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Ben-Hur (1959): Film vs Book
Film · 1959 · Directed by William Wyler · Starring Charlton Heston
About the film
A great epic of a man wronged and a chariot race that became cinema legend.
How close is it to the book?
Close to the bookThe film follows the novel's story in grand style, with more focus on the races and the spectacle.
Read or watch first?
The book is a classic adventure with a spiritual side.
What the book gives you
Ben-Hur by Lew Wallace
A sweeping story of friendship, rivalry and redemption, with a famous chariot race.
Who will like it: Readers who like grand historical epics about justice and faith.