In 25 AD,Judah Ben-Hur, a Jew in ancient Judea, opposes the occupying Roman empire. Falsely accused by a Roman childhood friend-turned-overlord of trying to kill the Roman governor, he is put into slavery and his mother and sister are taken away as prisoners. Three years later and freed by a grateful Roman galley commander whom he has rescued from drowning, he becomes an expert charioteer for Rome, all the while plotting to return to Judea, find and rescue his family, and avenge himself on his former friend. All the while, the form and work of Jesus move in the background of his life...

Credits: TheMovieDb.

Film Cast:

  • Judah Ben-Hur: Charlton Heston
  • Esther: Haya Harareet
  • Messala: Stephen Boyd
  • Miriam: Martha Scott
  • Tirzah: Cathy O'Donnell
  • Quintus Arrius: Jack Hawkins
  • Simonides: Sam Jaffe
  • Scheich Ildirim: Hugh Griffith
  • Balthasar: Finlay Currie
  • Pontius Pilatus: Frank Thring
  • Tiberius Caesar: George Relph
  • Sextus: André Morell
  • Drusus: Terence Longdon
  • Malluch: Ady Berber
  • Jewish Slave in the Desert (uncredited): Lando Buzzanca
  • Roman Officer with Messala (uncredited): Giuliano Gemma
  • Flavia (uncredited): Marina Berti
  • Chief of Rowers (uncredited): Robert Brown
  • Guest at Banquet (uncredited): Liana Del Balzo
  • Galley Officer (uncredited): Enzo Fiermonte
  • Gaspar (uncredited): Richard Hale
  • Marius (uncredited): Duncan Lamont
  • Doctor (uncredited): John Le Mesurier
  • Captain of Rescue Ship (uncredited): Ferdy Mayne
  • Woman in crowd (uncredited): May McAvoy
  • Man in Nazareth (uncredited): Aldo Silvani
  • Aide to Tiberius (uncredited): Ralph Truman
  • Christ: Claude Heater
  • Sportsman (uncredited): Joe Canutt
  • Metellus (uncredited): Richard Coleman
  • Senator (uncredited): Antonio Corevi
  • Quaestor (uncredited): David Davies
  • Gratus (uncredited): Mino Doro
  • Seaman (uncredited): Michael Dugan
  • Roman Soldier Who Brings Crown to Gratus (uncredited): Franco Fantasia
  • Mary (uncredited): José Greci
  • Spintho (uncredited): John Horsley
  • Hortator (uncredited): Howard Lang
  • Blind Man (uncredited): Stevenson Lang
  • Leper (uncredited): Tutte Lemkow
  • The Lubian (uncredited): Cliff Lyons
  • Roman at Bath (uncredited): Tiberio Mitri
  • Decurian (uncredited): Remington Olmsted
  • Joseph (uncredited): Laurence Payne
  • Bad Thief on Cross (uncredited): Aldo Pini
  • Villager (uncredited): Diego Pozzetto
  • Amrah (uncredited): Stella Rho
  • Supplier to Leper Colony (uncredited): Edwin Richfield
  • Officer (uncredited): Hector Ross
  • Rower No. 43 (uncredited): Maxwell Shaw
  • Galley Officer (uncredited): Gianni Solaro
  • Pilate's Servant (uncredited): Pietro Tordi
  • Old Man (uncredited): Raimondo Van Riel
  • Jailer (uncredited): Dervis Ward
  • The Egyptian - Chariot Racer (uncredited): Joe Yrigoyen
  • Roman Soldier with a Bow on Galley (uncredited): Nazzareno Zamperla
  • The Corinthian (uncredited): Jerry Brown
  • The Athenian (uncredited): Eddie Jauregui
  • Galley Guard on Ship (uncredited): Gianni Di Segni

Film Crew:

