The movie Ben Hur has both historically accurate and inaccurate parts. In the most basic sense, Ben Hur is an impossible storyline taking place in a very accurately detailed setting. The storyline of riches to slavery, then revenge, and a return to riches would have been utterly impossible to do in Roman society. However, the settings (Roman towns, Clothing, Galley ships, etc.) were accurate in detail. As to the worth of the movie to a historian, there might just be enough factual details to dredge out of the Hollywood mud.

In the movie, the main character, Ben Hur, meets his childhood friend, Mussalas, when a Roman legion comes to control the town that Hur Lives in. After seeing each other, Mussalas asks him to give him the names of any citizens that resented Roman rule. Ben Hur refuses on the grounds that he would never give over any...