"BEN HUR."

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19145, 31 October 1927, Page 4

"BEN HUR."

SEASON EXTENDED. .' GRAND THEATRE, TO-DAT. "Ben Hur" is to be continued at tho Grand Theatre this week. All the claims made for the picture have been seconded by tho theatre-going public, for its magnificence 'inspires and its. story enchants. "Ben Hur".. presents a bewildering array of emotious. impulses, and conspiracies. The story is very well known, the story of the young Jewish prince sent to the Romau galleys by hi 3 one-time friend, the Roman Messala, his subsequent escape and triumphs in Rome, his revenge in the Circus Jlaximus on Messala, his reconciliation, after years of search, with bis mother and' sister,, his idyllic love story with Esther, his devotion to the cause of the NaJarene —all these, coupled with" its lavish magnificence and historic' fidelity, make it a masterpiece. There is pathos and tragedy in the story; *it would be vain to conceal it, and there are examples of Roman brutality and sheer cruelty that are boldly fascinating; there is all the sensuous beauty of the East and.the lazy wealth of Rome, and the thrilling interest of the chariot race. To ensure its complete fidelity to religious types, and to make it all the more inspiring and impressive, Mr Fred Niblo, the director, in some of the more religious scenes, copied masterpieces for scenes like The .Last Supper, the Return from Calvary, the Adoration of the Magi Star of Bethlehem, and other events from the New Testatment. . Filmed in gorgeous, but subdued colours, just as the paintings feature, these sequences become moments of almost emotional beauty. A particularly distinguished cast play the leading roles in "Ben Hur." In the title role is seen Ramon Novarro playing with rare grace, and feeling; Francis X. Bushman as Messala, and Betty Bronson as the Madonna, are perhaps the outstanding players, while Claire McDowell, Winter Hall, Nigel de Brulier, and May McAvoy are other famous artists appearing in support. Mr -David McGill sings "Star of Bethlehem" during the screening of the Scriptural prologue, and during the closing scenes, depicting the Way of the-Cross, the quartet of Westminster choristers sing "Abide With Me." The Grand Orchestra, augmented for the season, prays the special "Ben Hur" score. The box plans are at the Bristol Piano Company,