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.

Who was supposed to play Ben-Hur?

Kirk Douglas was offered the role of Messala but turned it down, because he didn't want to play a "second-rate baddie". Douglas wanted to play Judah Ben-Hur, whose Jewishness appealed to him, but he was too old and Charlton Heston had already been cast.

Did Charlton Heston actually drive the chariot 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.

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.

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.

Charlton Heston & Martin Scorsese on BEN HUR

Does the Bible mention Ben-Hur?

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.

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.

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 the most expensive movie ever made?

The most expensive silent film is MGM's Ben Hur (US 1925), which eventually cost $3.9million (then £;852,645) to be made after filming began on location in Italy in 1923. This figure is equivalent to $33,109,910 (£;20,693,694) today.

Is Ben-Hur banned?

Ben-Hur (1959)

China banned William Wyler's religious epic Ben-Hur in 1959 under the regime of Mao Zedong for containing "propaganda of superstitious beliefs, namely Christianity". While most films go on to have their ban lifted, the country has never given the Oscar-winner permission to be shown.

How many horses were killed filming 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.

How many horses died in 1925 Ben-Hur?

Records of animal injuries weren't kept in the early days. During the chariot race in the 1925 film Ben-Hur, up to 150 horses were killed.

What are the 4 horses of 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.

What is the longest movie ever?

The longest film ever made, according to Guinness World Records, is "The Cure for Insomnia" (1987), directed by John Henry Timmis IV. It lasts 85 hours and is considered an extraordinary achievement in the film industry.

Is Ben-Hur a religious movie?

Ben-Hur is a 1959 American epic religious film directed by William Wyler, produced by Sam Zimbalist, and starring Charlton Heston as the title character.

Was Ben-Hur in the Circus Maximus?

For dramatic appeal, Cinecittà film studio modelled its set for Ben Hur after Rome's Circus Maximus rather than Middle Eastern equivalents. Indeed the intention had been to use Circo Massimo itself; only the urban authorities refused permission for conservation reasons.

How much would Ben-Hur cost today?

'Ben-Hur' (1959)

It had been the costliest film ever made up to that point, almost bankrupting the studio with production plus marketing adding to around $130 million in today's dollars.

What was the last name of Jesus?

Overall, Jesus didn't have a formal last name. Instead He was most commonly called “Jesus son of Joseph” or “Jesus of Nazareth.” After His resurrection, He was called Jesus Christ to show that he is the Messiah and Savior of the world.

Should Christians watch Ben-Hur?

Ultimately, caution is advised, mostly for some of BEN-HUR's intense violence. The good news is that the movie's ending sets viewers up for a possible sequel, where Judah and his family and friends go to Rome and meet with Christ's disciples, as they do in the original novel.

What country was Ben-Hur filmed in?

Entrance to Cinecittà in Rome, the largest film studio in Europe, where Ben-Hur was filmed. Italy was MGM's top choice for hosting the production. However, a number of countries—including France, Mexico, Spain, and the United Kingdom—were also considered.

Is there a crucifixion scene in Ben-Hur?

The crucifixion of Jesus is shown. We see the hammer descend as the soldiers drive the nail into his feet. We see his wrists with nails driven through them and blood flowing onto the wood. We also see blood from the cross flowing on the ground.

Which came first Ben-Hur or Ten Commandments?

Religious fervour was, of course, no obstacle to box-office success in the 1950s, Ben-Hur having been made in the immediate wake of Cecil B DeMille's blockbuster The Ten Commandments. Yet shedding that fusty “Tale of the Christ” subtitle was a telling sign that Wyler's version was aiming for more universal reach.

Why is Ben-Hur significant?

Ben-Hur, American dramatic film, released in 1959, that was arguably the best of Hollywood's biblical epics. In addition to being a huge commercial success, it set a record for most Academy Award wins (11).