This article is from the Movie Trivia, by Murray Chapman muzzle@cs.uq.oz.au with numerous contributions by others.
- The rumor that the 'Stephen Boyd' (qv)'s double was killed during the
chariot race is false.
- The chariot race segment was directed by legendary stunt-man,
'Yakima Canutt' (qv). One of Canutt's sons doubled for
'Charlton Heston' (qv). During one of the crashes, in which Judah Ben-Hur's
horses jump over a crashed chariot, the younger Canutt was thrown from his
chariot onto the tongue of his chariot. He managed to climb back into his
chariot and bring it back under control (his only injury was a cut on the
chin). The sequence looked so good that it was included in the film, with a
close-up of Heston climbing back into the chariot. The cut on Canutt Jr's
chin was the only injury in the incredibly dangerous sequence. It is
rumored that the stuntmen were told that the winner of the race would
receive a $150 bonus.
 
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