'BEN HUR’

Evening Star, Issue 19784, 7 February 1928, Page 3

'BEN HUR’

THRILLING CHARIOT RACE The filming of the great chariot race in ‘ I’en Hur ’ was one of the most difficult tasks assigned to Fred Niblo in making the screen version of General Lew Wallace’s classic for Melro-Goltlwyn-Mayer. This Antioch Circus sequence, the most thrilling moment in this super-picture, now being shown at the Empire and Octagon Theatres, was filmed by using every resource of the Mclro-Goldw,vn-Mayer studios in Culver City, California. Besides the largo army of volunteer Graeco-Romans, some 10,000 extras were on hand, costumed, bearded, and bewigged by 5) a.m., when they took their places in the vast amphitheatre. With this enormous throng at work, Avit.li forty-eight horses galloping around the couise in the mad seven laps of the great chariot ;acc, with 150 horses utilised, the scene was made with precision and without an accident. Mr Ntblo worked most of tho day from his tower nearly 100 ft. high, supervising the forty-two cameras that shot od.OUUlt of negative during the day. The first section of the players in the games was that, of the fifty-four Roman Imperial Guard members who rode into the arena on horseback to dec,- the course.

Meanwhile, many were rushing u. and from the stands to the betting corner; Sanhnllat and his tablet were seen hurriedly recording wagers; Sheik Ildorim with Iras, and, Simonides with Esther were seen in their box, while all about thousands of Remans, Jews, Egyptians, Assyrians, and others gesticulated and chattered in anticipation of the great race. Besides tho director’s “loud speaker ” orders to every part of the arena and auditorium, the camera people used tho signalling .system of army and navy flags to convoy the orders of "Camera,” “Fade-out,” and “Cut!” Not only that, P2,UOOft of ordinary telephone wire conveyed verbal direction. An airplane flew overhead to record high and low shots directly down on tho crowd. The buglers blew their final signal Hugo t;ipestri 3s were flung back, and out dashed twelve chariot teams with drivers in gay colors and attendants in more sober effects. The tennis on me on, four horses to each of the dozen chariots.

The start was almost perfect, save that Ben ITnr was crowded short and off in ninth position. This was correct. as the story of the picture follows that of General Lew Wallace’s book, which has him ninth at the start. Francis X. Bushman, ns Messala, ,va» off fourth, as called for by the story, William Donovan, with the Greek team of bays, took the inner pole quickly and held it for the first two laps Bushman came up on even terms at the beginning of the third nip and held that position until tho fourth, when he went to the front.

The sixth lap was the most exciting. Mickey Millcrick, a famous horseman, driving the Byzantine team of roans, caught the inner rail at tho south turn and just behind Hie Roman team. Jn doing so he crowded the Greek, Sidonian, Corinthian, and Athenian teams tar wide. The first went down, and soon the others piled on lop of him. There were actual shrieks from the throngs, and it seemed that someone must be hurt, perhaps fatally. Ben Hur (Ramon Navarro) had luckily gone wide and escaped the wreck. He wont on to get even at I lie beginning of the seventh and last lap, and then the great incident of flic story was enacted. Messnla’s wheel was torn off, and lie was smashed beneath his chariot and team. Ben Hnr wont on to win easily amid the cheers of the vast crowd.

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 1 at the Empire and Octagon respectively. In the deeply impressive closing scenes ‘ Abide With Me, 1 sung by a hidden choir, serves to enhance tho simplicity and beauty ot a remarkable production.