STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 254, 17 January 1928, Page 15

STRAND

“BEN'-HUR” “Ben-Hur,” which is now in its fifth wondeful week at the Strand Theatre, is an adaptation of Geenral Lew Wallace’s famous tale written 43 years ago Its drama is wonderful, its emotionalism splendid, and its spiritual significance sincere and effective. Scene after scene is presented in such a manner as to produce a dignified, wonderful and thrilling spectacle. The Biblical scenes are handled with consummate care, taste and reticence. Through a shrewd and skilful use of the camera, with views taken from almost every possible position, the famed chariot race becomes a thing of glowing moment and frantic thrill. It is gripping in its realism. Glorious and dashing steeds thunder around the arena To the cracking of whips and the roars of the multitude, they strain every nerve. The tenseness, the energy and the thrills of the contest all are experienced by the audierme, who are worked up to a great pitch of enthusiasm. Every scene, every incident of the picture carries either a strange reverent import, or a virile, human note. All the splendour, all the cruelty and all the power and ruthlessness of the old Roman rule are portrayed. “Ben-Hur” has an historical and a romantic interest which alone would make it a masterpiece. On one side there is the literary romance of the picture, and on the other the vivid reality of some of the more impressive and thrilling scenes.

The story of “Ben-Hur” opens with the Star of Bethlehem and the guidance of Joseph and Mary to the Cave of David, when they were refused accommodation at the inn. Twenty years pass and the youthful Ben-Hur suffers a rebuff when welcoming his. erstwhile friend, the Roman Messala. Ben-Hur finds himself condemned to the galleys, while his mother and sister are sent to a leper-haunted dungeon. Three years go by and Ben-Hur, freed, seeks for revenge on Messala. A wonderful climax is reached. The actors have handled their parts with an artistry and delicacy of treatment that add greatly to the enjoyment of the picture. Ramon Novarro is admirably suited to the role of Ben-Hur, and he sustains the part with distinction. May McAvoy, Betty Bronson and Francis X. Bushman all perform in a manner which stamps them as actors of the first rank, while Winter Hall, a native of New Zealand, gives a dignified personation. The augmented Strand Symphony Orchestra gives brilliant assistance to the production. As a prologue to the photo-play, Mr. Birrell O’Malley renders a tenor solo, “The Star of Bethlehem.”