Ben-Hur (1959 movie) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Ben-Hur
Original theatrical poster by Reynold Brown
Directed by	William Wyler
Produced by	Sam Zimbalist
Screenplay by	Karl Tunberg
Narrated by	Finlay Currie
Starring	Charlton Heston Jack Hawkins Haya Harareet Stephen Boyd Hugh Griffith Martha Scott Cathy O'Donnell Sam Jaffe
Music by	Miklós Rózsa
Cinematography	Robert L. Surtees
Editing by	John D. Dunning Ralph E. Winters
Studio	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Distributed by	Loew's, Inc.
Release date(s)	November 18, 1959 (1959-11-18)
Running time	212 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$15.2 million
Money made	$146.9 million (initial release)

Ben-Hur is a famous movie from 1959. It is an epic story set in ancient times. The film is known for its amazing action scenes and powerful story. It was directed by William Wyler. The main actors are Charlton Heston as Ben-Hur and Stephen Boyd as Messala.

The movie takes place in Ancient Rome and Judea. It tells the story of two friends whose bond turns into bitter hatred. One friend is a Jewish prince, and the other is a Roman officer. A thrilling chariot race is a big part of the movie. Ben-Hur won 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The film is based on a book called Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ by Lew Wallace. This book was written in 1880.

Meet the Main Characters
The Story of Ben-Hur
Images for kids
See also

Meet the Main Characters

This section introduces the actors and the characters they play.

Charlton Heston plays Judah Ben-Hur. He is a Jewish prince.
Jack Hawkins plays Quintus Arrius. He is a Roman commander.
Haya Harareet plays Esther. She is a loyal friend to Ben-Hur.
Stephen Boyd plays Messala. He is a Roman tribune and Ben-Hur's childhood friend.
Hugh Griffith plays Sheik Ilderim. He is a wealthy Arab leader.
Finlay Currie plays Balthasar. He is a wise man. He also narrates the story.
Frank Thring plays Pontius Pilate. He was a Roman governor.
José Greci plays the Virgin Mary.

The Story of Ben-Hur

The movie's story begins in Jerusalem around the 1st century. Judah Ben-Hur is a rich Jewish prince and merchant. His childhood friend, Messala, returns to Jerusalem. Messala is now a powerful Roman officer.

Friendship Turns to Betrayal

Judah and Messala soon realize they have very different ideas. Their friendship starts to break apart. During a Roman military parade, a loose tile falls from Judah's house. It almost hits the Roman governor. Even though Messala knows Judah's family is innocent, he punishes them.

Judah is sent away to be a slave on a Roman galley ship. His mother and sister are put in prison. All of his family's property is taken away. This unfair act makes Judah want revenge.

A Journey of Survival and Revenge

Judah manages to survive his time as a galley slave. He eventually returns to Jerusalem. He is determined to get revenge on Messala. He also wants to find his family.

At the same time, the story of Jesus is unfolding in the same region. Jesus comes from a similar background and is about the same age as Ben-Hur. The two stories show themes of betrayal, strong beliefs, and finding a new path.

The Famous Chariot Race

One of the most exciting parts of the movie is the chariot race. Judah Ben-Hur races against Messala. This race is a thrilling moment of their rivalry. It is a very famous scene in movie history.

Finding a New Path

After the race, Ben-Hur continues his journey. He sees the events around Jesus. He realizes that revenge is not the answer. He learns about love and forgiveness. Ben-Hur decides to follow a new path. He uses his wealth to support the new religion.

Images for kids

Ben-Hur filming site near Lifta, which looked like Jerusalem
Gore Vidal
The chariot race scene, showing the very wide screen view used.
Costumes used in Ben-Hur
One of the small Roman galleys used in Ben-Hur in 1959.
Chariot wreckage in Ben-Hur
Lipizzan horses, like this one in Vienna, were used for chariot teams in Ben-Hur.
Haya Harareet promoting the film in Amsterdam in October 1960