Ben Hur (1959 film)

BenHur is a 1959 American epic historical drama film, directed by William Wyler, produced by Sam Zimbalist for MetroGoldwynMayer and starring Charlton Heston, Stephen Boyd, Jack Hawkins, Hugh Griffith and Haya Harareet. A remake of the 1925 silent film with the same name, BenHur was adapted from Lew Wallaces 1880 novel BenHur A Tale of the Christ. The screenplay is credited to Karl Tunberg but includes contributions from Maxwell Anderson, S. N. Behrman, Gore Vidal, and Christopher Fry.

In AD 26, Judah BenHur Charlton Heston is a wealthy prince and merchant in Jerusalem, who lives with his mother, Miriam Martha Scott his sister, Tirzah Cathy ODonnell their loyal slave, Simonides Sam Jaffe and his daughter, Esther Haya Harareet, who loves Judah but is betrothed to another. His childhood friend, the Roman citizen Messala Stephen Boyd, is now a tribune. After several years away from Jerusalem, Messala returns as the new commander of the Roman garrison. Messala believes in the glory of Rome and its imperial power, while Judah is devoted to his faith and the freedom of the Jewish people.During the parade for the new governor of Judea, Valerius Gratus, some loose tiles fall from the roof of Judahs house. Gratus is thrown from his spooked horse and nearly killed. Although Messala knows this was an accident, he condemns Judah to the galleys and imprisons Miriam and Tirzah. By punishing a known friend and prominent citizen, he hopes to intimidate the Jewish populace. Judah swears to take revenge. ........

Source: Wikipedia