[dfwgator]

The actor opposite Charlton Heston was told what the director was going for, Charlie wasn't told and played it “straight”/heterosexual.

Good thing, or else they'd have to rename the movie, "Ben-Gay."

[allmendream]

Not necessarily. It might have played differently on “Judah Ben Hur’s” face if Charlton knew what was going on. As it was the desired effect was achieved. The audience saw a gay Roman general hitting on Judah and he was absolutely oblivious, and thought of the guy as his friend.