Additional recastings (including Ramon Novarro as Ben-Hur) and a change of director caused the production's budget to skyrocket. Shooting began in Rome, Italy in October 1923 under the direction of Charles Brabin who was replaced shortly after filming began. While on location in Italy, Walsh was fired and replaced by Ramon Novarro.
When asked why she chose him, she answered it was because of his eyes and his body. Rudolph Valentino and dancer Paul Swan were considered until George Walsh was chosen. Erlanger was persuaded to accept a generous profit participation deal and total approval over every detail of the production.Ĭhoosing the title role was difficult for June Mathis. The play's producer, Abraham Erlanger, put a heavy price on the screen rights. In 1922, two years after the play's last tour, the Goldwyn company purchased the film rights to Ben-Hur. īen-Hur: A Tale of The Christ had been a great success as a novel, and was adapted into a stage play which ran for twenty-five years. However, Messala does not die, as he does in the more famous 1959 adaptation of the novel.īen-Hur is eventually reunited with his mother and sister, who are suffering from leprosy but are miraculously cured by Jesus Christ. This eventually leads to a climactic showdown with Messala in a chariot race, in which Ben-Hur is the victor. This actually works in the admiral's favor because when his ship is attacked and sunk by pirates, Ben-Hur saves him from drowning.Īrrius then treats Ben-Hur as a son, and over the years the young man grows strong and becomes a victorious chariot racer. Once aboard ship, his attitude of defiance and strength impresses a Roman admiral, Quintus Arrius, who allows him to remain unchained. Along the way, he unknowingly encounters Jesus, the carpenter's son who offers him water. When an accident and a false accusation leads to Ben-Hur's arrest, Messala, who has become corrupt and arrogant, makes sure Ben-Hur and his family are jailed and separated.īen-Hur is sentenced to slave labor in a Roman war galley. Ben-Hur is a wealthy young Jewish prince and boyhood friend of the powerful Roman tribune, Messala.
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