Marlon Brando, Rock Hudson, Geoffrey Horne, and Leslie Nielsen were also offered the role, as were a number of muscular, handsome Italian actors (many of whom did not speak English). Kirk Douglas was interested in the role, but was turned down in favor of Heston, who was formally cast on January 22, 1958.

Who was offered 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 Charlton Heston actually 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.

Where was the Ben-Hur chariot race supposed to be?

This was a change from the original novel and the 1925 silent film, both of which placed the chariot race in Antioch (which is outside present-day Israel's borders) and which did have a famous circus.

Is Ben-Hur a true story in the Bible?

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.

Charlton Heston & Martin Scorsese on BEN HUR

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.

What is the original story of Ben-Hur?

Ben-Hur, historical novel by Lewis Wallace, published in 1880 and widely translated. It depicts the oppressive Roman occupation of ancient Palestine and the origins of Christianity. The Jew Judah Ben-Hur is wrongly accused by his former friend, the Roman Messala, of attempting to kill a Roman official.

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.

How accurate was the Ben-Hur chariot race?

The movie exaggerates reality a bit, since Jerusalem's hippodrome wasn't carved out of a mountainside, and it wasn't located just below Golgotha, where Jesus was crucified, but those details are just dramatic embellishments. Ben-Hur's race could have taken place in Jerusalem.

Was Ben-Hur 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.

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.

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 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 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.

Why is Jesus face blurred 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.

Why didn't they show the face of Jesus in Ben-Hur?

In both “The Robe” (1953) and “Ben-Hur” (1959), Jesus was a character, but his face was never seen — out of respect, perhaps, but maybe out of caution, too. Filming the Passion is fraught with peril. So is the casting of a personage whom millions of Christians consider divine.

What is the longest movie ever made?

The Longest Movie Certificated by Guinness World Records

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.

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 is the meaning of Ben-Hur?

The specific meaning of "Hur" is unclear; among other possibilities, it may mean "something white", "hollow or depressed ground", "free man" or "noble". "Ben-Hur" as a compound name might mean "freeborn" or "noble born".

How many Oscars did Ben-Hur win?

Ben-Hur set a new Oscar record by winning 11 Academy Awards. Bob Hope was the master of ceremonies. On January 3, 1959, Alaska was admitted as the 49th U.S. state. On January 8, 1959, Charles de Gaulle was inaugurated as the first president of the new Fifth Republic in France.

Who did Ben-Hur race against?

Seeking revenge, Ben-Hur agrees to face Messala in a chariot race. The contest is particularly grueling, but Ben-Hur emerges victorious. Messala, however, is mortally wounded, and with his dying words, he informs Ben-Hur that his beloved mother and sister are actually in a leper colony.

What are the four horses Ezekiel?

In Ezekiel 14:21, the Lord enumerates His "four disastrous acts of judgment" (ESV), sword, famine, wild beasts, and pestilence, against the idolatrous elders of Israel. A symbolic interpretation of the Four Horsemen links the riders to these judgments, or the similar judgments in 6:11–12.

Is Ben-Hur like Gladiator?

"Ben-Hur" tells the epic story of Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston), a prideful Jewish prince who, like Maximus, is betrayed and sentenced to slavery. While "Gladiator" focuses on the paternal bond between Maximus and Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the central relationship in "Ben-Hur" is a fraternal one.

Was Ben-Hur made before the Ten Commandments?

It was an overtly Christian text, culminating in Ben-Hur's miracle-fueled conversion from Judaism to Christianity. 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.

Why is the Ben-Hur film important?

Not only did Ben-Hur save MGM from financial ruin, it inspired the other studios to spend more money on giant blockbusters than they'd previously been willing to do. Cleopatra and Lawrence of Arabia were soon to follow.

Why Ben-Hur is a good movie?

Charlton Heston carrys the leading role with quality which makes it one of his best ever movies. Its great how the narrative of Ben Hur's life brings him to cross paths with the Saviour of the world when both are in the deepest depths of lifes struggles. Definately worth watching.