The film has the subtitle: “The Story of Christ,” written by General Lew Wallace, but at the center of events are two old friends: the noble Jew Judah Ben-Hur and the equally noble Roman Messala. After a long separation, the heroes meet again in Jerusalem. Messala arrives there at the head of a legion to carry out the emperor’s will and, after his friend refuses to help pacify his people, who are fighting against Roman rule, he begins to take revenge on Ben-Hur. Ben-Hur is sent to the galleys, and his mother and sister Tirzah, with whom Messala was in love, are sent to prison.

This film was called a “supergiant” and a “historical supercolossus”; it was impressive for its scale, wide screen, color, and magnificent battle scenes. The chariot races are considered the most exciting scene in the history of cinema.