Ramon Novarro 125 -- February 6, 2024

listal.com

"Actor Ramon Novarro was born 125 years ago today, on 06-February-1899. He was born in Mexico, but his family emigrated to the United States in 1913 to get away from the Mexican Revolution. By the mid-1920s, he was a popular Latin lover" in Hollywood films. His career as a star was over by the mid-1930s, but he continued to act in smaller parts. He struggled to deal with his devout Catholicism and his homosexuality.

listal.com

Novarro replaced George Walsh as the title character in the troubled production of Ben Hur. I liked him better than Charlton Heston. 

Motion Picture News, 08-September-1923

I also liked him in Rex Ingram's adaption of Rafael Sabatini's Scaramouche. 

In 1968 two cowards robbed and murdered Ramon Novarro. 

William S Hart -- Ben Hur -- May 9, 2023

Bourbon News, 24-November-1899

I couldn't find much about William S Hart from 100 years ago this month, so here is an item about Hart from before he went into movies. He was rehearsing with the cast of the original Broadway production of Ben Hur, where he played Messala, the bad guy.

Ben Hur -- The Greatest Motion Picture Property in the History of the Screen -- June 25, 2022

Film Daily, 11-June-1922

The Goldwyn Company, which Samuel Goldwyn left in 1922, purchased the rights to the popular novel Ben Hur, published by Civil War general Lew Wallace in 1880. The book was adapted into a popular stage play in 1899. Future western star William S Hart played Messala. 

Film Daily, 11-June-1922

Several producers fought to win the motion picture rights to Ben Hur. There was a plan to make most of the movie abroad. 

Moving Picture World, 24-June-1922

After much struggle, the movie was released in 1925.