"BEN HUR” OPEN'S AT PALACE TO-MORROW

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6541, 24 February 1928, Page 8

"BEN HUR” OPEN'S AT PALACE TO-MORROW

The filming l of the great chariot race in “Ben-Hur” was one of the most difficult tasks assigned to Fred Is'iblo in making the screen version of General Lew Wallace’s classic for Mctro-Goldwyn-Maycr. The Antioch Circus sequence, the most thrilling moment in this super-picture shown at tho Palace Theatre to-morrow was filmed by using every resource of the Mctvo-Goldwyn-Maycr studios in Culver City, California, Besides the large army of volunteer Graeco-Komans, some 10,000 extras were on hand, costumed, bearded, be-wigged by 9 a.m. when they took thir places in the vast amphitheatre. With this enormous throng at work, with forty-eight horses galloping around the course in the mad seven laps of tho great Chariot Race, with 150 horses utilised tho scene was made with precision and wouth an accident, Mr. Niblo worked most of the day from his tower nearly 100 feet high, supervising tho forty-two cameras that shot 53 000 feet of negative during tho day. Tho first section of the players in the games was that of the fifty-four Roman Imperial Guard memboM who

rode into the arena on Horseback, to clear the course. Meanwhile, many were rushing to and from the stands to the betting corner; Sanballat and his tablet were seen hurriedly recording wagers; Sheik Ilderim with Iras, and Simonides with Esther were seen in their box while all about thousands of Homans, aews, Egyptians, Assyrians and .others gesticulated and chattered in anticipation of the great race. Besides the director’s “loud speakr” orders to every part of the arena and auditorium, .the camera people used the signalling system of army and navy flags to convey the orders of “Camera’’, "Fade-out” and “Cut!” Not only that, 12,000 feet of ordinary telephone wire conveyed overhead verbal directions. An airplane flew overhead to record high and long shots directly down on the crowd. The buglers blew their final signal. Huge tapestries were flung back, and out dashed twelve chariot teams with drivers in gay colours and attendants in more sober effects. The teams came on, four horses to each of the dozen chariots. The start was almost perfect, save that Ben-Hur 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 A. Bushman, as Messala, was off fourth, as eaiw lor bv the story .