A 1959 American epic historical drama film, directed by William Wyler and starring Charlton Heston, “Ben-Hur” was a remake of the homonymous 1925 silent film, both adapted from Lew Wallace’s 1880 novel “Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ”. The 1959 remake had the largest budget ($15.175 million) as well as the biggest sets built of any film produced at the time. Costume designer Elizabeth Haffenden oversaw a staff of 100 wardrobe fabricators to make the costumes, and a workshop employing 200 artists and workmen provided the hundreds of friezes and statues needed in the film. The nine-minute chariot race has become one of cinema’s most famous sequences, and the film score, composed and conducted by Miklós, is the longest ever composed for a film. It was highly influential on cinema for more than 15 years. Ben-Hur won a record 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (Wyler), and Best Actor in a Leading Role (Heston).
