Directed by:
William WylerScreenplay:
Karl TunbergCinematography:
Robert SurteesComposer:
Miklós RózsaCast:
Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Haya Harareet, Stephen Boyd, Hugh Griffith, Martha Scott, Cathy O'Donnell, Sam Jaffe, Finlay Currie, Frank Thring (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
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 Judea, takes command of the Roman garrison in Jerusalem. His Jewish boyhood friend Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) greets him. Messala is delighted. But when Judah refuses to name Jewish patriots, Messala sentences him to the slave galleys and imprisons his mother, Miriam (Martha Scott), and sister, Tirzah (Cathy O'Donnell). Judah vows revenge. In BEN-HUR, William Wyler's much-lauded epic, the story of Judah's search for his mother and sister and his quest for revenge intersects with crucial biblical events such as the Sermon on the Mount and the crucifixion. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Awards
- Winner
- Nominations
Academy Awards
- 1960 - Best Motion Picture of the Year
- 1960 - William Wyler (Best Achievement in Directing)
- 1960 - Charlton Heston (Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role)
- 1960 - Hugh Griffith (Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role)
- 1960 - Robert Surtees (Best Cinematography (Color))
- 1960 - Best Achievement in Film Editing
- 1960 - Miklós Rózsa (Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score))
- 1960 - Best Achievement in Production Design
- 1960 - Best Achievement in Costume Design
- 1960 - Best Achievement in Visual Effects
- 1960 - Best Sound Mixing
- 1960 - Karl Tunberg (Best Adapted Screenplay)
British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA)
- 1960 - Best Film
Golden Globes
- 1960 - Best Motion Picture – Drama
- 1960 - William Wyler (Best Director)
- 1960 - Stephen Boyd (Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture)
- 1960 - Charlton Heston (Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama)
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
- 1959 - Best Film
- 1959 - William Wyler (Best Director)
- 1959 - Karl Tunberg (Best Screenplay)
The Saturn Awards
- 2006 - Best DVD Classic Film Release