Ben Hur

[STS Lincolnite]

(09-07-2022 02:56 PM)LincolnMan Wrote:  And I still watch the original movie about once a year. They don’t make ‘em like that anymore!

Bill, I have to ask. When you say original, are you talking about the 1959 version (which I too love)?

The 1959 version is actually the third movie version of Ben Hur. The first was a short film in 1907 (It followed a successful theater production). That film, however, was produced without having obtained rights from Wallace’s estate. Wallace’s estate sued and won. It was a landmark case that established the guidelines around copyright infringement when making films from written works.

The first full length Ben Hur movie was made in 1925. In terms of viewer reception it was a great success. But although it made a lot of money, the cost to produce it was so great that it ended up being a financial loss for the studio.

I was supposed to deliver a talk about Wallace at the 2020 Surratt Conference (which got cancelled). I had that and lots of other interesting Wallace stuff compiled. His Civil War and post Civil War life were utterly fascinating. I may resurrect my work on that talk and see if I might present at one of the online Surratt Conferences down the road…