DUNEDIN SECURES CLASSIC

Evening Star, Issue 19777, 30 January 1928, Page 3

DUNEDIN SECURES CLASSIC

PRINCE OF WALES AND ‘ BEN HUR ’ .Dunedin picture enthusiasts can look forward with considerable interest to the feature productions to bo screened in this city in the course of a lew weeks. As a box office attraction ‘ Ben Hur' has been a success the world over. -It has more than fulfilled the expectations of Bred Niblo, well known in those parts, its producer. The Metro-GoJdwyn-Mayer feature will be screened at the Empire and Octagon Theatres on February 3. “ A magnificent picture,’ said the Prince of Wales, after ‘Ben Hur’ had been shown in London to the Royal Family. And this praise is in effect what the world thinks of Metro-Gold-wyn-Maycr’s screen triumph. King and commoner, noble and nonentity, alike have been overwhelmed by ‘ Ben Hnr.’ It is ageless and ereedless, and by the very measure of its universality, breaks down all barriers of race and religious belief. It is a message for the multitude, and by the multitude has been raised to a pinnacle of unprecedented popularity. ‘ Ben Hur ’ is a masterpiece of surpassing beauty and magnitude, and in screen form dwarfs the stage play that itself created a furore.

Not alone on the dignity and power of its theme does the fame of ‘ Ben Hur ’ depend, and that it both elevates and inspires, but also for reasons dear to the hearts of a pleasure-loving world. Scenes of immensity that beggar description; scenes of beauty and fragrance that dry the wells of imagination ; scenes of elemental vigor and majesty and grandeur that to see them is to marvel at the power of men so to create; this is why ‘ Ben Plur ’ is a picture to be seen again and yet again. The sweep of sea fleets, the tramp ot countless legions, the pulsing heart of Rome, and the agony of Israel, the battle of men and steeds and racing blood, things buried Under the dust of centuries, are recreated and live again in this miracle of motion pictures. Novnrro is the main star, and in supporting roles are May APAvoy as Esther; Francis X. Bushman as Messala; Claire APDowell as the mother of Ben Hur; Kathleen Key as Tirzah; Nigel de Brulier as Simonides; Carmel Myers as Iras; Frank Currier as Arrius; and a host of distinguished artists.