Watch an edited down chariot race scene of the 1925 movie blockbuster “Ben-Hur” with overlay of modern cinematic action music (Adobe free music).
The 1925 silent movie blockbuster "Ben-Hur" catapulted Ramon Novarro to stardom.
Born February 6, 1899, Novarro had found limited success with such silent films as 1923's "Scaramouche." But with the title role in "Ben-Hur," Novarro became one of Hollywood's most famous leading men of the era. He would go on to star in films with some of the top talent of the day such as Norma Shearer in 1927's "The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg," Joan Crawford in 1928's "Across to Singapore" and Greta Garbo in 1931's box office hit "Mata Hari." Unfortunately today, Novarro is best known for his murder in 1968.
In this moment from the silent film classic, Ben-Hur is racing against Messala, played by Francis X. Bushman (in the winged helmet). The climactic race scene was one of the most extravagant, dangerous and technically innovative productions up to that point in Hollywood history. According to the U.S. Library of Congress, “the chariot race that was shot with 40 cameras on a Circus Maximus set costing a staggering (for the day) $300,000.”
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