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| | Ben Hur (1959) | 
| | | | Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | | | | Producer: Sam Zimbalist | | | | Starring: Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Stephen Boyd, Haya Harareet, Hugh Griffith, Martha Scott, Sam Jaffe, Cathy O'Donnell | | | | Synopsis: One of the cinema's greatest epics because it's based on a compelling human story of revenge, bitterness, redemption and forgiveness. Heston is magnificent as the Prince of Judea, Ben Hur, who confronts the conquering Romans. His actions send him and his family into slavery - and an inspirational encounter with Jesus. The story moves from Judea to imperial Rome and back to Judea where Heston finally meets his rival Messala in a justly famous chariot race, regarded as one of the most exciting action sequences ever filmed. He rescues his suffering family - after once again encountering Jesus, this time on his way to Golgotha. This was a production of unheard of scale, exhibiting the work of literally tens of thousands of people. The 1880 novel by Lew Wallace had previously been made to great acclaim in 1927 with Ramon Navarro which Wyler ironically was one of 60 Assistant Directors on. The 35th Anniversary edition, which runs 282 minutes, includes an exclusive documentary narrated by Christopher Plummer on the making of the film, behind-the-scenes footage, screen tests, cast interviews and the film's original trailer. Academy Award® Nominations: 12, including Best Adapted Screenplay. Academy Awards: 11, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor--Charlton Heston, Best Supporting Actor--Hugh Griffith. | | | | Academy Awards®: | | | | Best Picture | | Won | | Best Director | William Wyler | Won | | Best Actor | Charlton Heston | Won | | Best Supporting Actor | Hugh Griffith | Won | | Best Color Cinematography | Robert Surtees | Won | | Best Screenplay | Karl Tunberg | Nominated | | Art Direction/Set Decoration | William A. Horning | Won | | Best Costume Design | Elizabeth Haffenden | Won | Editing
| Miklos Rozsa
Ralph Winters
John D. Dunning | Won | Best Sound
| Edward Carfagno
Hugh Hunt | Won | Best Special Effects
| A. Arnold Gillespie
Robert MacDonald
| Won | Best Sound Effects
| Milo Lory
| Won
| | Best Music Score of a Drama/Comedy | Frank E. Milton
| Won | | | | | | | | Golden Globes: | | | | Best Motion Picture, Drama | | Won | Best Director
| William Wyler
| Won | Special Achievements
| Andrew Marton
(For Directing the Chariot Race)
| Won | | Best Supporting Actor | Stephen Boyd | Won |
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