Does anyone know who was originally asked to star in the 1959 version of Ben Hur?

scsark, is it Cesare Denova? He was in the initial screen tests. Try this link:

http://dvdmg.com/benhur.shtml

It's in the 3rd paragraph from the bottom.

Or http://www.michaeldvd.com.au/Reviews...p?ReviewID=273

Scroll down passed the middle section until you see "SCREEN TESTS"

I appreciate your help. This was a trivia question I saw, and the choices were Burt Reynolds, Cary Grant, Aldo Ray, and Burt Lancaster. I figured it might have been Lancaster, but I have not been able to find a site which gives this information. Maybe you know somewhere to look. Thanks again. :)

scsark, OK, I got what you mean. But, you know, you gave me an idea about LANCASTER. You're right... LANCASTER and other famous actors initially turned down the role. What I did was I did a serach on 'LANCASTER & BEN HUR" and I found the link 1st on the YAHOO list that name LANCASTER and others. It is at this site:

http://www.mtsu.edu/~socwork/frost/god/Ben-Hur.htm

Between the "THE END" and "The movie is all about wolves" sections, the site says:

The starring role of Ben-Hur was turned down by Paul Newman, Marlon Brando, Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster, and Rock Hudson. Then they did an open call---still no luck and the sets were already being constructed!

But then, another site says LANCASTER and others were runners-up.. meaning CHARLES HESTON was 1st picked. Here:

http://www.tomsoter.com/benhur.htm

In the middle of page, it says:

Wyler (who once quipped, "It takes a Jew to make a really good movie about Christ") picked his Ben-Hur from the cast of The Big Country: Charlton Heston (runners-up: Marlon Brando, Burt Lancaster, Rock Hudson, and Kirk Douglas).

Also, try these links:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...=quotes-trivia

In the "Trivia about Ben-Hur: section (almost at middle of page), there's a lot of details, so just go through them carefully to find the right lines about Burt lancaster. For example, this one says

Besides Burt Lancaster, Rock Hudson was also offered the role of Ben Hur.

So, you're right, BURT LANCASTER was, indeed, initially offered the leading role in BEN HUR. ;D

I appreciate your help! I didn't think of searching that way. There are so many sites that deal with odd subjects, and you always hear someone talking about roles that people have turned down. I though maybe there was a site for that. Thanks for the help!!