The chariot race in the silent classic Ben-Hur remains surprisingly thrilling today — but the intensity of the scene came at a significant price. At least 100 horses were killed during the filming of the scene.

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

Their presence in period films is necessary to make the productions historically accurate. 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).

Did Charlton Heston drive the horses in Ben-Hur?

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.

How many horses were used in Ben-Hur?

The whole film featured around 2,500 horses, and all of them had carers, trainers, veterinarians, and stable boys, among other requirements.

Who turned down the role of Ben-Hur?

Several actors were offered the role of Judah Ben-Hur before it was accepted by Charlton Heston. Burt Lancaster claimed he turned down the role because he found the script boring and belittling to Christianity. Paul Newman turned it down because he said he didn't have the legs to wear a tunic.

Did any horses die in the making of Ben Hur?

Why did Ben-Hur flop?

However, the film failed to generate the same kind of excitement as the Heston epic. The filmmakers had some success attracting faith-based consumers, but couldn't grow the audience beyond the devout. Kids stayed away, critics lobbed bombs, and secular consumers took a hard pass.

How long did it take to shoot the chariot race in Ben-Hur?

The race took five weeks to film. During the 18-day auction of MGM props, costumes and memorabilia that took place in May 1970 when new studio owner Kirk Kerkorian was liquidating the studio's assets, a Sacramento restaurateur paid $4,000 for a chariot used in the film.

Is Ben-Hur a true story?

Ben-Hur is a story of a fictional hero named Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish nobleman who was falsely accused and convicted of an attempted assassination of the Roman governor of Judaea and consequently enslaved by the Romans. He becomes a successful charioteer.

Is Ben-Hur 1959 historically accurate?

Not very. While many details are correct, there is one glaring error: the Roman admiral Quintus Arrius would not have been granted a triumph after defeating the pirates.

Who trained the horses in Ben-Hur?

Ben Hur (Charlton Heston) pulls ahead of Messala (Stephen Boyd), driving blacks, in the chariot race. The horses were trained in special stunts by trainer Glenn Randall.

Where did they film Ben-Hur?

Ben-Hur was shot in Rome, Lazio, Italy. Filming also took place at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios in California, USA. Rome, Italy. Photo by Julia Solonina on Unsplash.

How tall was Charlton Heston?

There was, from the start, something monumental, something reminiscent of Mount Rushmore, about Heston with his 6ft 3in height and chiselled features. He could be angry, threatening and cruel, but he couldn't be commonplace, diffident or funny.

Who was supposed to play Ben-Hur?

Several actors were offered the role of Judah Ben-Hur before it was accepted by Charlton Heston. Burt Lancaster stated he turned down the role because he found the script boring and belittling to Christianity. Paul Newman turned it down because he said he didn't have the legs to wear a tunic.

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

In this field, the running W or “pull” has had its moment of glory: it is a system of restraints placed on the horse's forelegs and connected to the rider's hand by a cable. By pulling on the cable when the horse is thrown, the forelegs fold under the chest and the fall is inevitable.

What movie had the most animal abuse?

"Heaven's Gate" (1980)

Labeling "Heaven's Gate" as "popular" may be a stretch — it notoriously bombed at the box office — but it stands as perhaps the most notorious example of rampant on-set animal abuse.

How many horses died in Old Westerns?

Hundreds of horses appeared in the film, notably in the epic chariot race scene, and as many as 150 died, because the second unit director reportedly ordered any horse seen limping or showing any signs of injury be shot. (A stuntman was also killed filming the sequence.)

Did Ben-Hur meet Jesus?

In the novel it is clear that hate had nothing to do with Ben-Hur's survival, contrary to Arrius' assertion. Instead, Wallace intended to show God's benevolence through the compassion of strangers—one of the strangers being Christ, who gives Ben-Hur water and hope on his march to become a Roman galley slave.

Why is Jesus blacked out in Ben-Hur?

(at around 3h 10 mins) Christ is always seen from the back, but when He is condemned to death He is facing Pilate and His face is obscured by a shadow added optically in post production when William Wyler determined that actor Claude Heater's face was too clearly seen, even at a distance.

How many Oscars did Ben-Hur win?

Ben-Hur. The 1959 movie was the first to achieve a record 11 wins at the Oscars.

What happened to Ben-Hur's mother and sister?

He is sent to be a slave, and his mother and sister are imprisoned. Years later he returns, wins a chariot race against Messala, and is reunited with his now leprous mother and sister. The mother and sister are cured on the day of the Crucifixion, and the family is converted to Christianity.

What does Hur mean in Hebrew?

It's a name thought to be derived from words for liberty, nobility, whiteness, or a hole or cavern. ( harar - a central source of heat) it has a different meaning in Arabic. Hur is one of the two men who held up Moses' arms during the Israelites' battle against the Amalekites.

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 much money did Ben-Hur make?

Why did Ben-Hur only gross 147 million even though it won 12 Academy Awards? Actually the gross of Ben-Hur (1959) was very impressive considering that the budget of the movie was $15.2 million (in 1959 dollars).

What were the horse's names in Ben-Hur?

Sheik Ilderim's four Arabian Beauties are named after four stars: Aldebaran, Altair, Antares and Rigel. Ben Hur observes that though the horses are inherently excellent, the way and the order in which they are strapped onto the chariot, isn't optimal and they struggle holding the turns, smoothly.