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Ben Hur Details

1959 Certificate PG
  • 70
  • from 8275 members

This 1959 version of Lew Wallace's best-selling novel, which had already seen screen versions in 1907 and 1926, went on to win 11 Academy Awards. Adapted by Karl Tunberg and a raft of uncredited writers including Gore Vidal and Maxwell Anderson, the film once more recounts the tale of Jewish prince Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton .. Read more

Starring Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Stephen Boyd, Hugh Griffith
Director William Wyler
Genres Action/Adventure

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Ben Hur

This 1959 version of Lew Wallace's best-selling novel, which had already seen screen versions in 1907 and 1926, went on to win 11 Academy Awards. Adapted by Karl Tunberg and a raft of uncredited writers including Gore Vidal and Maxwell Anderson, the film once more recounts the tale of Jewish prince Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston), who lives in Judea with his family during the time that Jesus Christ was becoming known for his radical teachings. Ben-Hur's childhood friend Messala (Stephen Boyd) is now an ambitious Roman tribune; when Ben-Hur refuses to help Messala round up local dissidents on behalf of the emperor, Messala pounces on the first opportunity to exact revenge on his onetime friend. Tried on a trumped-up charge of attempting to kill the provincial governor (whose head was accidentally hit by a falling tile), Ben-Hur is condemned to the Roman galleys, while his mother (Martha Scott) and sister (Cathy O'Donnell) are imprisoned. But during a sea battle, Ben-Hur saves the life of commander Quintus Arrius (Jack Hawkins), who, in gratitude, adopts Ben-Hur as his son and gives him full control over his stable of racing horses. Ben-Hur never gives up trying to find his family or exact revenge on Messala. At crucial junctures in his life, he also crosses the path of Jesus, and each time he benefits from it. The highlight of the film's 212 minutes is its now-legendary chariot race, staged largely by stunt expert Yakima Canutt. Ben-Hur's Oscar haul included Best Picture, Best Director for the legendary William Wyler, Best Actor for Heston, and Best Supporting Actor for Welsh actor Hugh Griffith as an Arab sheik.~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Starring Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Stephen Boyd, Hugh Griffith, Martha Scott, Sam Jaffe, Finlay Currie, Terence Longdon, Andre Morell, George Relph, Frank Thring, Cathy O'Donnell, Haya Harareet
Director William Wyler
Studio WARNER HOME VIDEO
Run time DVD: 3 hrs 33 mins
Blu-ray: 3 hrs 33 mins
Certificate Certificate PG
Collections 100 Swords and Sandals Films, American Film Institute's top 100, Best Picture Oscar Winners
Genres Action/Adventure
Language DVD: English
Blu-ray: English
Dubbed French
Hearing-impaired English
Subtitles DVD: Bulgarian, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Romanian, Spanish
Released Production year: 1959

To Rent:
DVD: 01 Nov 2001
Blu-ray: 26 Sep 2011

Ben Hur (1959)

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  • Sign up Certificate PG Ben Hur - Feature

    Anno Domini: the seventh year of Augustus Caesar's reign. In the Roman province of Judea, Jews return to the c...

  • Sign up Certificate PG Ben Hur - Bonus Features

    Anno Domini: the seventh year of Augustus Caesar's reign. In the Roman province of Judea, Jews return to the c...

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Rating breakdown

8,275 Member ratings
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868
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  • 70
1,557
  • 60
1,339
  • 50
677
  • 40
343
  • 30
232
  • 20
191
  • 10
98

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    • Ben-Hur - Blu-ray

    • Ben-Hur - Blu-ray
      Anno Domini: the seventh year of Augustus Caesar's reign. In the Roman province of Judea, Jews return to the city of their birth for the census. A bright star in the night over Bethlehem marks the birth of Jesus Christ. Years later, Roman commander Messala (Stephen Boyd), who was brought up in ...
    • Ben Hur

    • Ben Hur
      This 1959 version of Lew Wallace's best-selling novel, which had already seen screen versions in 1907 and 1926, went on to win 11 Academy Awards. Adapted by Karl Tunberg and a raft of uncredited writers including Gore Vidal and Maxwell Anderson, the film once more recounts the tale of Jewish prince ...

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