Placeholder while article actions load In 1971, when CBS broadcast the 1959 film “Ben-Hur” on television for the first time, more than 85 million people tuned in to view this Hollywood spectacular of friendship, betrayal, revenge, redemption and — of course — a thrilling chariot race. One of the most-watched movies on TV in that era, the blockbuster film directed by William Wyler and starring Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins and Stephen Boyd remains a popular Easter viewing tradition for many people. Its depiction of Jewish hero Judah Ben-Hur confronting the treachery of Roman friend Messala against the backdrop of Christ’s crucifixion continues to draw countless viewers each year. However, that…