Ben-Hur (1959 film) scenes if the first unit slowed down. Actresses Martha Scott and Cathy O'Donnell spent almost the entire month of November 1958 in full leprosy make-up and costumes so that Wyler could shoot "leper scenes" when other shots didn't go well. Wyler was unhappy with Heston's performances, feeling they did not make Judah Ben-Hur a plausible character, and Heston had to reshoot "I'm a Jew" 16 times. Shooting took nine months, which included three months for the chariot race scene alone. Principal photography ended on January 7, 1959, with filming of the crucifixion scene, which took four days to shoot. Italy
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ is a novel by Lew Wallace published by Harper and Brothers on November 12, 1880, and considered "the most influential Christian book of the nineteenth century". It became a best-selling American novel, surpassing Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" (1852) in sales. The book also inspired other novels with biblical settings and was adapted for the stage and motion picture productions. "Ben-Hur" remained at the top of the US all-time bestseller list until the publication of Margaret Mitchell's "Gone with the Wind" (1936). The 1959 MGM film adaptation