Berber | Malluch |
| Stella Vitelleschi | Amrah |
| Jose Greci | Virgin Mary |
| Laurence Payne | Joseph |
| John Horsley | Spintho |
| Richard Coleman | Metellus |
| Duncan Lamont | Marius |
| Ralph Truman | Aide to Tiberius |
| Richard Hale | Gaspar |
| David Davies | Quaestor |
| Dervis Ward | Jailer |
| Mino Doro | Gratus |
| Robert Brown | Chief of Rowers |
| Maxwell Shaw | Rower No. 43 |
| Emilio Carrer | Rower No. 28 |
| Tutte Lemkow | Leper |
| Howard Lang | Hortator |
| John Le Mesurier | Doctor |
| Stevenson Lang | Blind Man |
| Hector Ross | Officer |
| Al Silvani | Man in Nazareth |
| Enzo Fiermonte | Galley Officer |
| Tiberio Mitri | Roman at Bath |
| Pietro Tordi | Pilate's Servant |
| Jerry Brown | The Corinthian |
| Cliff Lyons | Lublon |
| Joe Yrigoyen | Egyptian |
| Joe Canutt | Sportsman |
| Karl Tunberg | |
| Michael Dugan | Seaman |
| Reginald Lal Singh | Melchior |
| Raimondo Van Riel | Old Man |
| John Glen | Rower No. 42 |
| Ferdy [Ferdinand] Mayne | Captain of Rescue Ship |
Genre/Type Epic, Religious Epic, Sword-and-Sandal
Produced by MGM / Sam Zimbalist
Released by MGM
Running time - 212 min.
The Ten Commandments (1956, Cecil B. DeMille)
Spartacus (1960, Stanley Kubrick)
Samson and Delilah (1949, Cecil B. DeMille)
La Vendetta di Spartacus (1962, Michele Lupo)
Brigham Young (1940, Henry Hathaway)
Quo Vadis? (1929)
The Silver Chalice (1954, Victor Saville)
The Robe (1953, Henry Koster)