Principal cast
Charlton Heston, Stephen Boyd, Hugh Griffith, Jack Hawkins and Haya Harareet
Film 72 of 498 on the Screen Path
Ben-Hur
The entertainment experience of a lifetime!
About the film
Ben-Hur at a glance.
Screen Path places this 1959 film at stop 72 in one curated journey through cinema. The learning experience adds context before you watch and deeper analysis after.
In ancient Judea, a Jewish aristocrat opposing Roman occupation of his homeland reunites with his childhood friend, now a Roman commander — setting in motion a saga of betrayal, adventure, tragedy, revenge, and faith.
Key craft credits
Robert Surtees (director of photography), John D. Dunning (editor), Ralph E. Winters (editor), Miklós Rózsa (original music composer) and Karl Tunberg (screenplay)
- Director
- William Wyler
- Release
- 1959-11-18
- Runtime
- 212 minutes
- Genres
- History, Drama and Adventure
- Country
- United States
- Quiz
- 25 questions
The Screen Path journey
Before. After. Remember.
The featured film is watched outside Screen Path. The app provides the learning experience around it: a guide, an analysis, and a quiz with explanations.
01
Before you watch
Start with a spoiler-free video guide to the context and filmmaking choices worth noticing.
Spoiler-free02
After the film
Return after watching for a deeper video analysis of craft, meaning, and legacy.
Contains spoilers03
Quiz yourself
Answer 25 questions with clear rationales designed to make the ideas stick.
25 questions in this journeyCitizen Kane is the complete public example: both learning videos and a five-question sample quiz are available below.
Start the example →Full cast
Full cast
- Charlton HestonCharacter: Judah Ben-Hur
- Stephen BoydCharacter: Messala
- Hugh GriffithCharacter: Scheich Ildirim
- Jack HawkinsCharacter: Quintus Arrius
- Haya HarareetCharacter: Esther
- Martha ScottCharacter: Miriam
- Cathy O'DonnellCharacter: Tirzah
- Sam JaffeCharacter: Simonides
- Finlay CurrieCharacter: Balthasar
- Frank ThringCharacter: Pontius Pilatus
- George RelphCharacter: Tiberius Caesar
- André MorellCharacter: Sextus
Full crew
Full crew
- William WylerCredits: Director
- Karl TunbergCredits: Screenplay
- Sam ZimbalistCredits: Producer
- Miklós RózsaCredits: Original Music Composer
- Robert SurteesCredits: Director of Photography
- John D. DunningCredits: Editor
- Ralph E. WintersCredits: Editor
- Edward C. CarfagnoCredits: Art Direction
- William A. HorningCredits: Art Direction
- Hugh HuntCredits: Set Decoration
- Elizabeth HaffendenCredits: Costume Design
- Charles E. ParkerCredits: Makeup Artist
- Edward WoehlerCredits: Unit Production Manager
- Sergio LeoneCredits: Second Unit Director
- Alberto CardoneCredits: Assistant Director
- William SteinkampCredits: Sound Recordist
- Sash FisherCredits: Sound Recordist
- Gabriella BorzelliCredits: Hairstylist
- A. Arnold GillespieCredits: Special Effects
- Robert R. HoagCredits: Special Effects
- Lee LeBlancCredits: Special Effects
- Lew WallaceCredits: Novel
- Piero PortalupiCredits: Additional Photography
- Harold E. WellmanCredits: Additional Photography
- Franklin MiltonCredits: Recording Supervision
Film data and images provided by TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.