Ben Hur Chariot Race #27

The one sequence in the race with which [director William Wyler] was most concerned was the death of Messala. “I’m not going to tell you how to do it,” he said, “that’s your baby.” We hitched Ben Hur and Messala’s horses together as one team, with my son Joe driving both teams. A well-make dummy (its face was molded from a cast of [actor Stephen] Boyd’s face) was secured in a standing position in Messala’s chariot with the reins fastened to his hands.