‘BEN HUR'

Evening Star, Issue 19782, 4 February 1928, Page 5

‘BEN HUR '

THE SCREEN'S MASTERPIECE A TALE OF THE CHRIST 1 Ben Hur ’ stands as the consummation of everything that motion picture makers have been striving for from the beginnings of the unspoken drama-. It is a masterpiece so rare and fine and full of majesty that it can_ only be compared to the greatest achievements in the realmj of art and literature. Lew Wallace, when ho wrote ‘Ben Hur,’ succeeded admirably in an ambitious task, the task of weaving a fiery and passionate romance > about a story which happened at the time when the greatest theme of all originated—the birth, life, and death of Jesus Christ. The readers of the famous novel are legion. Hundreds attended tlie Dunedin premiere of ‘ Ben Hur ’ at the Octagon and Empire Theatres last evening and marvelled at the power, beauty, and fidelity of a stupendous production. Its picturing of the life of the time is intensely interesting, intensely true, and superbly colorful. _ There are scenes in the picture which have been a matter of literary and romantic history since the book was first written. First and foremost the chariot race. When reading of the race in the original, one thought that one had found the greatest piece of excitement that had ever happened, but the screen vrsion, so much more difficult to deal with convincingly, is even more intense. The passion and intensity of the rivalry between the two principals, the Wonderful spectacle of the race, with the perfectly matched and superb teams straining every muscle, withal answering to the touch of the driver as if he had been part of themselves, exercises a grip that knows no failing till Ben Hur drives past the judges a victor, and the arrogant Messala is trampled, bruised, and broken in the dust. To reproduce the beauty of the artistic prologue, which depicts the following of the Star and the Birth of Christ, an improved technicolor process was used which imparts all the rich warmth of a painting by an old master.

Besides its tz'emendous magnitude and the universal fame of the novel and play, ‘ Ben Hur ’ has an entirely new claim to being the most remarkable picture ever produced. It depicts the customs and manners of twenty different races of tire period of Czesar Augustus during the first century. The life of the Roman conquerors, of Jewish princes, of Egyptian slaves, the sheiks of the Arabian deserts, of glaley slaves of all nationalities, and of the hundreds of types prevalent along the _ east coast of the Mediterranean during the world of the ancients, are all in the picture. The title role is played by Ramon Novarro., Endowed with natural dignity and poise, Novarro is enabled to make this portrayal one of convincing sincerity. Never for one moment is he anything but the boy of two thousand years ago; never once does he allow the imagination to stir from those days of dramatic happenings. May M'Avoy interprets the role of Esther. Other stars are Francis X. Bushman as Messala,_ Carmel Myers as Iras, Nigel de Brulier as Simonides, Kathleen Key as Tirzah, Claire M'Dowell as the mother of Ben Hur, and Betty Bronson as the Madonna. A fine prologue lends a remarkable atmospheric effect to the production. Garbed in the roles of shepherds, Mr Les. Dailey and Mr Reg. Richards sing ‘The Star of Bethlehem’ at the Empire and Octagon respectively. In the deeply impressive closing scenes ‘ Abide With Me,’ sung by a hidden choir, serves to enhance the simplicity and beauty of a remarkable production. ‘Ben Hur’ will be screened at all sessions until further notice.