"BEN HUR."

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19150, 5 November 1927, Page 26

"BEN HUR."

FURTHER EXTENSION OF SEASON.

GRAND THEATRE, MOXDAT. ''Ben Hur" is to be shown for a third week a: the Grand Theatre, as its immense popularity is undiminished. Little more can be said in praise of this great epic than to reiterate its unfailing appeal and devotional nature, its enormous and beautiful sets, and the dignity and power of its sacred story. Three years in the making, the company making trips to Rome and Asia Minor to 'secure fidelity and historic backgrounds, costing some millions of dollars to produce, and .•iceessitating the engaging of thousands of players, "Ben Hur" cannot fail to make a lasting impression. The co-operation of Governments was secured, as well as the sympathy enlisted of einininet divines and "literary men. No stone was left unturned to make the picture not only the most enduring thing materially the screen has ever seen, but also the most beautiful story of all time in its true, guise of love and poetic reeling. To be sure, the famous chariot race which is all some people know of "Ben Hur." is the most remarkable aspoct of the production, several teams of blood horses competing in a most realistic and spectacular race. Ramon Novarro, in the title role, drives in this scene a team of pure Arabs, while Francis X. Bushman, as his rival, the Koman Messala, controls four fiery blacks. The sea fight between pirates and Roman triremes was fought out in the harbour of Genoa, and the old days of Roman might and glory are vividly recalled as these stately galleys sweep across the screen manned by mailed legionaires and propelled by miserable slaves. Although featuring these purely worldly parts of the great drama. "Ben Hur" is essentially the story of the Christ, and those many parts of the picture which concentrate on this angle, are beautiful and reverent iu the extreme. .Some of the greatest masterpieces of painting have been made into screen tableaux for "I3eu Hur," quite the most memorable of which are Da Vinci's "Last Supper," and Tissot's exquisite "Pool of Siloam." The cast of players enact their roles in excellent manner. Apart from Novarro aud Bushman, already'mentioned, there are Betty Bronson, as the Madonna, giving a perfect piece of acting in an honoured roJe, May McAvoy as Esther, Nigel do Brulier as Simonides, and Winter Hal! as Joseph* the Carpenter, a grave aud silent piece of acting. Sir David McGill, in a prologue, sings "Star of Bethlehem," while a quartet of choris-U-r:=, during the sequence depicting the C3rryi:i« a! the Cross-, sing "Abide With Vie." The Grand Orchestra, specially augmented for "Ben Hur," plays the'special score written for the picture. The box plans are at The Bristol Piano Company, where seats may be reserved.