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IMDbPro

Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

Original title: Ben-Hur A Tale of the Christ
  • 19251925
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 2h 23m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
7.6K
YOUR RATING
Ramon Novarro and Carmel Myers in Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925)
A Jewish prince seeks to find his family and revenge himself upon his childhood friend who had him wrongly imprisoned.
Play trailer3:10
1 Video
69 Photos
  • Adventure
  • Drama
  • Romance
A Jewish prince seeks to find his family and revenge himself upon his childhood friend who had him wrongly imprisoned.A Jewish prince seeks to find his family and revenge himself upon his childhood friend who had him wrongly imprisoned.A Jewish prince seeks to find his family and revenge himself upon his childhood friend who had him wrongly imprisoned.
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
7.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • Fred Niblo
    • Charles Brabin(uncredited)
    • Christy Cabanne(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • Lew Wallace(novel 'Ben-Hur, 1880' by)
    • June Mathis(adaptation)
    • Carey Wilson(scenario)
  • Stars
    • Ramon Novarro
    • Francis X. Bushman
    • May McAvoy
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Fred Niblo
    • Charles Brabin(uncredited)
    • Christy Cabanne(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • Lew Wallace(novel 'Ben-Hur, 1880' by)
    • June Mathis(adaptation)
    • Carey Wilson(scenario)
  • Stars
    • Ramon Novarro
    • Francis X. Bushman
    • May McAvoy
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 61User reviews
    • 29Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 3:10
    Trailer

    Photos69

    Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925)
    Claire McDowell in Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925)
    Ramon Novarro in Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925)
    Ramon Novarro and May McAvoy in Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925)
    Ramon Novarro in Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925)
    Ramon Novarro and May McAvoy in Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925)
    Ramon Novarro, Francis X. Bushman, and May McAvoy in Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925)
    Ramon Novarro and Carmel Myers in Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925)
    Window Card, 14 x 22
    Ramon Novarro and May McAvoy in Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925)
    Ramon Novarro and May McAvoy in Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925)
    Ramon Novarro and Claire McDowell in Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ramon Novarro
    Ramon Novarro
    • Ben-Huras Ben-Hur
    Francis X. Bushman
    Francis X. Bushman
    • Messalaas Messala
    May McAvoy
    May McAvoy
    • Estheras Esther
    Betty Bronson
    Betty Bronson
    • Maryas Mary
    Claire McDowell
    Claire McDowell
    • Princess of Huras Princess of Hur
    Kathleen Key
    Kathleen Key
    • Tirzahas Tirzah
    Carmel Myers
    Carmel Myers
    • Irasas Iras
    Nigel De Brulier
    Nigel De Brulier
    • Simonidesas Simonides
    • (as Nigel de Brulier)
    Mitchell Lewis
    Mitchell Lewis
    • Sheik Ilderimas Sheik Ilderim
    Leo White
    Leo White
    • Sanballatas Sanballat
    Frank Currier
    Frank Currier
    • Arriusas Arrius
    Charles Belcher
    Charles Belcher
    • Balthazaras Balthazar
    Dale Fuller
    Dale Fuller
    • Amrahas Amrah
    Winter Hall
    Winter Hall
    • Josephas Joseph
    Reginald Barker
    Reginald Barker
    • Chariot Race Spectatoras Chariot Race Spectator
    • (uncredited)
    John Barrymore
    John Barrymore
    • Chariot Race Spectatoras Chariot Race Spectator
    • (uncredited)
    Lionel Barrymore
    Lionel Barrymore
    • Chariot Race Spectatoras Chariot Race Spectator
    • (uncredited)
    Clarence Brown
    Clarence Brown
    • Chariot Race Spectatoras Chariot Race Spectator
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Fred Niblo
      • Charles Brabin(uncredited)
      • Christy Cabanne(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Lew Wallace(novel 'Ben-Hur, 1880' by)
      • June Mathis(adaptation)
      • Carey Wilson(scenario)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This film had an "extra" cast like no other. Many Hollywood stars showed up on set to watch the shooting and were pressed into service as extras, especially in the chariot race. In addition, many who would later become Hollywood's top stars, but who were at the time just struggling actors, were also in the crowd scenes as extras. Among well-known and soon-to-be-well-known names "working" in the film were John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore, Joan Crawford, Gary Cooper, Marion Davies, Myrna Loy, John Gilbert, Douglas Fairbanks, Clark Gable, Harold Lloyd, Carole Lombard, Janet Gaynor, Fay Wray, Mary Pickford, Colleen Moore, Lillian Gish, Dorothy Gish, Samuel Goldwyn and Rupert Julian.
    • Goofs
      At one point in the chariot race a man in modern clothing - light-colored shirt, long pants, dark shoes - can be seen running out of the crowd onto the track and waving his arms at the camera. That was assistant director William Wyler, who saw that one of the chariots - out of camera range - was approaching the curve of the track too fast and Wyler was signaling the director to have the crew cleaning up a crashed chariot to get out of the way.
    • Quotes

      Jerusalem citizen: What chance has a Jew against a Roman?

    • Alternate versions
      Music and sound effects were dubbed into the silent film for a 1931 re-release.
    • Connections
      Edited into Hollywood: The Dream Factory (1972)

    User reviews61

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Surprisingly wonderful
    Since I was so impressed the the 1959 version of this film, I figured there was no way I could watch this 1925 version and not be let down by it. Not only is this original adaptation very good, but it stands very strongly next to the heralded remake. In some regards, I enjoyed this adaptation better than the remake. Romon Navarro makes an excellent title character. The highlight of this film for me is early on when the star of Bethlehem is formed. Eye-popping visuals especially considering the time they were produced. It blows away any CGI we have today.

    The version I saw of this was the newly scored version by Carl Davis, who continues to impress me with his scores for silent films including those he has written for "Greed", "Safety Last", "The Crowd", "Intolerance", "The Phantom of the Opera", and "The Wind".
    helpful•20
    2
    • mr composer
    • Dec 24, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 8, 1927 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • None
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ben-Hur
    • Filming locations
      • Iverson Ranch - 1 Iverson Lane, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,950,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 23 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Silent
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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