Ben-Hur
Ancient Roman revenge
Ben-Hur is a fictional Jewish prince from Lew Wallace's 1880 novel, famous for its chariot race scene.
The story follows Judah Ben-Hur's enslavement, revenge, and eventual encounter with Christ.
Multiple film adaptations—especially the 1959 epic starring Charlton Heston—made the name synonymous with lavish historical spectacle: It was the Ben-Hur of superhero movies.
- chariot raceHorse-drawn vehicle competition
- 1959Mid-twentieth century date
- MGMHollywood entertainment conglomerate
- epicImpressively grand in scope
Oscars · Academy Awards · widescreen · Technicolor · Hollywood · remake · silent film · 1925
Large domesticated hoofed mammals
- arenaVenue for contests
- raceCompetition of speed
- quadrigaChariot with four abreast
- whipStrikes or aerates
spokes · dust · Roman · spectacle · rivalry · victory · crash · competition
New and unusual
- subtitleSecondary title text
- ChristThe anointed savior
- taleSpoken or written narrative
- revengePunishing a wrongdoer
redemption · slavery · Roman Empire · Judea · prince · betrayal · friendship · family
The anointed savior
- crucifixionExecution by cross
- healingRestoration of health
- miracleSupernatural occurrence beyond explanation
- lepersThose with Hansen's disease
faith · salvation · Jerusalem · Christianity · biblical · Messiah · conversion · spiritual
Raised performance platform
- musicalSung theatrical production
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- BroadwayManhattan theatrical district
- West EndLondon theatre district
arena · spectacular · live · production · touring · horses · performance · set design
Charlton Heston
- chariot raceHorse-drawn vehicle competition
- 1959Mid-twentieth century date
- MGMHollywood entertainment conglomerate
epic · Oscars · Academy Awards · widescreen · Technicolor · Hollywood · remake · silent film · 1925 · score
horses
Large domesticated hoofed mammals
whip · spokes · dust · Roman · spectacle · rivalry · victory · crash · competition · wheels
novel
New and unusual
revenge · redemption · slavery · Roman Empire · Judea · prince · betrayal · friendship · family · faith
Christ
The anointed savior
- crucifixionExecution by cross
- healingRestoration of health
- miracleSupernatural occurrence beyond explanation
lepers · faith · salvation · Jerusalem · Christianity · biblical · Messiah · conversion · spiritual · divine
stage
Raised performance platform
- musicalSung theatrical production
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- BroadwayManhattan theatrical district
West End · arena · spectacular · live · production · touring · horses · performance · set design · costume
- Oscar WinnersTitanic, Forrest Gump, The Godfather, Gladiator, Schindler's List
- Religious FilmsThe Ten Commandments, Jesus of Nazareth, The Chosen, Risen, King of Kings
- Religious MediaBible stories, biblical tales, conversion stories, redemption stories, The Ten Commandments
- Roman FictionGladiator, Spartacus, Pompeii, Roma, Centurion
- Classic BooksPride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Moby Dick, Moby-Dick, Great Expectations
- 60s CinemaDr. Strangelove, The Graduate, Easy Rider, Bonnie and Clyde, Lawrence of Arabia
Ben-Hurdocumentary
Factual film about reality
neorealism · cinéma vérité · Clerks · Shoah · 12 Angry Men