Fact Finder - Movies

Fact
Ben-Hur and the 70mm Revolution
Category
Movies
Subcategory
Blockbuster Movies
Country
United States
Description
In 1959, 'Ben-Hur' used the 'MGM Camera 65' process to create an image nearly three times the width of standard film. This was a direct response to the competition from television. The wider screen allowed for more detail in the epic battle scenes and the famous chariot race. The film was a massive hit, grossing $146 million (unadjusted), which saved MGM from financial ruin. Its success ushered in a decade of 'Ultra-Wide' blockbusters. The film's 11 Oscar wins established it as the 'standard' for Hollywood excellence, a record that would only be tied twice in the next 60 years.