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Ben-Hur (1959)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
10 December 1959 (Argentina)
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Tagline:
A Tale of the Christ more
Plot:
When a Jewish prince is betrayed and sent into slavery by a Roman friend, he regains his freedom and comes back for revenge. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Won 11 Oscars.
Another 17 wins
&
5 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(25 articles)
Classic Cameos: Charlton Heston in 'Wayne's World 2'
(From Cinematical. 22 September 2009, 5:02 PM, PDT)
Fresh Release: The Believers by J. Peter Robinson
(From Daily Film Music Blog. 1 September 2009, 12:58 AM, PDT)
(From Cinematical. 22 September 2009, 5:02 PM, PDT)
Fresh Release: The Believers by J. Peter Robinson
(From Daily Film Music Blog. 1 September 2009, 12:58 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Quite simply the finest epic movie of all time
more (279 total)
US TV Schedule:
Cast
(Complete credited cast)| Charlton Heston | ... | Judah Ben-Hur | |
| Jack Hawkins | ... | Quintus Arrius | |
| Haya Harareet | ... | Esther | |
| Stephen Boyd | ... | Messala | |
| Hugh Griffith | ... | Sheik Ilderim | |
| Martha Scott | ... | Miriam | |
| Cathy O'Donnell | ... | Tirzah | |
| Sam Jaffe | ... | Simonides | |
| Finlay Currie | ... | Balthasar / Narrator | |
| Frank Thring | ... | Pontius Pilate | |
| Terence Longdon | ... | Drusus | |
| George Relph | ... | Tiberius Caesar | |
| André Morell | ... | Sextus |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (USA) (alternative title)
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Parents Guide:
Runtime:
212 min | Sweden:219 min (1970) | Sweden:224 min (1962) | UK:222 min (1993 re-release) | 214 min (DVD edition)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.76 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) (Westrex Recording System) |
Dolby (1993 re-release)
Certification:
Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) |
Canada:PG (Ontario) |
Portugal:M/12 |
China:(Banned) |
South Korea:All |
Brazil:12 |
USA:Approved (certificate #19158) (original rating) |
Canada:G (video rating) |
New Zealand:PG |
Argentina:Atp |
Australia:G |
Australia:PG (alternate rating) |
Chile:TE |
Finland:K-12 |
France:U |
Netherlands:AL |
Norway:11 |
Norway:12 (1959) |
Peru:PT |
Spain:T |
Sweden:15 |
UK:A (original rating) |
UK:PG (video rating) (1988) |
USA:G (re-rating) (1969) |
West Germany:16 |
Iceland:12
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
An infirmary was created especially for the filming of the dangerous chariot race scenes. However, in the end, very few injuries were actually sustained, most of them being sunburns.
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Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: Just before the Roman galley is rammed, the condemned men behind Ben-Hur are clearly dummies.
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Quotes:
[first lines]
Balthasar: [narrating] In the Year of our Lord, Judea - for nearly a century - had lain under the mastery of Rome. In the seventh year of the reign of Augustus Caesar, an imperial decree ordered every Judean each to return to his place of birth to be counted and taxed. The converging ways of many of them led to the gates of their capital city...
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Balthasar: [narrating] In the Year of our Lord, Judea - for nearly a century - had lain under the mastery of Rome. In the seventh year of the reign of Augustus Caesar, an imperial decree ordered every Judean each to return to his place of birth to be counted and taxed. The converging ways of many of them led to the gates of their capital city...
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis: For Whom the Wedding Bell Tolls (#3.17)" (1962)
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FAQ
A NOTE REGARDING SPOILERSmore
more (279 total)
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What can you say about this film? It has everything, magnificent script, superb acting ,and the most famous chariot race in Hollywood history. Although the chariot race is the centrepiece of this spectacular ,it is by no means the only highlight.Ben Hur (Charlton Heston) is the victim of a terrible miscarriage of justice on himself and family ,and his dramatic adventures in the desert, at sea and finally back in Rome are just brimming with highlights. At the same time his meetings with Christ just add to the Wonderful drama that enfolds in this movie.It has a magnificent musical score which just adds to the drama,and I suspect the climax of the film would only leave the stone hearted unmoved.It has other great stars who make this a must see film ,particularly Jack Hawkins,Hugh Griffith and Stephen Boyd.
This is the sort of film Gladiator should have been but wasn't (what a waste). Still we'll always have Ben Hur to enjoy.