'BEN HUR'

Evening Star, Issue 19783, 6 February 1928, Page 4

'BEN HUR'

A MAGNIFICENT PRODUCTION The impregnable might that was Rome's two thousand years ago; the legions of proud warriors ;_ the pomp and magnificence and vanity of the queen city of the world; the multitudinous creeds and colors and races that made the mighty Empire; the pleasuremad crowds; the sublime faith of the persecuted Christian and the bitter persecution of tyrannical Romans—all these live once again, with the reality of flesh and .blood to-day in ‘ Ben Hur,’ which is now being screened at the Octagon and Empire Theatres. With amazing beauty and immensity, the immortal story of * Ben Hur ‘ is presented on the screen. Vivid indeed is the brief but romance-charged meeting of Ben Hur and Esther, the daughter of Simonides, bond slave of the Royal Hur family. Then comes tho tragedy of Ben Hur’s wrongful arrest at the hands of Messala, the Roman and his former friend, his sentence to spend his lifetime at the oars of a Roman galley, and the imprisonment of his mother and sister. Awe-inspiringly presented is the sea battle in which Ben Hur saves the life of Arrius, his commander, who shows his gratitude by making the young man his foster son. Risen to power and fame, Ben Hur searches ceaselessly for his lost ones, and again meets Esther, whose father j has become rich by carefully guarding the riches of the house of Hur. At j last Ben Hur meets Messala, his enemy, face to face in tho Circus Maximus at Antioch, and contemptuously challenges him to a contest to the death in the chariot races in which both have entered. In the most marvellous scenes ever caught by the camera twelve fourhorse chariots career madly around the hug© arena. Nearing the end of a desperate struggle, Ben Hur locks his chariot wheel with that of Messala, and hurls him into the dust amid a welter of splintered wreckage and lashing steeds.w Then news is brought to Ben Hur that One has come who will save his people from the Roman invader. Pledging his wealth—now restored to him by Simonides—his sword and his life to the cause, Ben Hur hurries forth to raise an army, after pouring out his love to Esther. A force stronger than he sheathes his sword, however, and disbands his followers; but his mother and sister are miraculously restored to freedom, health, and to him. Throwing his arms around them and around Esther, who risked her life to find them, he exclaims: “Oh, blessed day that has given mo back mother, sister, and thee.” The title role is played by Ramon Novarro, while May M'Evay 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 ‘ Tho 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.