  • Storyboard: Harold Michelson
  • Supervising Sound Editor: Van Allen James
  • Casting: Irene Howard
  • Original Music Composer: Miklós Rózsa
  • Editorial Services: Fredric Steinkamp
  • Art Direction: William A. Horning
  • Assistant Art Director: Ken Adam
  • Producer: William Wyler
  • Novel: Lew Wallace
  • Screenplay: Karl Tunberg
  • Producer: Sam Zimbalist
  • Director of Photography: Robert Surtees
  • Editor: John D. Dunning
  • Editor: Ralph E. Winters
  • Production Design: Vittorio Valentini
  • Art Direction: Edward C. Carfagno
  • Set Decoration: Hugh Hunt
  • Costume Design: Elizabeth Haffenden
  • Hair Setup: Gabriella Borzelli
  • Makeup Artist: Charles E. Parker
  • Unit Production Manager: Edward Woehler
  • Executive Producer: Sol C. Siegel
  • Writer: Gore Vidal
  • Sound Recordist: William Steinkamp
  • Orchestrator: Eugene Zador
  • Recording Supervision: Franklin Milton
  • Additional Writing: Christopher Fry
  • Visual Effects: A. Arnold Gillespie
  • Additional Writing: Maxwell Anderson
  • Additional Writing: S. N. Behrman
  • Additional Editing: Margaret Booth
  • Stunts: David Sharpe
  • Additional Photography: Harold E. Wellman
  • Color Timer: Charles K. Hagedon
  • Assistant Director: Alberto Cardone
  • Color Timer: Joan Bridge
  • Production Manager: J.J. Cohn
  • Production Manager: Henry Henigson
  • Additional Photography: Piero Portalupi
  • First Assistant Camera: Edward Wahrman
  • Special Effects: Umberto Dessena
  • Stunts: Mickey Gilbert
  • Painter: Italo Tomassi
  • Sound Recordist: Sash Fisher
  • Special Effects: Doug Hubbard
  • Visual Effects: R.A. MacDonald
  • Stunts: Jerry Brown
  • Stunts: Eddie Jauregui
  • Stunts: Tap Canutt

Movie Reviews:

  • John Chard: Majestic in scope and story telling.

    The truth is, is that Ben-Hur deserved every award that was showered upon it. It's a titanic film both in structure and scope. It doesn't need me to go over old ground about how much the film cost to make, the number of extras, the number of sets and etc, it's now folklore that this film could have bankrupted MGM such was the investment, but they needn't have worried since the film went on to make 40 million and still counting.

    Every cent spent was worth it because it's a magnificent film, the kind that you can get swept away with, the minute the overture starts you feel little tingles as the hairs on your arms stand up on end, you are aware that for over three hours director William Wyler and lead actor Charlton Heston are going to own you.

    The story centres around Judah Ben-Hur (Heston) who through his staunch loyalty to the Jewish race falls out with his dear Roman friend Messala (Stephen Boyd). He is dispatched to be a slave in the galleys and swears revenge on Messala. After pirates attack the ship he is slaved on, he manages to escape and in the process he saves Roman Admiral Quintus Arrius (Jack Hawkins) and this sets Juda on his destiny to enact revenge on his old friend as Quintus makes him a citizen of Rome.

    It sounds so simple yet it's a story of the highest order because crucial to the film's core strength is Judah's encounters with Christ, and it's only during the harsh and upsetting final reel that we realise the whole point of the film. There's also strong themes involving family love and loyalty, friendships formed or broken under race and creed banners, and of course religious beliefs and all that comes with that kettle of fish...

    It's epic, it's simply beautiful, it's actually essential viewing for any serious cinema fan, the film's set pieces are still wondrous even today. You will marvel at the chariot race (a stunning 20 minutes long), you will hoist the flag during the pirate attack, and if you have the emotion in you? You will be hit with sombre silence as Christ is crucified. Come the closing music I personally feel like clapping such is the appreciation I have for this truly wonderful film, if you haven't seen it then make a point of doing so because everything that is great about cinema is right here. 10/10

  • sykobanana: What can be said about this film that hasnt already been said?
    I could (justly) use every superlative known and it still does not cover just how amazing this film is. It is the essence of EPIC (and not just historical epic).
    It is easy to see why it was not matched in the number of Oscars given for 50 years (and those 'equals' did not include any acting oscars and had more categories to choose from).

    I first watched this as a kid and struggled to stay awake to see the end late at night. And despite it not having the spectacle of say the Ten Commandments, it became a favourite which I have watched over and over again.

    I adore everything in this film - from the gritty stoic-ness of Heston's acting and cockiness of Boyd's, the fleshed out minor characters, the jaw-dropping sets, stirring score from Rozsa, the stunning costumes and of course to the incredible set pieces.

    This is film perfection that does not feel like its (nearly) 4 hour run time.