film american epic historical drama film directed produced metro mayer starring remake silent film adapted novel tale christ screenplay credited includes contributions largest budget million largest sets built film produced time costume designer oversaw staff wardrobe costumes workshop employing artists provided hundreds statues needed film filming commenced wrapped january shooting lasting hours day days week pre production began october post production took months cinematographer mgm executives decision film picture format strongly disliked horses shooting film extras sea battle filmed huge tank lot california minute race cinema famous sequences film score composed conducted longest composed film highly influential cinema years following million marketing effort premiered new_york_city november fastest grossing highest grossing film process second highest grossing film history time gone wind won record academy_awards including best director leading role supporting role accomplishment lord rings return king won including best motion picture drama best director best supporting actor motion picture today widely considered greatest films american_film_institute ranked best american film 2nd best american epic film afi selected preservation culturally historically aesthetically significant motion picture plot wealthy prince merchant jerusalem lives mother sister donnell loyal slave daughter loves childhood friend roman citizen years away jerusalem returns new commander roman garrison believes glory rome imperial power devoted faith freedom jewish people difference causes tension friends results split issues ultimatum parade new governor loose tiles fall roof house thrown horse nearly killed knows accident known friend prominent citizen hopes jewish populace revenge years slave assigned flagship roman consul charged destroying fleet pirates determination self discipline offers train declines offer declaring god aid quest vengeance roman fleet encounters orders rowers rammed sunk rowers rescues despair believes battle ended defeat attempts roman way falling sword stops rescued credited roman fleet victory successfully petitions emperor free adopts son year passes wealthy learns roman ways champion family homeland returns way meets arab heard prowess asks drive race new governor frank declines learns compete returns home jerusalem meets learns arranged marriage occur love visits demands mother sister freedom romans discover contracted prison expel city women conceal condition remember tells died changes mind decides seek vengeance competing race race drives greek blades tear apart competing vehicles attempts destroy destroys instead fatally injured wins race dying tells race find family valley recognize visits nearby colony hidden view sees mother sister blaming roman rule family fate rejects roman citizenship learning dying jesus christ trial jesus begun witnesses jesus healed following declares felt voice sword hand cast donnell narrator jesus christ uncredited production metro mayer mgm originally announced remake silent film december ostensibly way spend italian assets reported running lead months later mgm announced film shooting beginning november mgm announced assigned producer picture hired screenwriter write scheduled direct intended lead september continued claim script complete announced million seven month production begin april israel egypt mgm new process mgm camera mgm suspended production early following franklin resignation late 1950s consent decree forcing film studios theater chains competitive pressure television caused significant financial distress mgm save studio inspired success biblical epic studio head announced mgm forward remake ben filming started wrapped january post production took months budget ben initially million reported million february reaching million time shooting began making film produced time adjusted inflation budget approximately million constant dollars notable change film involved opening titles concerned mgm mascot create wrong mood sensitive sacred scene received permission replace traditional logo quiet development novel tale christ ran pages hired number cut story turn novel script according versions script written writers spring asked write version script refused placed suspension decision according writers work script sources place initial involvement earlier cut book jesus omitted sub plot death raises jewish army overthrow romans altered manner women healed according biographers sources follow unhappy script considering pedestrian writing effort changed direction director fell ill removed production offered project assistant directors film early initially rejected considering quality script primitive elementary better hack work showed preliminary race informed mgm willing spend million result began express interest picture mgm permitted start casting april mainstream media outlets reported giving screen tests italian leading men formally agree direct film september mgm announce hiring january lacked leading man took assignment reasons promised base salary percent gross box office percent net profits greater wanted work rome filmed base salary time largest paid director single film professional competitive reasons played role decision direct later admitted wished thinking man biblical epic later years joke took jew good film christ writing felt draft morality play current western political overtones dialogue modern sounding brought playwright wrote script playwright write drafts biographer states british poet playwright hired simultaneously sources including state followed anderson come aboard close leaving picture arrived rome early march meet claimed read script urging flight italy upset modernist dialogue agreed work script months come suspension fulfill contract mgm pushed stay entire production researching book 4th century roman emperor julian knew great deal ancient rome working style finish scene review come agreement scene