Ben-Hur

Adventure, History, Romance

Charlton Heston	Judah Ben-Hur
Stephen Boyd	Messala
Jack Hawkins	Quintus Arrius
Haya Harareet	Esther
Hugh Griffith	Sheik Ilderim
Martha Scott	Miriam
Cathy O'Donnell	Tirzah
Sam Jaffe	Simonides
Terence Longdon	Drusus
Finlay Currie	Balthasar/Narrator
Frank Thring	Pontius Pilate

Director	Vincente Minnelli; William Wyler
Producer	William Wyler; Sam Zimbalist
Writer	Karl Tunberg; Lew Wallace
Cinematography	Robert Surtees
Musician	Miklós Rózsa

A wealthy young Jew, Ben Hur grows up with a Roman friend named Marcellus. Marcellus is ambitious for power and glory. When a Roman soldier is accidentally injured by Ben Hur’s sister, Marcellus has the family thrown into prison. Ben Hur becomes a galley slave, but by amazing providence, saves the life of a Roman admiral who adopts him. Now rich and powerful himself, Ben Hur returns to Jerusalem for revenge. He defeats Marcellus in a chariot race, and Marcellus is killed in a spectacular crash. But Ben Hur’s revenge is hollow, for he discovers that his sister and mother are dying of leprosy. Ben Hur’s life changes when their illness is cured through the power of Christ’s death and resurrection.