“KING OF KINGS.”

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 17 October 1928, Page 2

“KING OF KINGS.”

WONDERFUL FILM PRESENTATION. GREAT STORY COMES TO LIFE A crowded house at the Opera House last evening greeted the first presentation of the picture “The King of Kings,” which has been secured by the proprietors for a four-night season. Hie tense, gripping drama of the age old story held the audience under a spell only broken by the peace and tranquility of the ‘closing scenes. Superb acting ana ncauty of pnoxography piay a large part in the faithful reproduction of the many and varied scenes in which the use of old masterpieces, quickened into life, furnish an amazingly beautiful series of dramatic movement. Opening with the riotous feasting scene at the house of Mary Magdalen, whose anxiety for her lover, Judas' Iscariot, leaas to her appearance before Jesus, the casting out ot the seven devils within her and hertotal acceptance of Him as her master, the picture visualises the scenes of reverence and adoration of the multitude, depicting miracles performed and pain’and agony borne with that fortitude and humility which has provided the great example to the world. Tense dramatic scenes follow throughout the theme of the story, giving new touches to old beliefs and throwing into bold relief the arrogance, cunning and venomous hatred of Jesus and Jus teachings by Oaiaphas, the High Priest. Tlie healing of the boy Mark (later to become one of the most faithful chi oniclers of the life of Christ) and his leading into His presence of the blind maiden, the restoring of her sight and her great joy provide scenes unparaileled°in the picture world. . Throughout the whole picture provides a reverent rendering of the great storv leading to the betrayal by Judas, the taking of Jesus at Gethsemane, the appearance before and. scourging at tbe order of Pontius Pilate, whose appeal to the, multitude and eventual washing of his hands of the disposal of Jesus leads to the short-lived triumph of Caiaphas. all culminating in the terriblv realistic scenes at and. following the' crucifixion. Probably the most beautiful scene is that depicting the calm and peace prevailing at the sepulchre at the dawninc of the third day and the arrival of ° Alarv to find the tomb riven, the stone rolled away and her Master gone, her great joy upon His appearance before her and His appearance among the disciples before the final ascension. . This stupendous production provides a wealth of meaning, of tense drama and pathos relieved here and there with touches of humour, _ which, serve to heighten the dramatic situations wfncli only the genius of a great producer could hope to portray.