BEN-HUR: Best Picture 1959

BEN-HUR (Action/Adventure - NR) PRODUCER: Sam Zimbalist ABOUT THE FILM Ben-Hur (Heston) is the rich Jew, who falls on bad times thanks to his old best frined (Boyd), but eventually returns to rescue his family, and claim his wealth and position after he beats his ex-friend in the famous Chariot race. DIRECTED BY: William Wyler (who also won the Oscar for direction).

THE CAST INCLUDES Charlton Heston / Oscared! (ARROWHEAD, THE NAKED JUNGLE, THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, TOUCH OF EVIL, EL CID, 55 DAYS AT PEKING, THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD, MAJOR DUNDEE, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY, KHARTOUM, PLANET OF THE APES, SOYLENT GREEN, EARTHQUAKE, THE THREE MUSKETEERS, AIRPORT 75, MOTHERLODE) Hugh Griffith / Oscared Supporting Actor! (TOM JONES, EXODUS, MOLL FLANDERS, START THE REVOLUTION WITHOUT ME, WUTHERING HEIGHTS, THE LAST REMAKE OF BEAU GESTE) Jack Hawkins (THE CRUEL SEA, FRONT PAGE STORY, BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI, LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, ZULU, LORD JIM, WATERLOO, KIDNAPPED, YOUNG WINSTON) Stephen Boyd (THE MAN WHO NEVER WAS, THE BEST OF EVERYTHING, THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE, GENGHIS KHAN, THE OSCAR, FANTASTIC VOYAGE, HANNIE CAULDER) With Haya Harareet, Martha Scott, Cathy O'Donnell, Sam Jaffe, Finlay Currier, and Frank Thring. ABOUT THE PRODUCER American producer Sam Spiegel (1904 - 1958), died during production. Zimbalist's other works include: THE CROWD ROARS, BOOM TOWN, KING SOLOMON'S MINES, and QUO VADIS. OTHER NOMINATIONS Actor (*) Direction (*) Supporting Actor (*) Cinematography (*) Art Direction (*) Sound (*) Editing (*) Music (*) Costume Design (*) Special Effects (*) Writing OTHER "BEST PICTURE" NOMINATIONS ANATOMY OF A MURDER THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK THE NUN'S STORY ROOM AT THE TOP NOTES & TRIVA This remake of the silent film was also based on the 1880 novel by General Lew Wallace. This epic was filmed in Rome and had a cast of 8,000! The 11 minute chariot race is the most exciting and memorable scene in the film. To date, Ben-Hur eared a record eleven (11) number of Oscars. GO TO: Next Year

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