Ben-Hur (play)
Encyclopedia
Ben Hur was an 1899 dramatization of the 1880 novel Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ by Lew Wallace
. It was dramatized by William W. Young and produced by Marc Klaw and A. L. Erlanger
. Inspired by the popular equestrian dramas of nineteenth century London, the production was notable for its elaborate use of spectacle. The play as produced had seven parts: a prologue and six acts.
. In total, it was seen by more than 20 million people. It initially starred William S. Hart
, who played Messala, not Ben-Hur. Hart would go on to leading roles in silent films such as The Aryan
(1916), and became a silent screen cowboy hero.
drama critic detailed how it was achieved by "four great cradles, 20 ft (6.1 m) in length and 14 ft (4.3 m) wide, which are movable back and front on railways". The horses galloped full-pelt towards the audience, secured by invisible steel cable traces and running on treadmills. Electric rubber rollers spun the chariot wheels. A vast cyclorama
backdrop revolved in the opposite direction to create an illusion of massive speed, and fans created clouds of dust. The critic for The Illustrated London News described it as "a marvel of stage-illusion" that was "memorable beyond all else". The Sketch's
critic called it "thrilling and realistic ... enough to make the fortune of any play" and noted that "the stage, which has to bear 30 tons' weight of chariots and horses, besides huge crowds, has had to be expressly strengthened and shored up".
There have been many stage adaptations since the initial production, including the 2009 London production staged at the O2 arena
featuring the live chariot race. The book was also adapted for film in 1907, 1925
, 1959
, 2003
, and as an American television mini-series in 2010
. The 1959 film adaptation of Ben Hur
, starring Charlton Heston
and featuring the key chariot race, won a record eleven Academy Awards
and was the top grossing film of 1960.
Lew Wallace
Lewis "Lew" Wallace was an American lawyer, Union general in the American Civil War, territorial governor and statesman, politician and author...
. It was dramatized by William W. Young and produced by Marc Klaw and A. L. Erlanger
Klaw & Erlanger
Klaw & Erlanger was the New York City based theatrical production partnership of entrepreneur A.L. Erlanger and lawyer Marcus Klaw. The two began as a theatrical booking agency in 1886 before expanding into producing plays. In 1896, Klaw & Erlanger joined with Al Hayman, Charles Frohman, Samuel F...
. Inspired by the popular equestrian dramas of nineteenth century London, the production was notable for its elaborate use of spectacle. The play as produced had seven parts: a prologue and six acts.
History
After Wallace's novel was published in 1880, there was widespread demand for it to be adapted for the stage, but Wallace would not permit it, as he did not want Christ to be portrayed onstage by an actor. Finally, he accepted playwright William Young's idea that Jesus be represented by a beam of light. The resulting production was a hit show that opened in 1899 and ran for 21 non-consecutive years on BroadwayBroadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
. In total, it was seen by more than 20 million people. It initially starred William S. Hart
William S. Hart
William Surrey Hart was an American silent film actor, screenwriter, director and producer. He is remembered for having "imbued all of his characters with honor and integrity."-Biography:...
, who played Messala, not Ben-Hur. Hart would go on to leading roles in silent films such as The Aryan
The Aryan
The Aryan is an American silent era western motion picture starring William S. Hart, Gertrude Claire, Charles K. French, Louise Glaum, and Bessie Love....
(1916), and became a silent screen cowboy hero.
Spectacle
The key spectacle of the 1899 show was the live chariot race using real horses and chariots. The Era'sThe Era (newspaper)
The Era was a British weekly paper, published from 1838 to 1939. Originally a general newspaper, it became noted for its sports coverage, and later for its theatrical content.-History:...
drama critic detailed how it was achieved by "four great cradles, 20 ft (6.1 m) in length and 14 ft (4.3 m) wide, which are movable back and front on railways". The horses galloped full-pelt towards the audience, secured by invisible steel cable traces and running on treadmills. Electric rubber rollers spun the chariot wheels. A vast cyclorama
Cyclorama
For the classical album Cyclorama, see Jonathan Goldstein; For the rock album Cyclorama by Styx, see Cyclorama ; for the theatrical backdrop, see Cyclorama...
backdrop revolved in the opposite direction to create an illusion of massive speed, and fans created clouds of dust. The critic for The Illustrated London News described it as "a marvel of stage-illusion" that was "memorable beyond all else". The Sketch's
The Sketch
The Sketch was a British illustrated newspaper weekly, which focused on high society and the aristocracy. It ran for 2,989 issues between February 1, 1893 and June 17, 1959. It was published by the Illustrated London News Company and was primarily a society magazine with regular features on royalty...
critic called it "thrilling and realistic ... enough to make the fortune of any play" and noted that "the stage, which has to bear 30 tons' weight of chariots and horses, besides huge crowds, has had to be expressly strengthened and shored up".
There have been many stage adaptations since the initial production, including the 2009 London production staged at the O2 arena
The O2 (London)
The O2, visually typeset in branding as The O2, is a large entertainment district on the Greenwich peninsula in South East London, England, including an indoor arena, a music club, a Cineworld cinema, an exhibition space, piazzas, bars and restaurants...
featuring the live chariot race. The book was also adapted for film in 1907, 1925
Ben-Hur (1925 film)
Ben-Hur is a 1925 silent film directed by Fred Niblo. It was a blockbuster hit for newly merged Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. This was the second film based on the novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ by Lew Wallace...
, 1959
Ben-Hur (1959 film)
Ben-Hur is a 1959 American epic film directed by William Wyler and starring Charlton Heston in the title role, the third film adaptation of Lew Wallace's 1880 novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. The screenplay was written by Karl Tunberg, Gore Vidal, and Christopher Fry. The score was composed by...
, 2003
Ben Hur (2003 film)
Ben Hur is a 2003 animated film based on the novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, by Lew Wallace. It is the fourth film adaptation of the novel....
, and as an American television mini-series in 2010
Ben Hur (TV miniseries)
Ben Hur is a TV miniseries that first aired in 2010. Based on Lew Wallace's1880 novel, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, the series was produced by Alchemy Television Group in association with Drimtim Entertainment and Muse Entertainment in Montreal...
. The 1959 film adaptation of Ben Hur
Ben-Hur (1959 film)
Ben-Hur is a 1959 American epic film directed by William Wyler and starring Charlton Heston in the title role, the third film adaptation of Lew Wallace's 1880 novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. The screenplay was written by Karl Tunberg, Gore Vidal, and Christopher Fry. The score was composed by...
, starring Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston was an American actor of film, theatre and television. Heston is known for heroic roles in films such as The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, El Cid, and Planet of the Apes...
and featuring the key chariot race, won a record eleven Academy Awards
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
and was the top grossing film of 1960.
External links
- Ben Hur the Broadway play...the souvenir book
- Ben Hur on the Internet Broadway DatabaseInternet Broadway DatabaseThe Internet Broadway Database is an online database of Broadway theatre productions and their personnel. It is operated by the Research Department of The Broadway League, a trade association for the North American commercial theatre community....
- "Ben-Hur: The Book That Shook the World" by Amy Lifson, Humanities, 30:6 (November/December 2009). Accessed 2010-09-1