IMDb > Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925)
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
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Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
8.0/10   4,824 votes »
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Down 11% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Fred Niblo
(more)
Writers:
Lew Wallace (by)
June Mathis (adaptation)
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
8 October 1927 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Action | Adventure | Drama | History | Romance See more »
Tagline:
The Picture Every Christian Ought to See! See more »
Plot:
Erstwhile childhood friends, Judah Ben-Hur and Messala meet again as adults, this time with Roman officer Messala as conqueror and Judah as a wealthy... See more » | Add synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
1 win See more »
NewsDesk:
(24 articles)
The history of MGM: the golden era
 (From Den of Geek. 24 January 2012, 3:12 AM, PST)
Frederica Sagor Maas, 1900 - 2012
 (From MUBI. 8 January 2012, 1:49 PM, PST)
Frederica Sagor Pt.2: Women Screenwriters in 1920s Hollywood
 (From Alt Film Guide. 6 January 2012, 7:03 PM, PST)
User Reviews:
A Blockbuster Even After 75 Years See more (45 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Ramon Novarro ... Judah Ben-Hur

Francis X. Bushman ... Messala
May McAvoy ... Esther
Betty Bronson ... Mary
Claire McDowell ... Princess of Hur
Kathleen Key ... Tirzah
Carmel Myers ... Iras
Nigel De Brulier ... Simonides (as Nigel de Brulier)
Mitchell Lewis ... Sheik Ilderim
Leo White ... Sanballat
Frank Currier ... Arrius
Charles Belcher ... Balthazar
Dale Fuller ... Amrah
Winter Hall ... Joseph
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Reginald Barker ... Crowd Extra in Chariot Race (uncredited)

John Barrymore ... Crowd Extra in Chariot Race (uncredited)

Lionel Barrymore ... Crowd Extra in Chariot Race (uncredited)
Clarence Brown ... Crowd Extra in Chariot Race (uncredited)
Gilbert Clayton ... Extra (uncredited)

Gary Cooper ... Roman Guard (uncredited)

Joan Crawford ... Crowd Extra in Chariot Race (uncredited)

Marion Davies ... Crowd Extra in Chariot Race (uncredited)
William Donovan ... Driver of Corinthian Team of Bays in Chariot Race (uncredited)
Ray Erlenborn ... Extra (uncredited)

Douglas Fairbanks ... Crowd Extra in Chariot Race (uncredited)

George Fitzmaurice ... Crowd Extra in Chariot Race (uncredited)
Sidney Franklin ... Crowd Extra in Chariot Race (uncredited)

Clark Gable ... Roman Guard (uncredited)

Rosita Garcia ... Slave Girl (uncredited)

Janet Gaynor ... Slave Girl (uncredited)

John Gilbert ... Crowd Extra in Chariot Race (uncredited)

Dorothy Gish ... Crowd Extra in Chariot Race (uncredited)

Lillian Gish ... Crowd Extra in Chariot Race (uncredited)

Samuel Goldwyn ... Crowd Extra in Chariot Race (uncredited)
Harry Gordon ... Centurion (uncredited)
Sid Grauman ... Crowd Extra in Chariot Race (uncredited)
William Green ... Extra (uncredited)
Noble Johnson ... Crowd Extra (uncredited)
Joyzelle Joyner ... Slave Girl (unconfirmed) (uncredited)

Rupert Julian ... Crowd Extra in Chariot Race (uncredited)
Henry King ... Crowd Extra in Chariot Race (uncredited)

Harold Lloyd ... Crowd Extra in Chariot Race (uncredited)

Carole Lombard ... Slave Girl (uncredited)

Myrna Loy ... Slave Girl (uncredited)
Cliff Lyons ... Chariot Driver (uncredited)
Mickey Millerick ... Extra (uncredited)
Carlotta Monti ... Slave Girl (uncredited)

Colleen Moore ... Crowd Extra in Chariot Race (uncredited)
Claude Payton ... Jesus (uncredited)

Mary Pickford ... Crowd Extra in Chariot Race (uncredited)
Sally Rand ... Slave Girl (unconfirmed) (uncredited)
Leonora Summers ... Extra (uncredited)
Tom Tyler ... Chariot Driver (uncredited)

