Accent on Wyler

David GRITTEN suggests in his piece on Oliver Stone’s “Alexander” [“Fearsome Phalanx,” Sept. 12] that the director’s decision to feature English-accented actors playing Greeks in contrast to using performers with an Irish brogue to play Macedonians is either “eccentric” or “inspired.”

While it may be the former according to one’s taste in such things, the director’s choice is most definitely inspired by an earlier film. Director William Wyler cast British actors (Jack Hawkins, Stephen Boyd and others) to play Romans in his 1959 epic “Ben-Hur,” while ancient Judeans were portrayed by Americans (Charlton Heston, Martha Scott, Cathy O’Donnell, Sam Jaffe).

James K. Moran

Alhambra