'BEN HUR'

Evening Star, Issue 19775, 27 January 1928, Page 8

'BEN HUR'

The magnificent plot, _ brilliant characterisation, ami beautiful love story are among the out standing reasons why ‘Ben Hur’ lias gripped the imagination of the world lor filty years. In the motion picture coming to the Empire and Octagon Theatres next Friday the splendid portrayals of Ben Hur by Ramon Novarro, Esther by May M'Avoy, mother of Hur by Claire M'Dowell, and Tirzah by Kathleen Key, add to the effect and enhance the romance. These players lire the _ romantic side of the story, which is just as engrossing as the sea battle or oven the chariot race. Miss M'Avo.v, who previously was best remembered by her role, "of Gris',el in ‘ Sentimental Tommy,’ is a charming Esther, daughter of the merchant of Antioch, who secretly has saved the Hur fortune for the young heir, and_ Ramon Novarro in the Ben Hnr role is handsome, valiant, and his portrayal _ is marked Insincerity, depth of feeling. Perhaps the peepest note is struck after Ben Hur sets out to find his lost kin, who have been condemned to a living death in a forgotten Homan dungeon, and (unknown to him) finally released as outcasts. The mother and Tirzah find the youthful Ben _ Hur asleep on a bench outside the disused palace of Hur. The sister kisses his shoe, but the mother does not dare touch him. Silently they go away to save him from the ruin which is theirs. There are few dry eyes during the enactment of this scene, but the sorrow is turned to joy after Esther discovers the outcasts in the Vale of Hiunom, takes them to the Divine Healer, whose benediction cures them, and the happy four are reunited. Claire M'Dowell’s mother of Hur if a masterpiece that should he seen by all lovers of fine acting.