Middle-earth in film also became the most-nominated in the Academy's history, surpassing the "Godfather" series' 28 (with the release of "The Hobbit", the series currently has 36 nominations total). Its 11 Oscars at the 2004 Academy Awards tied it for most awards won for one film with "Titanic" six years earlier and the 1959 version of "Ben-Hur." It also broke the previous "sweep" record, beating "Gigi" and "The Last Emperor" (which each took 9 out of 9). "The Return of the King" also made movie history as the highest-grossing film opening on a Wednesday and was the second film after "Titanic" to earn
Ben-Hur Baz prolific. In addition to his work for "Esquire", he provided story illustrations for mainstream magazines, worked on a number of national advertising campaigns, and was a successful paperback novel cover artist. Ben-Hur Baz Ben-Hur Baz (1906–2003) was a painter of pin-up art. Born in Mexico in 1906, Baz was a pin-up and glamour artist who became known in the late 1940s and 1950s for his association with "Esquire" magazine. He painted pin-ups for their Gallery of Glamour and contributed to their calendars and centerfolds as well. Most well known for his advertising illustrations for the cigarette industry including Lucky Strike