BEN-HUR (1959) 28367

MGM Original British Front of House Card (8x10) Color Lithograph Roadshow

Original MGM British Color Printed Lithographic Still (8x10) for the William Wyler historical epic, BEN-HUR (1959) starring Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Stephen Boyd, Hugh Griffith and Haya Harareet. This type of still is known in the UK as a front-of-house card. These cards serve roughly the same purpose as lobby cards do in the United States. Considered by many critics to be one of the greatest achievements in cinematic history, Wyler not only had to direct literally "a cast of thousands," but also was able to pull from his main actors the performances of their lives. Everything about this production was "Enormous." 50,000 people were used to make the film on 300 sets covering more than 340 acres. The famous chariot race scene was shot in an 18-acre arena that took 40,000 tons of sand to make the track. The stands were packed with 8,000 extras, and it took over three months to shoot the entire scene. MGM, which nearly went bankrupt making the picture, spent over $12.5 million but grossed over $40 million on the project. The film won eleven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor to Heston, Best Supporting Actor to Griffith, and Best Director to Wyler. Interestingly enough, Gore Vidal worked as a script doctor on this film. This color scene still of Stephen Boyd as Tribune Massala was found with a cache of roadshow posters from the movie. This front-of-house card is dated 1959 and is in very fine condition. We have several of these cards from this release available on the site. Please inquire if you are interested in others. MovieArt Austin guarantees this card to be an authentic British front-of-house card from this film. MovieArt Austin will sell NO reproductions.

CHARLTON HESTON - Actor
WILLIAM WYLER - Director
Jack Hawkins - Actor
Stephen Boyd - Actor
Haya Harareet - Actor
Cathy O'Donnell - Actor
Finlay Currie - Actor
Hugh Griffith - Actor
Martha Scott - Actor
Sam Jaffe - Actor
Andre Morell - Actor
Marina Berti - Actor
Lando Buzzanca - Actor
Terence Longdon - Actor
Robert Brown - Actor
Andre Morrell - Actor