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In 1959, Burt Lancaster refused to star in a “piece of crap” movie. It made cinema history
Burt Lancaster turned down the title role in *Ben-Hur* in 1959, despite MGM offering him $1 million, because he objected to its portrayal of Christianity and doubted the film would succeed. The epic became a major box-office and critical hit, making his refusal a notable cinema “what if”.
Filmed at Rome’s Cinecittà Studios, the production cost $15 million and used 300 large sets, making it Hollywood’s most expensive film at the time. Charlton Heston took the lead and won Best Actor as the film received 11 Oscars, a record later matched by *Titanic* and *The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King*. Lancaster won his own Best Actor Oscar the following year for *Elmer Gantry*.
In short
- Lancaster rejected *Ben-Hur* despite a $1 million offer.
- The film won a record 11 Oscars.
- Lancaster won Best Actor the following year.
Explained simply
Ben-Hur is a 1959 historical epic about Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince in Roman-ruled Judea whose life is changed by conflict with a Roman officer. The story draws on a 19th-century novel and includes themes of faith, revenge and the life of Jesus.
The film was made by MGM at Rome’s Cinecittà Studios, with a scale and cost that made it one of Hollywood’s most ambitious productions. Charlton Heston played Ben-Hur; Burt Lancaster was another leading actor of the era, known for roles in films such as Elmer Gantry.
The film’s success and awards made casting decisions a lasting part of its history. Lancaster later won an Oscar for Elmer Gantry, while Ben-Hur’s 11 Academy Awards became a record it shared with two later films.