"BEN HUR."

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19138, 22 October 1927, Page 7

"BEN HUR."

A TALE OF THE CHRIST. AT GRAND THEATRE ON MONDAY. A broken tile. On such slender threads do the destinies of men hang. A new Roman Senator, A'alerius Gratus, camo to Jerusalem to tyrannise over Israel a little more than his predecessor; his triumph through those ancient streets that had known the glory of Solomon and the dignity o£ •iJavid. resounded to the tread of Roman legion.-, and the shouts and plaudits of Roman henchmen; and from the root of his palace, Judah, Prince o£ Hur, watched the comedy; and a loose tile falls on the satyriiku head of Uratus. Thus to the galleys for lif ß W ith the Jewish prince, and his mother and his sister to tho Tower of Anlonia, hideous dungeons rambling under the streets of Jerusalem the Golden. Thus the story of "Ben Hur" proper opens, with visions of Koniau power and glory; glimpses of Jewish pride and sulleuness; examples of Roman cruelty and viciousness. It is of a nature so great and sincere, of a magnitude so immense that this production of General Wallace's book beggars description. When it opens at the Grand Theatre ou Monday, the many who will seo this triumphant achievement will ussurcdly pronounce it to be tho screen's crowning accomplishment. There is a prologue to the story proper, just as there is in the book, wherein the quest of the Three Wise Men of the East, their following of tho star, and their eveutual arrival at the stable in Bethlehem, provides some scenes and moments of exquisite beauty, emotional and spiritual force. William famous painting, tho "Star of Bethle.iaiu, has been completely reproduced in colour uud detail for this scene, and Mr Fred Niblo Has handled these parts with a delicacy and instinctive good taste that are tho most momentous things in the entire picture. As the Madonna, Miss Betty Bronsou is altogether lovelv. This fleeting piece of acting, so short as" to take only a few seconds, stamps itself on the memory as one of the most enduring aspects of "Ben Hiir. The plot of "Ben Hur" concerns itselt with revenge on tho one band and love on the other; revenge on the Mcssala, a Roman, who despoiled the House of Hur, sent the young Judah to the galleys and his womenfolk to the awful colls in the old prison. It is a story which pulsates with hate ana love and the living for vengeance; In the hour of Thy vengeance, 0 Lord, mine be the hand to put it on him," is the fierce prayer of Ben Hur. It is answered, after many years, in th Circus Maximua of Anttoch, when the son of Hur drives madly over the backs of the haughty Roman to a vivid, 'glorious victorv. This chariot race is one of the mlghty'things of the picture, run in a circus that seems to embody everything ot Roman glory, wealth, and civilisation. Then there is the sea fight between the .Romans and the pirates of Golthar the Terrible that reveals those' old pagans as masters of torture and barbarity. -For some of the scenes in the picture, scenes in which the Christ invisibly figures, the masterpieces of Italian, British, and Flemish masters have been utilised, so that Da Vinci's gorgeous Last bupper" Tissot's colourful "Pool of Raphael's "Sistine Madonna," Munkacsy s "Christ Before Pilate," Rubens s "oiy Family," and Dore's "Dante's Inferno for the harrowing scene in the galleys are the splendid tableaux which give the film greatness and richness. . ~„ _ The artists who play the roles in Ben Hur" were recruited from the most distinguished ranks. Ramon Novarro as Ben Hur is rebellious, bitter, dutiful, romantic, an array of varying moods in a winning personality; Francis X. Bushman ns the Messala is"a Roman; Simonides is perfectly played by Nigel de Brulier, Esther wistfully given bv May McAvoy, Joseph the Carpenter is portrayed with gravity and dignity by Winter Hall, the brilliant actor from Christch rch, while the Mary of Betty Bronson is i. cameo of quiet effacement and youthful dignity., During the season MrJDayid McGill witl sing "The Star of Bethlehem, while a special quartette of' choristers among whom are included some ex-members of that celebrated body, the Westminster Glee Singers, will sing, during the scene depicting the carrying of tho Cross, Abide With Me." The Grand Orchestra has been augmented for the season, and will play the special "Ben Hur" score. . Patrons are requested to book at Tho Bristol Piano Company, as the demand for seats has already set in.