Yes, in close-up shots, that's really Charlton Heston (as Judah Ben-Hur) and Stephen Boyd (as his rival Messala) driving the chariots. They trained for months to learn how to drive the four-horse teams. In long shots, however, the chariots are driven by stuntmen.

Who drove the chariot in Ben-Hur?

Not only did they construct this entire set for one expansive scene, they also shot an actual live chariot race within its walls, performed by legendary stuntman Yakima Canutt.

Did Charlton Heston do his own stunts?

Here, Charlton Heston did all of his own stunts except the most dangerous which came in the films climactic chariot race. Legendary stunt co-ordinator Yakima Canutt was bought onboard to put the sequence together and created one of the most thrilling, and most talked about action sequences in movie history.

How many horses died in the chariot race in Ben-Hur?

During the chariot race in the 1925 film Ben-Hur, up to 150 horses were killed.

How long is the famous chariot race scene in Ben-Hur?

Of the 180 minutes that the acclaimed motion picture, Ben-Hur, is on the screen, the 15-minute chariot race scenes are the most vividly remembered and, the most talked about by movie fans and critics.

Ben-Hur (3/10) Movie CLIP - The Chariot Race (1959) HD

How historically accurate is Ben-Hur?

And since it's a novel, that means the tale of Ben-Hur is 100 percent fiction, wholly created by Wallace. So what is Jesus doing in the story? Ben-Hur is considered a Christian novel, perhaps the most influential one of all time. It uses the fictional character of Judah Ben-Hur to work as an allegory for Jesus' life.

Was Ben-Hur filmed at Circus Maximus?

But movie buffs who are disappointed that the iconic chariot racing scene won't make it to the Circus Maximus should take heart—the 1959 film's most famous scene wasn't filmed at the Circus Maximus, either.

Did horses get hurt making Ben-Hur?

Nearly two hundred horses were used during the filming of the chariot race scene in the 1925 Fred Niblo film, Ben-Hur. Fortunately, it was reported that not a single horse was injured (“Forty-two” 405). This would probably relate more to luck than a deliberate attempt by anyone to ensure the safety of the animals.

When did they stop hurting animals in movies?

In 1972, the AHA coined the familiar phrase “No Animals Were Harmed,” which appears in the credits of movies. Despite the AHA, the film industry has a long history of animal abuse. In a 1939 Western entitled “Jesse James,” director Henry King sent a horse over a 70-foot cliff resulting in brutal and violent death.

Were any horses hurt in the filming of Ben-Hur?

"Ben-Hur" (1959)

But according to film historians, as many as 100 horses were killed during the production of the iconic film. The second-unit director of "Ben-Hur" reportedly ordered horses be shot and killed "if they limped," without seeking veterinary care.

What did Charlton Heston have to do with guns?

But he may best be remembered as the most visible president in the National Rifle Association's history, guiding the gun lobbying group through a five-year period that saw gun rights take center stage in Washington, D.C. Along the way, his statements were responsible for igniting a phrase that would become a rallying ...

Who was Charlton Heston best friend?

Often appearing as a draw for Republican candidates at fund-raisers and on the stump, Heston also was a champion of gun rights, and served as president of the National Rifle Association from 1998 to 2003, even as one of his best friends, Gregory Peck, campaigned for gun control.

Who does the most stunts in Hollywood?

Did Jesus meet Ben-Hur?

Ben-Hur followed the procession to Calvary and was one of the many people to witness the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. In the moments before Jesus died he shared a vision with Ben-Hur to convince the young man that it was his will that this all happen and that Ben-Hur allow the crucifixion to proceed.

Why did they not show Jesus face in Ben-Hur?

As filming progressed, Heater was given more time in front of the camera and a few lines, but British law at the time forbid Jesus to speak or his face to be seen if he were a “secondary character.” So, Heater as Jesus appears only from behind, as when he gives water to Charlton Heston's enslaved Judah Ben-Hur.

Where was the leper scene in Ben-Hur filmed?

The valley of lepers, where Hur's mother and sister serve out their time, is Latomies di Salone, the ancient tuff (rock formed of consolidated volcanic ash) quarry at Salone, just to the southeast of the junction of Via di Salone and Via delle Case Rosse, alongside the River Aniene and the Autostrada A24, east of Rome.

What was the most abused animal and why?

In terms of sheer numbers and the routine suffering inflicted on them, it's got to be the chicken. 50 billion chickens are raised for meat every year, with around 5 billion more kept for egg production. The vast majority of them are raised and kept indoors in industrial farming systems.

What movie was banned for animal cruelty?

Cannibal Ferox is recognized as the most banned movie ever by the Guinness Book of World Records, banned in 31 countries for its extreme violence and scenes of real animal cruelty.

What movie had the most animal abuse?

Heaven's Gate (1980)

This film is notorious for the amount of animal abuse that took place during production. Actual cockfights, decapitated chickens, disemboweling cows and physical torture of horses including at least four deaths and bleeding other horses from the neck are all proven to have taken place.

How do they make horses fall in movies without hurting them?

Before a horse is asked to fall, the ground is softened with a mixture of dirt, sand and sawdust, according to Mitchum in Hollywood Hoofbeats. With the trainer on the ground, the horse is taught to lie down from a halt.

What horse did Charlton Heston ride in the big country?

Charlton Heston rode a great looking black and white overo in The Big Country.

How did they film War Horse Without Hurting the horse?

Most of the scenes in Steven Spielberg's World War I epic War Horse use real horses, but a couple of particularly animal-unfriendly scenes required the use of animatronics.

How much is Charlton Heston worth when he died?

Charlton Heston was an American actor who had a net worth of $40 million at the time of his death.

Why is the movie Ben-Hur called Ben-Hur?

Etymology. Wallace wrote that he chose the name Ben-Hur "because it was biblical, and easily spelled, printed and pronounced." The name appears once in the Bible (Hebrew: בן־חור), as the name of one of King Solomon's twelve district governors (1 Kings 4:8). In Hebrew the word "bén" means son.

What year is Ben-Hur set in?

In A.D. 26 Jerusalem, Judah Ben-Hur, a wealthy Jewish prince and merchant, lives with his mother, Miriam, and younger sister, Tirzah. The family's steward, Simonides, has a daughter named Esther.