OLDIE GOLDIES: Ben-Hur (1959)

Charlton Heston with his Best Actor Oscar

This week's pick for "Oldie Goldies" is 1959's Ben-Hur. The production is an epic in every sense of the word - the music, the showy acting, the long runtime, the costumes etc. As a result, the film was nominated for 12 Oscars (Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Director, Best Visual Effects, Best Editing, Best Original Score, Best Sound and Best Adapted Screenplay), winning 11 of them (everything but Adapted Screenplay).

Classic Quote

Judah Ben-Hur: If you were not a bride, I would kiss you goodbye.

Esther: If I were not a bride, there would be no goodbyes to be said.

Classic Scene

"The Chariot Race"

Classic Set

The Galley

Classic Characters

Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston)

Messala (Stephen Boyd)

Sheik Ilderim (Hugh Griffith)

Classic Costumes

Classic Music

Did you know?
Charlton Heston spent four weeks learning how to drive a chariot.