screenshots / Ben-Hur / 1959 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
screenshots / Ben-Hur / 1959 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Charlton Heston (Planet of the Apes) and Jake Hawkins (Land of the Pharaohs) star in this epic remake of the 1925 silent classic Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ starring Ramon Navarro (The Pagan).
The cast included actors Stephen Boyd (Shalako), Hugh Griffith (Mutiny on the Bounty), Sam Jaffe (Gunga Din) and Giuliano Gemma (Hercules Against the Sons of the Sun).
Nominated for 12 Academy Awards, winning 11 including Best Picture, Best Director (William Wyler), Best Actor (Charlton Heston), Best Supporting Actor (Hugh Griffith), Best Cinematography, and Best Costume Design.
Cinecittą Studios (on the outskirts of Rome), was the film's primary shooting location.
The sea battle sequence was filmed using a huge tank on the MGM backlot in Culver City, California.
Ben-Hur premiered at the Loew's State Theatre in New York City on November 18, 1959.
