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Ben-Hur
- Director: William Wyler
- Writer: Lew Wallace; Karl Tunberg
- Producer: Sam Zimbalist; J.J. Cohn
CGiii Comment
It won 11 Oscars.
It's way too long...and, the acting is excruciating.
An epic in the truest sense - over the top in every aspect.
Rock Hudson was offered the role of Ben Hur, he seriously considered accepting the part until his agent explained to him that the film's gay subtext was too much of a risk to his career.
Gore Vidal admitted to adding the homosexual subtext, Heston denied the claim, going so far as to suggest Vidal had little input into the final script - his lack of screen credit was a result of being fired for trying to add gay innuendo.
The only Hollywood film to make the Vatican-approved film list in the category of religion - showing the Vatican has neither taste nor judgment.
11 Oscars!?!
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
Judah Ben-Hur lives as a rich Jewish prince and merchant in Jerusalem at the beginning of the 1st century. Together with the new governor his old friend Messala arrives as commanding officer of the Roman legions. At first they are happy to meet after a long time but their different politic views separate them. During the welcome parade a roof tile falls down from Judah's house and injures the governor. Although Messala knows they are not guilty, he sends Judah to the galleys and throws his mother and sister into prison. But Judah swears to come back and take revenge.
Cast & Characters
Charlton Heston as Judah Ben-Hur;
Jack Hawkins as Quintus Arrius;
Haya Harareet as Esther;
Stephen Boyd as Messala;
Hugh Griffith as Sheik Ilderim;
Martha Scott as Miriam;
Cathy O'Donnell as Tirzah;
Sam Jaffe as Simonides;
Finlay Currie as Balthasar / Narrator;
Frank Thring as Pontius Pilate;
Terence Longdon as Drusus;
George Relph as Tiberius Caesar;
Andre Morell as Sextus;
Les Ballets Africains as Dancers at Roman Banquet;
Ady Berber as Malluch