Ben hur story origin chariot race

ByPatricia Claus

"Ben-Hur," one of the greatest Biblical epics of all time, has remained one of the most popular films since its release at the apex of Hollywood's Biblical film era in 1959.

At a time when historical epics employing thousands of extras were being churned out regularly, "Ben-Hur" still stands with 1956's "The Ten Commandments" -– another film with Charlton Heston in the main role — as one of the most beloved and enduring of them all.

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The novel "Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ," written by General Lewis Wallace and published in 1880, had been staged many times over by the time it was first filmed in 1907, The Guardian notes.

The well-known 1959 rendition was actually the third film remake of "Ben-Hur;" the stunning silent epic of 1925, containing what some still believe to be the best chariot race footage, was the second. However, the classic "Ben-Hur" of 1959 brought the engaging story to a new generation, filmed in P