Ben Hur

I often wonder why anyone makes a movie that is centered around racing, because nothing will ever top this. Ben-Hur is the definition of an epic and it achieve things on a scale that most modern day blockbusters dream of. Not only does it tell a grand story but it also tells a touching and personal one about peace and forgiveness.

Production

Directed by William Wyler

Produced by Sam Zimbalist

Screenplay by Karl Tunberg

Based on Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ by General Lew Wallace

Starring Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Haya Harareet, Stephen Boyd, Hugh Griffith, Martha Scott, Cathy O'Donnell, Sam Jaffe

Narrated by Finlay Currie

Music by Miklós Rózsa

Cinematography by Robert L. Surtees

Edited by John D. Dunning, Ralph E. Winters

Production company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Distribution & Stats

Distributed by Loew's, Inc.

Release date: November 18, 1959

Running time: 212 minutes

Country: United States

Language: English

Budget: $15.2 million

Box office: $146.9 million (initial release)