Surely you remember Ben-Hur, the American cinematic masterpiece released in 1959. When it comes to critical acclaim, this grand-scale epic won 11 Oscars, making it one of the most awarded feature films in the world. What you may not know is that William Wyler, who created this testament to cinema, was actually born in Mulhouse. Incredible but true! Let’s follow in the footsteps of the famous director in the streets of Mulhouse. Go to 15 Rue de Zurich, where you can admire the family house where Wyler spent his youth. Very attached to France, the filmmaker returned several times to his hometown. During a stay in 1979, 'Willy', as he was nicknamed, wished to visit Fritz Schlumpf’s fabulous collection of old cars in what is today known as the Cité de l’Automobile. On seeing Charlie Chaplin's Rolls Royce, he was very moved. The reason? Chaplin, who had vanished from Hollywood two years earlier, was his neighbour. An emotional moment indeed.
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