Part 2/11:
The story of how "Ben-Hur" came to life parallels the epic scale of the film itself. Initially greenlit by MGM in December 1952, the production took five years to develop, marked by delays, financial struggles, and a vision of grandeur. The ambitious project became a significant financial commitment for MGM, with an initial budget of $7 million escalating to a whopping $15 million—equivalent to roughly $159 million today.