How many horses died during the making of Ben-Hur?

How many horses died during the making of Ben-Hur?

During the chariot race in the 1925 film Ben-Hur, up to 150 horses were killed. Yakima Canutt, the legendary Hollywood stunt man (and occasional John Wayne double), created one dangerous procedure involving horses.

Did Charlton Heston do his own stunts in Ben-Hur?

Joe Canutt, Yakima Canutt’s son, did Heston’s more dangerous stunts during the sequence. When Judah Ben-Hur’s chariot jumps over the wreckage of a chariot in its path, Ben-Hur is almost thrown out of his chariot. Boyd did all but two of his own stunts.

Was anyone killed during the chariot race in Ben-Hur?

Citing the notion that “A stuntman was killed during the filming of the chariot race scene in the 1959 version of ‘Ben-Hur’ and that his death was left in the final cut,” fact-checking website Snopes rated the claim “false.” And the only death was apparently totally unrelated to filming.

Who died in filming Ben-Hur?

However, someone did die during production: the film’s producer, Sam Zimbalist. He died of a heart attack, reportedly shortly after leaving the set one day, just weeks before the film was finished.

Were any horses hurt in the filming of Ben Hur?

Nearly two hundred horses were used during the filming of the chariot race scene in the 1925 Fred Niblo film, Ben-Hur. Fortunately, it was reported that not a single horse was injured (“Forty-two” 405). This would probably relate more to luck than a deliberate attempt by anyone to ensure the safety of the animals.

Did Charlton Heston do the chariot in Ben-Hur?

A total of 18 Roman chariots were built; half of them went to Charlton Heston and Stephen Boyd. In 1958, Ben Hur’s director, William Wyler, brought Yakima Cannutt in to coordinate the chariot race scene, a job which included training Charlton Heston and Stephen Boyd.

Did Charlton Heston really drive the horses in Ben-Hur?

These white horses were to be driven by the picture’s star, Charlton Heston, and had to be instructed to rear while hooked to the chariot for the added realism of horses in a frenzy during the race. At the end of the race in the film they perform a jumping stunt that is quite spectacular.

Who drove the horses in Ben-Hur?

Jack Huston (who plays Ben-Hur) and Toby Kebbell (as his rival brother Messala) trained for months to ride the actual chariots behind four moving horses — hitting speeds as high as 38 mph.

Did Charlton Heston drive the chariots in Ben-Hur?

Most of what you are seeing on screen is stunt doubles, but both Boyd and Heston learned how to drive the chariots, and they pulled off some pretty impressive stunts of their own, including Heston clambering over a chariot and Boyd being dragged by a team of horses.

Who was the stunt man that died on the movie Ben Hur?

The 1925 “Ben-Hur” shoot had cost the lives of one stunt man and five horses. There were no serious injuries to people or animals on the 1959 film, but there was one casualty: executive producer Sam Zimbalist, who died in Rome of a heart attack during the shoot.

Who are the actors in the movie Ben Hur?

Cast (in credits order) verified as complete Charlton Heston Judah Ben-Hur Jack Hawkins Quintus Arrius Haya Harareet Esther Stephen Boyd Messala Hugh Griffith Sheik Ilderim

How many people died during the filming of Ben Hur?

The 1925 “Ben-Hur” shoot had cost the lives of one stunt man and five horses. There were no serious injuries to people or animals on the 1959 film, but there was one casualty: executive producer Sam Zimbalist, who died in Rome of a heart attack during the shoot. He was 54. 17.

Who was the actress who played Esther in Ben Hur?

More than 30 actresses were considered for the role of Esther. The Israeli actress Haya Harareet, a relative newcomer to film, was cast as Esther on May 16, 1958, after providing a 30-second silent screen test.