Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925 film) his body. Gertrude Olmstead was cast as Esther. While on location in Italy, Walsh was fired and replaced by Ramon Novarro. The role of Esther went to May McAvoy. Shooting began in Rome, Italy in October 1923 under the direction of Charles Brabin who was replaced shortly after filming began. Additional recastings (including Ramon Novarro as Ben-Hur) and a change of director caused the production's budget to skyrocket. After two years of difficulties and accidents, the production was eventually moved back to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in Culver City, California and production resumed in the spring of 1925. B. Reeves Eason and Christy
Eddy Novarro Eddy Novarro Eddy Novarro (c. 1925–2003) was a photographer, a collector and a cosmopolitan. He dedicated his work to the great artists of the 20th century. Important painters and sculptors such as Pablo Picasso, Marcel Duchamp, Hans Arp, Joseph Beuys and Robert Rauschenberg were among Novarro's friends. He photographed them repeatedly. His wife Nana (Renate) Novarro was the one who made most of the appointments with the great artists for Eddy. She was a painter too, signing "de Craiova". Eddy and Nana received paintings and the artists added "For Nana and Eddy" - today a respectful collection. Novarro was of