This is the first crucifixion scene that I have seen, where Jews were portrayed as the good guys. The crowd is crying and seem to be visibly upset with the Romans for dragging Christ character to his death.
I think the Romans got portrayed pretty badly and the wealthy Jews were for some reason portrayed as downtrodden victims.
Was this in the original Ben Hur or is this added to appease sensitive viewers?
Well, I would say the 1880 novel and earlier versions (1925 and 1959) had the Via Dolorosa crowds treating the situation with mockery as well as sadness.
Yes, BEN-HUR is a man proud of being a Jew. It was an exception in a century of Fagin, Svengali, Shylock, etc.
Does this have anything to do with the reason for the Hur's downfall? The 2016 version is the only one to have Judah being guilty to some degree. The novel and earlier film versions have Judah completely innocent: Atop their palace, the Hur family watches the new procurator (Gratus) march by their home. A loose tile is upset and hits Gratus. The Romans misinterpret this accident as an assassination attempt. Messala fuels leads the accusation, completing the family's arrest.
The novel (and the 1925 version) is pretty anti-Roman except for Arrius (who- unlike the 2016 version- is instrumental in saving Judah's life. Judah returns the favor, and Arrius gets him out of the Galleys) and Pilate (keep in mind the 2016 version is the only one to have him the trigger for the Hurs downfall, when actually he doesn't take over things until after Judah returns; at any rate, he orders the release of all prisoners whose crimes went unrecorded, like Judah's mother and sister).
The 1959 version is more dimensional to the Roman characters. The tribune Sextus is brutal but finds the Jewish religion profound, Arrius laments a dead son and adopts Judah, Messala's betrayal of Judah is partly based on hurt feelings, and Pilate accepts that Rome isn't perfect, but it's the system they have to live with right now.
Not all of the crowd was weeping. Some of his followers were seen weeping. Others in the crowd were jeering and hostile. Some of the Jews collaborated with the Romans, some kept their distance, some fought back. Not all Jews at that time and place believed and behaved the same.
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