STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 235, 23 December 1927, Page 14

STRAND

“BEN-HUR” Glowing tradition clusters around the name of “Ben-Hur.” As a book it has been translated into ten different languages, and was the first novel to be translated into Arabic. As a stage play it set a new mark of magnificence and dramatic perfection, and is one of the immortals of theatrical history. * As produced by Metro-Gold wynMayer, the greater “Ben-Hur,” now being shown at the Strand Theatre, exceeds the stage play beyond all comparison, just as the new art of the motion picture, that has the whole world for its canvas, exceeds the older one of the stage. - • Now the story of “Ben-Hur,” with all its love, its hate and its spectacular magnificence, is presented with amazing reality and inspiring fidelity. The novel could give but a vague description of scenes and surroundings. The stage could but feebly imitate them. The screen presents them — perfect to the merest detail. Twelve teams of four horses each race seven laps around a real arena of vast proportions in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s presentation of the greater “Ben-Hur.” A fleet of one hundred triremes, which could have transported the* warriors of ancient Rome, goes into battle with pirates on the Tyrrhenian Sea. In this manner and into every incident the picture imparts warmth and human feeling and kindles into life a majestic drama which is without a parallel. Involving an expenditure of two million pounds sterling and three years of incessant endeavour, “Ben - Hur” stands as the consummation of everything that motion picture makers have been striving for since the beginning of the industry.