passed said kept structure script rewrote nearly dialogue admitted march rewrote dialogue added half script structural change revised script reuniting falling single scene broke scene men reunite castle later argue end friendship home added small character touches script purchase purchase horse claimed worked half script race scripted versions scene confronts begs family freedom claim debated claim interview documentary film closet asserted persuaded direct play role homosexual lover said believed motivated feeling rejection lover feel claimed suggested play role way kept dark character motivations wrote scene question acting conversation shot wrote remain issues debate says remember conversation script acting discarded draft favor publicity director film wrote late crucial scene implied homosexual context big crew nickname threw meeting scene yesterday seen boys embrace film critic comparison script drafts concludes significant extensive contributions script final writer film claimed choice screenwriter forced use worked script sources agree arrived rome early spent days week set writing lines dialogue entire scenes picture finished particular gave dialogue slightly formal archaic tone making sound medieval highly publicized bitter dispute later broke screenplay credits film involving final script ran pages screenplay differed original novel silent film version changes film storyline dramatic inserted admiration jewish people founded state israel time society 1950s america christian superiority view wallace novel casting mgm opened casting office rome select people act minor roles extras film total actors speaking parts film considered principal performers casting placed heavy emphasis characterization looks acting history typically cast romans british actors jews american actors help divide groups romans film believed american audiences interpret british accents actors offered role accepted stated turned role found script boring christianity turned said didn legs wear offered role number muscular handsome italian actors speak english interested role turned favor formally cast january salary weeks salary time weeks travel expenses family cast antagonist april originally wanted role sought actor moved role blue eyes outfitted brown contact lenses way contrasting men originally cast fired days work cry cue says suggested cast hired july donnell sister law career decline cast actresses considered role israeli actress relative newcomer film cast providing second silent screen test met cannes film festival impressed skills force personality cast april cast day persuade appear film unwilling act epic motion picture soon bridge river gained acclaim post world war era comedies cast colorful role jesus played uncredited american opera singer performing rome asked screen test film cinematography filmed successful 1950s hired cinematographer film early film production mgm executives decision film picture format strongly disliked format commenting picture fill lot space people talking flock surrounding scene eye curiosity cameras large heavy difficult time consuming overcome difficulties collaborated lenses film stocks projection technologies create highly detailed images film best known composition depth visual technique people props architecture merely composed horizontally depth field strong preference long takes actors highly detailed space movie filmed process known mgm camera mgm film use process mgm camera special film stock aspect ratio camera lenses developed mitchell camera company manufactured specifications submitted mgm lenses image times fit image area film stock film adapted requirements individual theaters movie houses need install special expensive projection equipment lenses worth shipped rome use production principal photography pre production began studios october produced sketches drawings costumes sets props items needed film costumes item cross referenced use production design team million props ultimately manufactured construction entrance rome sea battle way end november mgm location scouts arrived rome identify shooting locations august location shooting africa actively consideration mid january mgm said filming north_africa later revealed libya begin march horses studio use production scheduled rome april hired second unit director horses trained race sequence government canceled production film permit religious reasons march week filming begun unclear second unit filming took place israel june reported new_york_times said second unit director countryside filming footage american_film_institute claims filming permit revoked israel religious reasons clear footage planned location shooting near jerusalem appeared film principal photography began rome script unfinished cinematography began read pages shooting lasted hours day days week sundays meet story conferences pace film doctor brought set complex injection requested shots family later suspected contained speed things kept principal actors stand costume shoot pick scenes unit slowed actresses donnell spent entire month november costumes shoot scenes shots didn unhappy performances feeling plausible character jew times shooting took months included months race scene principal photography ended january filming scene took days shoot production design italy mgm choice hosting production number countries including france mexico spain united_kingdom considered large motion picture production facility constructed outskirts rome identified early primary shooting location hired long term production supervisor oversee film art directors created overall look film relying years research completed production skeleton crew studio technicians arrived summer begin preparing lot ben production utilized sets scattered acres sound stages sets standing refurbished ben end production pounds plaster cubic feet lumber budget called costumes suits armor hiring extras hundreds horses sheep costume designer oversaw staff wardrobe began