a tale of the Christ Niblo, Fred 1874-1948 direction. Mayer, Louis B. (Louis Burt) 1885-1957 production. Goldwyn, Samuel 1879-1974 production. Thalberg, Irving G. 1899-1936 production. Wilson, Carey 1889-1962 writing. Meredyth, Bess writing. Mathis, June 1892-1927 writing. Gibbons, Cedric 1895-1960 production design. Novarro, Ramon 1899-1968 cast. Bushman, Francis X. 1883-1966 cast. McAvoy, May 1901-1984 cast. Bronson, Betty 1906-1971 cast. McDowell, Clare 1877-1966 cast. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Turner Entertainment Co. Collection (Library of Congress) moving image motion picture Religious films. Feature films. Fiction films. Ancient world-Feature. xxu United States Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 1961 1925 monographic eng 14 film reels of 14 on 7 (ca. 129 min., 11,554 ft.) : sd., b&w and col. ; 35 mm. In Jerusalem, oppressed by the power of Imperial Rome, Ben-Hur, of the Jewish house of Hur, develops a friendship with Messala, a Roman centurion, which turns to enmity when he learns of Messala's egotism and hatred of the Jews; to please the governor, Messala arrests Ben-Hur's entire family when a loose tile accidentally falls from the roof of their house and kills a Roman general. Sentenced as a galley slave and driven into the desert, Ben-Hur meets the Christ, who gives him water and refreshes his spirit; when he saves the life of Arrius, the Roman ship commander, he is adopted by Arrius and becomes popular and wealthy as a charioteer. During a chariot race against Messala, in Rome, Ben-Hur gets revenge against Messala by defeating him. In Jerusalem, where Jesus is crucified, Ben-Hur is recognized by his leprous mother and sister and learns of Jesus' mission to save mankind. With the help of Esther, Ben-Hur's mother and sister are cured and the entire family is reunited. WALLACE,Lew Copyright: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp.; 8Oct27; LP24477. Production and distribution information verified in Brownlow's, The Parade's gone by, p. 385-413. The Nativity sequence was filmed in color and directed by Ferdinand P. Earle, per AFI catalog, F2, p. 51. Summary is paraphrased from AFI catalog, F2, p. 51. Based on the novel by General Lew Wallace. English language interior titles with musical track added. Screened for credits. Source used: Variety film reviews, 1/6/1926. Ramon Novarro (Ben-Hur), Francis X. Bushman (Messala), May McAvoy (Esther), Betty Bronson (Mary), Claire McDowell (Princess of Hur). Photography by Rene Guissart, Percy Hilburn, Karl Struss, Clyde DeVinna ; settings by Cedric Gibbons, Horace Jackson ; titles by Katharine Hilliker, H.H. Caldwell ; film editor, Lloyd Nosler. theatrical projection print; a-is--- e-it--- Jesus Christ Drama Jews Persecutions Drama Paganism Drama Chariot racing Drama Leprosy in the Bible Drama Holy Roman Empire History Drama FQA 5553.W34 1961 Wallace, Lew, 1827-1905 88708730 DLC 880427 20230621113203.0 11516003