Ben-Hur (1959)
Themes & Commentary
Religion
Like the original Ben-Hur, this one portrays religion in a very positive light, but unlike the previous, the 1959 version seems to have less focus on Judaism and instead leans more into the "Tale of Christ" subplot it contains. This version spends a lot more time on Jesus' trials and hardships as he got persecuted by Romans, reflecting the growing movement towards Christianity and its various sects within America during the 1950s.
Tyranny & Imperialism
Another similarity to the original Ben-Hur is that it depicts the Ancient Romans as immoral and tyrannical, reflecting the changing views on imperialism at the time. Since America had just fought in WWII, many Americans began to view empires and imperialization as inherently evil. More parallels are drawn between Nazis/Soviets and Ancient Romans in this version.
Feminism
Unlike the 1925 version, the leading lady, Esther, gets more agency and a larger role within the story, actively shaping the plot as well as Ben-Hur's characters and decisions. Despite still being rather subservient to Ben-Hur and having her actions revolve entirely around him, her improved agency marks a point in time in which women began to get better, stronger roles within movies and stories as a whole.