manufacturing costumes film year filming began special silk imported thailand armor manufactured west_germany united_kingdom countries south_america leather goods hand united_kingdom italian manufactured boots shoes lace costumes came france costume jewelry purchased switzerland pounds hair donated women region italy production feet track laid camera workshop employing artists provided hundreds statues needed mountain village miles rome served stand town beaches near caves south city served colony additional desert shot arizona close taken final images photographed february sea battle sequences created film filmed huge tank lot california november december miniature ships foot long roman built live action segment ships constructed based plans found italian museums actual ancient roman artificial lake equipment capable generating sea sized waves built studios accommodate massive backdrop feet wide feet high painted erected hide city hills background scene sought italian extras missing limbs makeup crews rig fake bone blood appear lost hand leg battle edited footage later sure men screen long audiences upset decks footage integrated miniature work process shots traveling lavish sets villa included working miles pipes wealthy citizens nobles rome wanted portray ancient acted extras villa scenes recreate ancient city streets jerusalem vast set covering square mile km2 built included foot high sets vast visually exciting tourist attraction film stars visited production huge sets seen outskirts rome mgm estimated people given tours sets sets cost filmmaking equipment turned italian government sold exported mgm turned title artificial lake mgm retained control costumes artificial lake background went united_states returned promotional props life size pirate ships dismantled prevent competing studios horses adopted men trained sold exotic animals sold europe editing total feet shot film according editor cut film half hours long stated goal bring running time half hours difficult editing decisions according came scenes involved jesus christ contained dialogue footage purely reaction shots actors believed final cut scene long needed editing complicated footage printed editing equipment existed handle print footage reduced cut caused image lost film edited final form ran minutes included feet film longest motion picture time gone wind musical score film score composed conducted scored mgm previously commissioned set aside score sir conducted research greek roman music period score archaic sound modern directed piece recording sessions stretched hours soundtrack recorded channel stereo hours music composed film half hours finally making longest score composed motion picture score contains main characters score transition orchestra pipe organ jesus christ appears won academy_award score musical score ancient medieval epic genre film win oscar like film musical soundtracks issued album public enjoy distinct piece music score lengthy released records version conducting rome issued addition provide album arranged score ben suite released mgm subsidiary issued low priced records ben film musical score released entirety separate album ben score considered best career musical soundtrack remained deeply influential mid 1970s film music composed films jaws star wars raiders lost popular composers film score seen notable releases including tracks united_kingdom chorus records sony music reissue set monthly issued limited edition set music film race sequence race directed filmmakers acted second unit directors people films man assistant director shot additional footage senior assistant director second unit responsible shot sequence occurs race scenes crowd victory scenes race concludes sequence race begins shot shot remake sequence silent film version added parade track knew race primarily composed close medium shots impress audience arena added parade formation historically accurate set design arena modeled historic circus jerusalem covering acres largest film set built time constructed cost million took thousand year oval rock quarry featured foot long story high miles metal erect paintings created illusion upper stories background mountains short tons sand brought beaches mediterranean cover track elements circus historically accurate imperial roman featured raised foot high center section end shaped lap building rear housed cells horses waited prior race statues atop feet high track identical size constructed set train horses lay camera shots preparation planning race took nearly year complete seventy horses bought imported yugoslavia sicily november exercised peak physical condition trained hollywood animal pull drawn horses abreast horses played race primarily harness maker stable boys employed care horses ensure outfitted racing day firm built practice weighing pounds principal cast members stand ins stunt people practice laps arena preparation shooting learn drive experienced took daily hour lessons driving arrived rome picked skill quickly outfitted special contact lenses prevent kicked race injuring eyes actors extensive experience horses flown hollywood including bodyguard victor iii italy filming scene took weeks spread months film total cost million required miles racing complete filmed entire sequence stunt doubles long shot edited footage showed footage race look like indicate close shots seven thousand extras hired cheer stands economic conditions italy poor time shooting scene wound extras needed given day june people seeking work turned away crowd throwing stones assaulting set gates police arrived dispersed dynamite charges wheels effects barbed wheel attacks placed key points race appearance men run cameras race presented problems lenses minimum focusing distance feet camera mounted small italian car camera crew horses accelerated foot faster car long focal length left little time shots production company purchased powerful american car horses fast head start filmmakers seconds shot