Fay Wray ... Slave Girl (unconfirmed) (uncredited)
Christiane Yves ... Hedonist (uncredited)
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Directed by
Fred Niblo 
Charles Brabin (uncredited)
Christy Cabanne (uncredited)
J.J. Cohn (uncredited)
Rex Ingram (uncredited)
 
Writing credits
Lew Wallace (by) (as General Lew Wallace)

June Mathis (adaptation)

Carey Wilson (scenario)

Carey Wilson (continuity) and
Bess Meredyth (continuity)

Katherine Hilliker (titles) (as Katharine Hilliker) and
H.H. Caldwell (titles)

Produced by
Kevin Brownlow .... producer (1987 restored version)
David Gill .... producer (1987 restored version)
J.J. Cohn .... producer (uncredited)
Samuel Goldwyn .... producer (uncredited)
Louis B. Mayer .... producer (uncredited)
Irving Thalberg .... producer (uncredited)
 
Original Music by
Carl Davis (music by) (1987 restored version)
William Axt (uncredited)
David Mendoza (uncredited)
 
Cinematography by
Clyde De Vinna (photography by) (as Clyde DeVinna)
René Guissart (photography by) (as Rene Guissart)
Percy Hilburn (photography by)
Karl Struss (photography by)
Glenn Kershner (uncredited)
 
Film Editing by
Lloyd Nosler (film editor)
 
Casting by
Robert McIntyre (uncredited)
 
Art Direction by
Horace Jackson (uncredited)
Harry Oliver (uncredited)
 
Set Decoration by
Cedric Gibbons (settings)
Horace Jackson (settings)
Edwin B. Willis (uncredited)
 
Makeup Department
Max Factor .... body makeup artist (uncredited)
George Westmore .... makeup artist (uncredited)
 
Production Management
Liz Sutherland .... production manager (1987 restored version)
Harry E. Edington .... production manager (uncredited)
Dave Friedman .... unit production manager (uncredited)
Lawrence Marston .... production supervisor (uncredited)
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles Stallings .... assistant director
Silas Clegg .... assistant director (uncredited)
B. Reeves Eason .... second unit director (uncredited)
Henry Hathaway .... assistant director (uncredited)
Al Lena .... assistant director (uncredited)
William Wyler .... assistant director (uncredited)
 
Art Department
Ferdinand P. Earle .... art effects
Carl Bolzic .... plasterer (uncredited)
Ferdinand P. Earle .... assistant art director (uncredited)
A. Arnold Gillespie .... set designer (uncredited)
Harold Grieve .... set designer (uncredited)
Andrew MacDonald .... set constructor (uncredited)
Camillo Mastrocinque .... art director: Italy (uncredited)
E.H. Tate .... painter (uncredited)
C.F. Wilhelm .... construction coordinator (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Dave Evans .... dubbing editor (1987 restored version)
Mike Fairbairn .... dubbing editor (1987 restored version)
 
Special Effects by
A. Arnold Gillespie .... special effects
 
Visual Effects by
Paul Eagler .... trick photography (uncredited)
Ferdinand P. Earle .... visual effects (uncredited)
Kenneth Gordon MacLean .... miniatures (uncredited)
Frank D. Williams .... traveling matte shots (uncredited)
 
Stunts
B. Reeves Eason .... stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Buster Gallagher .... stunt double: Ramon Novarro (uncredited)
Frank McGrath .... stunt performer (uncredited)
Mickey Millerick .... stunts (uncredited)
David Sharpe .... stunts (uncredited)
Spike Spackman .... stunts (uncredited)
Tom Tyler .... stunts (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Silvano Balboni .... camera operator (uncredited)
John W. Boyle .... camera operator (uncredited)
Edoardo Bragaglia .... still photographer: Rome (uncredited)
Clarence Sinclair Bull .... still photographer (uncredited)
Paul Ivano .... director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Donald Biddle Keyes .... still photographer (uncredited)
Louis Kolb .... chief electrician (uncredited)
Ruth Harriet Louise .... still photographer (uncredited)
D.W. Martinelli .... additional photographer (uncredited)
George Meehan .... camera operator (uncredited)
George Gordon Nogle .... camera operator: second unit (uncredited)
Cliff Shirpser .... assistant camera (uncredited)
E. Burton Steene .... camera operator (uncredited)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mrs. E.F. Chaffin .... wardrobe supervisor (uncredited)
Erté .... costumes: Carmel Myers (uncredited)
 
