Ben-Hur: Cleans Up The Oscars

It was on this date in 1960 that the epic movie Ben-Hur took home 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, a feat that still has yet to be bested (“Titanic” and “Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King” have equaled it)

Clocking in at 3 and a half hours, this was an amazing feat of cinematography. The chariot scene alone took 3 months to film and utilized 15,000 extras! MGM was in danger of going into bankruptcy, so producing this movie was most definitely a gamble. The cost of $15 million to make was the largest in history at the time (although it has reportedly grossed over $90 million, so a decent investment, no?)

Directed by William Wyler, it is this film more than any other that cemented Charlton Heston’s reputation as a mega-movie star. As the future President of the National Rifle Association, I suppose it wouldn’t have helped the storyline if he had merely pulled an AK-47 out and mowed down the Roman gladiators that way. Instead, he did it the old fashioned way—and the religious theme of the movie makes it something that probably could never get produced today.

Aside from the most dangerous stunts, the actors drove their own chariots-and Heston spent a month learning to operate his. There were number of actors up for the lead role, including Burt Lancaster (who stated that he didn’t like the violence in the fim), Paul Newman (who said he didn’t have the legs to wear a tunic), Rock Hudson and even Leslie Nielsen!

Check out Nielsen’s screen test!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV1gKKXZfvE

Here is the original trailer for the movie:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlzfqVtmxVA

And here is the epic, defining scene, the incredible chariot race:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpoKdPNM10M&feature=related


Kirk Douglas was actually interested in playing the lead role, but was turned down in favor of Heston. He was inspired to play the lead in a similar era movie, “Spartacus” a year later.


Filmed on over 300 sets covering over 300 acres, it’s likely that the cost of production alone today (given the lack of computer-generated special effects) might make the movie a bad money equation in 2011. It is, however, a masterpiece for its time—and thanks to digital re-enhancement, a movie that will be forever enjoyed.


If you’d like my blog in your box, just let me know! Tim.moore@citcomm.com