time filming progressed vast amounts footage shot sequence ratio footage shot footage highest film notable moments race came near fatal accident stunt man son tossed air accident incurred minor chin injury wanted shot felt footage conceived idea showing able land scramble horses kept going long shot accident cut close climbing aboard resulting race memorable moments stunts sequence dragged beneath horses wore steel armor costume acted close shot shot attempting climb horses harness escape injury dummy obtain shot sequence urban legends exist sequence claims died filming claims autobiography states red ferrari seen race book movie mistakes claims myth dvd commentary track film mentions urban legend claims wore race points wore leather elbow release massive million marketing effort helped promote mgm established special ben research department surveyed high schools american cities gauge teenage interest film high school study guide created distributed company hired conduct nationwide survey gauge impact marketing campaign million candy children shape hair items jewelry men ties bottles ben ben toy armor helmets swords paperback versions novel tied film cover art sold premiered new_york_city november present premiere played silent film version president 20th century fox president paramount_pictures president president playwright executive playwright founder paramount_pictures box office initial release film earned million north american theater distributor share box office generating approximately million box office sales outside north_america earned million million box office worldwide total million rental earnings roughly equivalent million box office receipts fastest grossing film highest grossing film process second highest grossing film time time gone wind saved mgm financial disaster making profit initial release million profits released earned million worldwide theatrical critical reception received overwhelmingly positive reviews release writing new_york_times called remarkably intelligent human drama praising acting close direction high praise race seldom movies compare picture race stunning complex mighty setting thrilling action horses men observation overwhelming use dramatic sound writing praise acting calling genuine warmth finely acted intimate scenes los_angeles_times called magnificent inspiring awesome reading called editing generally expert times abrupt writing variety called majestic achievement representing superb blending motion picture arts master concluded gone wind metro champion time eventually seat race probably preserved film archives finest example use motion picture camera record action sequence race directed represents minutes hair raising excitement film audiences witnessed criticism felt film long whilst praising film felt biggest fault home points long singled rowing sequence jesus journey place nearly sequences involving lightly criticized physically emotionally compelling new_yorker critical writing speaks english learned records later privately admitted disappointed acting film critic largely negative found film lengthy said felt like trapped railroad crossing long freight train slowly british film critic writing time equally dismissive calling film hour sunday school lesson french american film critics believed theory filmmaking saw film confirmation belief merely commercial artist film currently certified fresh rating rotten_tomatoes consensus reads uneven terms epic scope grand spectacle ranks hollywood finest examples pure entertainment accolades nominated academy awards won unprecedented lord rings return king matched film wins lone category win best adapted screenplay losing room observers attributed controversy writing credit mgm shared special technical oscar march developing camera photographic process won best supporting actor motion picture received special achievement award went directing race sequence nominated best performance actor motion picture drama category win picture won bafta award best film circle award best film directors guild america award outstanding directorial achievement motion picture direction appears best lists generated american_film_institute independent non profit organization created afi years series created consisting artists scholars critics historians movies selected based film popularity time historical significance cultural impact appeared movies thrills film scores cheers afi epic film lists nominated hero nominated villain afi years heroes villains list selected preservation culturally historically aesthetically significant motion picture listed number empire greatest films time broadcast home video releases film telecast took place sunday february television hollywood film broadcast hours including commercials single evening cbs network regular programming evening watched million people average rating highest rated movies screened television time broadcast premiere bridge released home video occasions recent releases dvd blu ray disc sided single disc release occurred united_states march release included including commentary making documentary laserdisc release screen tests photo gallery edition released soon disc set countries film saw dvd release september disc edition included remastered images audio additional commentary additional complete version silent version boxed deluxe edition issued included sized lobby cards sized black white machine reproduced cast members framed color image film film frame mounted inch reproduction film poster released 50th anniversary edition blu ray disc dvd making home video release film present original aspect ratio release film completely restored frame frame scan original negative restoration cost million highest resolution new musical soundtrack option new hour long included remake april paramount_pictures mgm announced produce ben film miniseries bible film set release august september added cast play role man teaches slave champion caliber
Ben-Hur (1959 film)