Ben-Hur (1959)

Cast

Charlton Heston
as Judah Ben-Hur
Sam Jaffe
as Simonides
Cathy O'Donnell
as Tirzah
Stephen Boyd
as Messala

Get more information about Ben-Hur (1959) on IMDb

Genres & Description

Action Adventure Drama History War

8.1 / 10

Judah Ben-Hur lives as a rich Jewish prince and merchant in Jerusalem at the beginning of the 1st century. Together with the new governor his old friend Messala arrives as commanding officer of the Roman legions. At first they are happy to meet after a long time but their different politic views separate them. During the welcome parade a roof tile falls down from Judah's house and injures the governor. Although Messala knows they are not guilty, he sends Judah to the galleys and throws his mother and sister into prison. But Judah swears to come back and take revenge.

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Comments on this trailer
Comments may include spoiler!

SpockBoy

I dont know what it is about Landis but he communicates like some dumb guy who watches a lot of movies. No insight, no analysis, no inspiration. Just "I like this movie!" Well thanks John, your unique perspective as an actual film director has served you (and us) very well. :) - @Saturday, November 3, 2018 3:18 PM

smit4459

"Ben-Hur" (1959) is phenomenal in my opinion! It is one of my all time favorite movies. I am interested in reading or listening to the book someday! - @Friday, October 26, 2018 7:45 PM

DavyDevilution

BEN-HORE - @Tuesday, April 24, 2018 4:33 PM

Dan Hood

Greatest piece of storytelling in film history , bar none. By the way Haya Harareet was the sexiest love interest character portrayal, as Esther , ever on film also. - @Thursday, April 19, 2018 2:40 AM

brian anderson

Are saying that this chariot race was actually the first gay pride parade? - @Friday, December 22, 2017 5:38 AM

St. Mark

is it you, nathanael kapner ? where did your hat go ? - @Friday, December 1, 2017 4:31 PM

Norman Braslow

But historically, the Romans did not use galley slaves, nor were the rowers chained. Oops. - @Monday, October 23, 2017 9:19 PM

kyokogodai

Landis, take your politics and shove them right up your ass! Stick to movies, you shylock! - @Wednesday, October 11, 2017 5:22 AM

ProjecthuntanFish

Chuck is a Jew which came as a surprise to the NRA??? What kind of bigoted remark is that? - @Tuesday, June 13, 2017 2:14 AM

Beth Jensen

Correction!!! It was at The Egyptian Theater, not GC.... !!!!! - @Friday, May 5, 2017 9:09 AM

John Hearn

Why are you talking over the movie perhaps you think the viewers can't read. And if you do, don't enunciate your words like a college freshman. It was Cool forty years ago. How it makes you sound like a perv. - @Sunday, April 30, 2017 7:43 PM

antonio carlos mendes americano

Mr. Landis says no one dies on the race. Is it true? - @Tuesday, April 18, 2017 3:03 AM

Anthony Smith

One of the best epics ever made. Charlton Heston gives a brilliant performance as Judah Ben-Hur. The best scene is the epic chariot race. I love this movie, the 1925 silent version is good, but not powerful as the 1959 film. I have no comment for the 2016 film version. - @Thursday, February 16, 2017 10:52 PM

papawx3

The queer agenda just HAD to be pushed here, didn't it? I mean after all, we are talking about Hollywood, aren't we? Liberals, Jews, communist and queers, in Hollywood they are usually one and the same. - @Friday, December 23, 2016 12:44 AM

tourbillon

"That's excellent! Do it. But don't tell Chuck!" Hilarious! - @Thursday, December 15, 2016 1:20 PM

The1djdave

regardless of Vidal's supposed tampering with a stupid subplot. the political tension between the two men is upfront and stands alone as it comes across on the screen period. - @Wednesday, November 16, 2016 5:57 AM

sclogse1

William Castle...... check out the silent version. Wyler ripped a ton of stuff off the silent's chariot race. It's just about as good. No kidding. - @Sunday, October 9, 2016 8:38 AM

Will Thompson

And still we remain blind to the "Tale of the Christ." I got a copy of a VHS of Ben Hur at a yard sale and there is the testimony of General Lew Wallace becoming a believer in Jesus Christ during the time of writing the book. Wallace who was writing the book on Palestine in the first century came across a noted atheist who didn't believe the gospel accounts. The conversation intensified Wallace research and he became a believer that Christ really lived. - @Monday, August 29, 2016 7:47 AM

Bubs

Landis is a great professor of cinema. These trailers rule. - @Wednesday, August 17, 2016 11:35 AM

Firth Laist

"SEE IT WITH YOUR WHOLE FAMILY" ...bring your neighbours, and PETS too!! ...love the ol'persuasion there!! - @Thursday, June 9, 2016 2:34 AM

mkeogh76

I heard years ago about the Gore Vidal-Stephen Boyd-William Wyler "conspiracy" to subtlety hint that Messala and Ben-Hur were former gay lovers. Initially, I didn't want to believe it, but over time I've come to believe it's true. The "doe-eyed" looks that Boyd's Messala repeatedly gives the rather uncomfortable-looking Chuck Heston's Judah can have no other explanation. (It was certainly inspired acting on Boyd's part. Heston deserved his Oscar, but Boyd truly gave the performance of his career and it's shame he wasn't honored as well.) - @Saturday, October 10, 2015 3:04 PM

Samuel Oldham

This movie made me want to be Jewish. Miklos Roza RULES! - @Sunday, September 6, 2015 7:44 AM

marioriospinot

Nice. - @Friday, July 31, 2015 7:09 PM

PMA Judge

HMMMMM!!! NICE COMMENT -JOHN LANDIS. IN THOSE DAY'S IF WE KNEW THAT "BEN-HUR" & "MESSALA" WERE GAY'S IT WOULD NEVER HAD WON ALL THOSE OSCAR'S!!! AND THE LATE MR CHARLTON HESTON WOULD HAVE WALKED OUT OF THE MOVIE!!!!! AND RUINED EVERYTHING ABOUT THE STORY( REAL or FAKE)!!!!! SO, I ADORED THIS MOVIES HAVE SEEN IT MILLION'S OF TIMES!!!! LOVED THE STAR'S IN IT!!! MUSIC/COSTUMES ETC: ETC: SO, KEEP UP THE FAKE CHILDHOOD STORY EH!!!! A REMAKE WOULD BE DISTORTED INDEED!!!! EPIC MOVIES ARE THERE TO ENJOY&NOT BE SPOILED!!!! LIVE IN FANTASY LAND FOLKS!!!!!!!!!!!!! FROM(U.K.). - @Friday, January 30, 2015 1:42 PM

777fuzzypeach

So, the NRA is anti-Semitic...? Might want to fact check that, you idiot. - @Sunday, December 7, 2014 10:50 PM

DarkDennis1961

how did Gore Vidal know what was in the mind of an author from the 19th century? - @Friday, January 17, 2014 9:21 AM

kalsolarUK

fantastically epic and not a digital "extra" in sight. - @Friday, January 17, 2014 1:25 AM