Judah Ben Hur, a wealthy Jewish prince living in Judea under Roman rule, reunites with a friend of his youth, Messala, now a Roman tribune. Judah is delighted, until Messala tells him the reason for his visit – he wants his old friend to inform him about dissidents among the Emperor’s Jewish subjects.

Ben Hur admits there is discontent, but refuses to spy on his countrymen. Messala mocks the invisible objects of Judah’s loyalty, contrasting them with the more tangible realities of ambition and power he seeks. The only true “god” he says is the emperor in Rome.

Judah responds in an impassioned scene that is one of the best in the movie.

“Ben Hur”, a Biblical epic from 1959, was directed by William Wyle and starred screen legend Charleton Heston as Judah, with Stephen Boyd, as Messala. The film was the first and most famous of several based on the novel of the same name by Lew Wallace. Leftist icon Gore Vidal wrote the screen play, but was not attributed. The musical score is by the Hungarian composer Miklos Rozca.

J: What do you think?
M: Magnificent. Arabic.
J: I think he has the look of the breed. I raised him.
M: Let me try him sometime.
J: Whenever you like. He’s yours.
M: You mean you’ll give me this?
M: Judah. You are good. It’s going to be like old times, I know it. Judah, tell me, did you think about what I said yesterday?
J: Yes, I talked to a number of people already. I’ve spoken against violence, against incidents. Most of the men I spoke to agreed with me.
M: Hmm, not all.
J: Not all. There were some who were resentful and impatient
M: Who are they? Yes Judah, who are they?
J: Would I retain your friendship, if I became an informer on my people.
M: To tell me the names of criminals is hardly informing.
J: They’re not criminals, Messala, they’re patriots.
M: Patriots….patriots! Judah, let me explain something to you, something you may not know. The emperor is watching us. At this moment he watches the East. This is my great opportunity, Judah, and yours too. If I can bring order into Judea, I can have any post I want, and you’ll rise with me, I promise. And you know where it’s going to end? Rome. Yes, perhaps at the side of Caesar himself. I mean it, and it can happen, Judah. This is the time. The emperor is watching us, judging us. All I need do is serve him and all you need do is help me serve him.
J: You speak as if he is God.
M: He is god, the only god. He has power, real power on earth, not…(gestures) not that. Help me, Judah.
J: I would do anything for you, Messala, except betray my own people.
M: In the name of all the gods, Judah, what do the lives of a few Jews mean to you?
J: If I cannot persuade them, that does not mean I would help you…. murder them. Besides, you must understand this, Messala. I believe in the past of my people and in their future.
M: Future? You are a conquered people
J: You may conquer the land, you may slaughter the people. That is not the end, we will rise again.
M: You live on dead dreams, you live on the myths of the past. The glory of Solomon is gone, do you think it will return? Joshua will not rise again to save you nor David. There is only one reality in the West today. Look to the West. Judah, don’t be a fool. Look to Rome.
J: I’d rather be a fool than a traitor…or a killer
M: I am a solder.
J: Yes, so kill… for Rome…. and Rome is evil.
M: I warn you…
J: No, I warn you – Rome is an affront to God! Rome is strangling my people and my country, the whole earth….forever. I tell you the day Rome falls, there will be a shout of freedom such as the world has never heard before
M: Judah, either you help me or you oppose me. You have no other choice. You are either for me or against me
J: If that is the choice, then I am against you.