"BEN HUR."

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19139, 24 October 1927, Page 5

"BEN HUR."

A TALE OF THE CHRIST. AT GRAND THEATRE, TO-DAY. A broken tile. On such slender threads do the destinies of men hang. A new Roman Senator, Valerius Gratus, came to Jerusalem to tyrannise over Israel a little moro than his predecessor; his triumph through those ancient streets that had known the glory of Solomon and the dignity of David, resounded to the tread of Roman legions, and tho shouts and plaudits of Roman henchmen; and from the roof of his palace, Judah, Prince of Hur, watched the comedy; and a loose tile falls on the satyrliko head of Gratus. , Thus to the galleys for life with tho Jewish ' prince, and his mother and his sister to the Tower of Antonia, hiduous dungeons rambling under tho streets of Jerusalem the Golden. Thus tho story of "Ben Hur" proper opens, with visions of"Ho an power and glory; glimpses of Jewish pride and sullenness; examples of Roman cruelty and viciousness. It is of a nature so great and sincere, of a magnitude so immenso that this production of General Wallace's book beggars description.- Whon it .opens at the Grand Theatre to-day, the many who will seo this triumphant achievement will assuredly pronounce it to he the 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 tho East, their following of the star, and their eventual arrival at the stable in Bethlehem, provides some scenes and moments of exquisite beauty, emotional and spiritual force. William' Blake's famous painting, the "Star of Bethlehom," has been completely reproduced in colour and detail for this scene, and Mr Fred Kiblo has handled these parts with a delicacy and instinctive good, taste that are tho most momentous things in the entire picture. As tho Madonna, Miss Botty Bronson is altogether lovely. This-floeting pieco of acting, so short as to take only a few seconds, stamps itself on the memory as one of the most enduring aspedts 'of ' 'Ben Hur.'' The plot of "Ben Hur" concerns itself with revenge on tho one hand and love on the other; revenge on tho Messala, a Roman, who despoiled the House of Hur, sent the young Judah to the galleys and his ,womeufolk to the awful cells in the old prison. It is a story which pulsates with hate and love and the living for vengeance: "In the hour of Thy vengeance, 0 Lord, mine bo the hand to put it on him," is the fierce prayer of Ben Hur. It is answered, after many years, in th Circus Maximus of Antioch, when the son of Hur drives madly over the backs of the haughty Roman to a.vivid, glorious victory. This chariot race is one of the mighty things of the picture, run in. a circus that seems to embody everything of Roman glory, wealth, and civilisation. Then there is the sea fight between the Romans and tho 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'i gorgeous "Last Supper," Tissot's colourful "Pool' of Siloam," Raphael's "fiistine Madonna," Munkacsy's "Christ' Before Pilate," Rubens's "Holy Family," and Dora's ''Dante's Inferno" for the harrowing scene in the galloys are the splendid tableaux which givo 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 Nieel do Brulier. Esther wistfully given by May McAvoy, Joseph the Carpenter is portrared with gravity and dignity by Winter Hall, the brilliant actor from Christen rch, while the Mary of Betty Bronson is a cameo of quiet effaeement and youthful dignity. During the season Mr David McGill will sing "The Star of Bethlehem," while a special quartette of ' choristers among whom are included some, ox-members of that celebrated body, the Westminster Glee Singers, will sing, dnring tho scone 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 arp requested to book at The Bristol Piano Company. A3 the demand for seats has already j set 'in. • ''