Editorial Department
Grant Goodwin .... videotape editor (1987 restored version)
Ron Sayer .... tinting effects (1987 restored version)
Renata Bernabei .... assistant editor (uncredited)
Irene Coletta .... assistant editor (uncredited)
William Holmes .... assistant editor (uncredited)
Ben Lewis .... assistant editor (uncredited)
Harry Reynolds .... assistant editor (uncredited)
Aubrey Scotto .... assistant editor (uncredited)
Basil Wrangell .... assistant editor (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Richard Bradford .... music recordist (1987 restored version)
Carl Davis .... conductor (1987 restored version)
Colin Matthews .... orchestrator (1987 restored version)
David Matthews .... orchestrator (1987 restored version)
David Nolan .... leader: The London Philharmonic Orchestra (1987 restored version)
Maurice Baron .... orchestrator (uncredited)
Edward Bowes .... composer: theme music (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Charles B. Dillingham .... produced by arrangement with
B. Reeves Eason .... directorial associate (as Reeves Eason)
Abraham L. Erlanger .... produced by arrangement with
Mickey Harding .... production assistant (1987 restored version) (as Micky Harding)
Alfred Raboch .... directorial associate (as Alfred L. Raboch)
Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. .... produced by arrangement with
Colonel Braden .... technical advisor (uncredited)
Ferdinand P. Earle .... director: Nativity scene (uncredited)
Henry Hathaway .... assisitant: Mr. Eason (uncredited)
Herbert Howe .... publicist: Mr. Novarro (uncredited)
Mrs. M.F. Lee .... script reader (uncredited)
John M. Nickolaus .... laboratory supervisor (uncredited)
Emma Peterson .... set medic (uncredited)
Miss Remington .... copyist (uncredited)
Miss Underwood .... copyist (uncredited)
William Wyler .... assisitant: Mr. Eason (uncredited)
 
Crew believed to be complete


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Additional Details

Also Known As:
"Ben-Hur" - USA (short title)
See more »
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
143 min | Germany:151 min (restored version)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (2-strip Technicolor) (some sequences) | Black and White (tinted)
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Silent
Certification:
Finland:S | Ireland:G | UK:PG | Norway:A | Brazil:10 | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Sweden:15
Filming Locations:
Anzio, Rome, Lazio, ItalySee more »
Company:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)See more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
Producer Irving Thalberg was short of "hedonist slave girls", so he called up Hal Roach and Mack Sennett to ask a favor: to loan out their famous "Bathing Beauties". They were happy to oblige, as many girls were making their film debuts. Among the group of 20 or so girls who eventually appeared in the film: Janet Gaynor, Carole Lombard, Fay Wray and Joyzelle Joyner.See more »
Goofs:
Factual errors: When Ben Hur first sees Jesus and is given water, Jesus seems to be standing upright, but the arm giving Ben Hur the water seems to be be coming from originating from around his knee.See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Jeopardy!: 2010 Tournament of Champions Finals: Game 2 (#26.180)" (2010)See more »

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User Reviews

   (Review this title)
26 out of 28 people found the following review useful.
A Blockbuster Even After 75 Years, 8 November 1999
Author: gbheron from Washington, DC

The 2 1/2 hour running time just zips by in a flash, and the viewer actually forgets that they are watching a silent film. It's that good. The naval battle and the chariot race are so realistic you marvel at what filmmakers could do 75 years ago with a big budget in the hands of craftsmen. The acting is very good although the "silent" style seems a little over-acted today. I can't recommend this enough as a rental. Let's not forget our wonderful silent classics.

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Message Boards

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Iras 398
Technicolor - rhyme or reason gribfritz2
Just saw it FRANKDRAFTING
Two different Thames Silent versions angmc43
francis x height 8334148
Carl Davis reprising KING DAVID in his score. angmc43
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