Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
Born Today
Home / Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

Year:
Duration:
143 min | Germany:151 min (restored version)
Genres:
Adventure | Drama | Romance
IMDB rate:
8.1
Director:
Fred Niblo
Awards:
1 win
Details
Country: USA
Release Date: 1927-10-08
Filming Locations: Anzio, Rome, Lazio, Italy
Earnings
Budget: $3,900,000
Gross: $2,947,360 (USA) ( 1931)
Cast
Actor
Character
Ramon Novarro
Ben-Hur
Francis X. Bushman
Messala
May McAvoy
Esther
Betty Bronson
Mary
Claire McDowell
Princess of Hur
Kathleen Key
Tirzah
Carmel Myers
Iras
Nigel De Brulier
Simonides
Mitchell Lewis
Sheik Ilderim
Leo White
Sanballat
Frank Currier
Arrius
Charles Belcher
Balthazar
Dale Fuller
Amrah
Winter Hall
Joseph
Reginald Barker
Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
John Barrymore
Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
Lionel Barrymore
Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
Clarence Brown
Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
Gilbert Clayton
(uncredited)
Gary Cooper
Roman Guard (uncredited)
Joan Crawford
Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
Marion Davies
Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
William Donovan
Charioteer of Corinthian Bay Team (uncredited)
Bill Elliott
Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
Ray Erlenborn
(uncredited)
Douglas Fairbanks
Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
George Fitzmaurice
Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
Sidney Franklin
Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
Clark Gable
Roman Guard (uncredited)
Rosita Garcia
Slave Girl (uncredited)
Janet Gaynor
Slave Girl (uncredited)
John Gilbert
Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
Dorothy Gish
Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
Lillian Gish
Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
Samuel Goldwyn
Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
Harry Gordon
Centurion
Sid Grauman
Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
William Green
(uncredited)
Noble Johnson
Crowd Member (uncredited)
Joyzelle Joyner
Slave Girl (unconfirmed) (uncredited)
Rupert Julian
Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
Henry King
Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
Harold Lloyd
Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
Carole Lombard
Slave Girl (uncredited)
Myrna Loy
Slave Girl (uncredited)
Cliff Lyons
Charioteer (uncredited)
Mickey Millerick
(uncredited)
Carlotta Monti
Slave Girl (uncredited)
Claude Payton
Jesus Christ
Mary Pickford
Chariot Race Spectator (uncredited)
Satini Pualoa
Extra (uncredited)
Sally Rand
Slave Girl (unconfirmed) (uncredited)
Leonora Summers
(uncredited)
Tom Tyler
Charioteer (uncredited)
Fay Wray
Slave Girl (unconfirmed) (uncredited)
Christiane Yves
Hedonist (uncredited)
Did you know?
Trivia
The first attempt to film the chariot race was on a set in Rome, but there were problems with shadows and the racetrack surface. Then one of the chariots' wheels came apart and the stuntman driving it was thrown in the air and killed. See also Ben-Hur (1959).
Share this
Producer Irving Thalberg was short of "hedonist slave girls", so he called up Hal Roach and Mack Sennett to ask a favor: to loan out their famous "Bathing Beauties". They were happy to oblige, as many girls were making their film debuts. Among the group of 20 or so girls who eventually appeared in the film: Janet Gaynor, Carole Lombard, Fay Wray and Joyzelle Joyner.
Share this
Many of the scenes in this film, interestingly enough, were NOT remade in the more popular 1959 version of the story. Among these are the three Wise Men's journey through the desert, Mary and Joseph seeking refuge in the manger, and the scene in which Messala enlists the help of Iris to discover the identity of his chariot-racing opponent.
Share this
Goofs
At one point in the chariot race a man in modern clothing - light-colored shirt, long pants, dark shoes - can be seen running out of the crowd onto the track and waving his arms at the camera. That was assistant director William Wyler, who saw that one of the chariots - out of camera range - was approaching the curve of the track too fast and Wyler was signaling the director to have the crew cleaning up a crashed chariot to get out of the way.
Share this
The position of the body of the charioteer killed in the training session at Sheik Ilderim's camp.
Share this
Camera visible during the chariot race.
Share this
Photos from cast
Colleen Moore
baking clipart baking clipart logo rolling pin png happy mother's day lockdown