Ben-Hur | Hitchens Virtual Theatre

The numbers speak volumes: 100,000 costumes, 8,000 extras, 300 sets and a staggering budget in its day the largest in movie history. Ben-Hur's creators made it the best, the greatest Biblical-era epic ever. Charlton Heston brings a muscular physical and moral presence to the role of Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish nobleman in Palestine whose heroic odyssey includes enslavement by the Romans, a bold escape from an embattled slave galley, vengeance against his tormentors during a furious arena chariot race and fateful encounters with Jesus Christ. Heston's charismatic performance brought him the Best Actor Oscar; the winner as 1959's Best Picture with the legendary William Wyler earning his third Best Director trophy, the film won a total 11 Academy Awards -- a tally unequaled until 1997's Titanic set sail.

Production Year:

1959

Released:

Tue, 09/13/2005

Run Time Minutes:

222

Rating:

Genres:

Classic

Genres:

Adventure

Genres:

Drama

Trailer:

Format Aspect Ratio:

2.76

Resolution:

480x720 LowRez

Resolution:

720x1280 HiRez

Audio Language:

English

Audio Format:

Dolby Digital

Audio Channels:

5.1

Actors:

Charlton Heston - Judah Ben-Hur

Actors:

Jack Hawkins - Quintus Arrius

Actors:

Haya Harareet - Esther

Actors:

Stephen Boyd - Messala

Actors:

Hugh Griffith - Sheik Ilderim

Actors:

Martha Scott - Miriam

Actors:

Cathy O'Donnell - Tirzah

Actors:

Sam Jaffe - Simonides

Actors:

Finlay Currie - Balthasar

Actors:

Frank Thring - Pontius Pilate

Actors:

Terence Longdon - Drusus

Actors:

George Relph - Tiberius

Actors:

Andr? Morell - Sextus

Actors:

Edward J. Auregul - Athenian

Actors:

Ady Berber - Malluch

Actors:

Marina Berti - Flavia

Actors:

Hugh Billingsley - Mario

Actors:

Jerry Brown - The Corinthian

Actors:

Robert Brown - Chief of Rowers

Actors:

Lando Buzzanca - Jew Slave in Desert

Actors:

Joe Canutt - Sportsman

Actors:

Otello Capanna - The Byzantine

Actors:

Emile Carrer - Rower No. 28

Actors:

Richard Coleman - Metellus

Actors:

Michael Cosmo - Raimondo

Actors:

Alfredo Danesi - Armenian

Actors:

David Davies - Quaestor

Actors:

Victor De La Fosse - Galley Officer

Actors:

Mino Doro - Gratus

Actors:

Michael Dugan - Seaman

Actors:

Dino Fazio - Marcello

Actors:

Enzo Fiermonte - Galley Officer

Actors:

Giuliano Gemma - Roman in the Baths

Actors:

John Glenn - Rower No. 42

Actors:

Jos? Greci - Mary

Actors:

Richard Hale - Gaspar

Actors:

Claude Heater - The Christ

Actors:

John Horsley - Spintho

Actors:

Bill Kuehl - Soldier

Actors:

Duncan Lamont - Marius

Actors:

Howard Lang - Hortator

Actors:

Stevenson Lang - Blind Man

Actors:

John Le Mesurier - Doctor

Actors:

Tutte Lemkow - Leper

Actors:

Cliff Lyons - Lublon

Actors:

Luigi Marra - Syrian

Actors:

Ferdy Mayne - Captain Rescue Ship

Actors:

Tiberio Mitri - Roman at Bath

Actors:

Aldo Mozele - Barca

Actors:

Thomas O'Leary - Starter at Race

Actors:

Remington Olmstead - Decurian

Actors:

Laurence Payne - Joseph

Actors:

Aldo Pial - Cavalry Officer

Actors:

Aldo Pini - Bad Thief on Cross

Actors:

Diego Pozzetto - Villager

Actors:

Hector Ross - Officer

Actors:

Maxwell Shaw - Rower No. 43

Actors:

Noel Sheldon - Centurion

Actors:

Aldo Silvani - Man in Nazareth

Actors:

Reginald Lal Singh - Melchior

Actors:

Pietro Tordi - Pilate's Servant

Actors:

Ralph Truman - Aide to Tiberius

Actors:

Raimondo Van Riel - Old Man

Actors:

Stella Vitelleschi - Amrah

Actors:

Dervis Ward - Jailer

Actors:

Joe Yrigoyen - Egyptian