The iconic chariot race in William Wyler's BEN-HUR ('59) took 10 weeks to shoot and was coordinated by Yakima Canutt. It has influenced filmmakers to this day including George Lucas who said this scene inspired the pod race sequence in THE PHANTOM MENACE ('99). #31DaysofOscar | Turner Classic Movies: TCM

In the iconic 1959 Ben-Hur chariot race, a dangerous accident occurred when actor Charlton Heston's stunt double, Joe Canutt, was launched into the air after his chariot wheel clipped a small obstacle. The shot was an unscripted mishap kept in the final film after Canutt miraculously recovered and climbed back into the chariot with only a minor chin injury. Credit: MGM | History In Pictures