Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925 film) Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925 film) Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ is a 1925 American silent epic adventure-drama film directed by Fred Niblo and written by June Mathis based on the 1880 novel "" by General Lew Wallace. Starring Ramon Novarro as the title character, the film is the first feature-length adaptation of the novel and second overall, following the 1907 short. In 1997, "Ben-Hur" was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." Ben-Hur is a wealthy young Jewish prince and boyhood
Dr. Dolittle (1998 film) 1967 as a musical under the same title, a closer (albeit still very loose) adaptation of the book. The earlier film was a box office bomb, but still remains a cult classic and a two-time Academy Award-winner. Despite its PG-13 rating, it was marketed as a family film. The 1998 film was a box office success, despite mixed reviews from critics. The film's success generated four sequels; "Dr. Dolittle 2", "Dr. Dolittle 3", "", and "", the latter three being direct-to-video. As a boy, John Dolittle displays an ability to talk to and understand animals, starting with his pet dog.