"Ben-Hur" is an adaptation of Lew Wallace's 1880 novel, "Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ." The film stars Charlton Heston in the titular role of Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish nobleman who becomes a galley slave after being falsely accused of treason by his childhood friend, Messala (played by Stephen Boyd). The narrative is a sweeping tale of survival, forgiveness, and ultimate redemption, set against the backdrop of ancient Jerusalem and the Roman Empire.