Evening star., 1926-10-03
From Wilkes-Barre, Pa,
Via Paris, to Ancient Rome
BY PHlLANDER JOHNSON.

the auths1t,c descriptions OF the
original French farce from which it
was taken. There is sometimes a
feeling of resentment at the liber-
ties presumably taken by the Ameri-
can adapter> in handling the works
of more or less newly arrived Euro
pean authors. AS matter OF TACT,
many OF the plays that go on the
foreign stage are hastily devised and
content with bringing out some one
point OF fun o: romance without
app;ying the time that would be
necessary TO give the plot proper
ton and the characters polish.
Zoe Akins should be given honor
airy membership in a society for res
cuing play plots from the slums.
She has made an idylic thing of
what was at first only glimpse OF
the same old story OF father and
boy meeting as rivals for the same
sweetheart. This blunt condensa-
ton of the play reflects the impress
sion conveyed to those who knew
it in its origin. 1t was about the
same story that has been told regu-
larly in every weekly edition OF the
Partisan comic papers ever since long
before the war Miss BANTER makes
the character not cocotte. tut
girl i;nrnutabie in the devotion OF
first love; Bruce McRae makes the
father d gentleman veCy stern, but
rejoicing II last in the discovery that
he has heart. and George Marion
ilovers through the scene like big,
ban;pn browne whose mission it is
10 exert subtle influence OF happl-
ness for ali concerned, 1t is one OF
the very few plays which reserve
.lie big scene for the final act. The
final situation requires the most deli
cate treatment. It is developed to
its fullest possibilities OF comedy,
with never a niisstep OF false move.
So far as acting attalnments are con-
cerned, the role reveals Miss Banter
to the best advantage OF anything
she has yet played. Possibly a great
many Parisians would be deeply
grateful if they could have their
works revised and embellished by
some oi the American playwrights
before presentation III the French
capital.
The films again assert themselves
as the most practical and effective
medium for the big dramatic idea.
Ben Hur" is still read as a novel,
and it is still greater as novel than
as play. Its greatness now as
scenario does not equal its great
ness as a drama In spite of its long
tourney into the past for material
and tie wears of acquaintance the
pubi:c has enjoyed with the story,
the tno-mous film production IS the
last word III moderEity. 1t shows
what You can do with two million
or three million dollars. or maybe
four or FIVE million. by needing the
example set by Mr.. Won Strohe'm
in Foolish Wives.
The galley scene and the chariot
race show the determnatiop to spare
no expense. The effects are colossal
and compelling as they convey the
reminder that all the world has be-
come stage. not merely tor the
philosopher. but for the director OF
the films. The magnificent perspee-
tiyes on sea and land which the story
suggests are reflected on the large
scale that uses the sky itself tor a
backdrop.
The spirit OF religious interest IS
not offered as impressively as IL
was in the drama. What might De
referred TO as the sporting intereSt
IS much more effectualiE developed
and when Ben-Hur wins his chariot
race the audience applaudS-a rare
demonstration i'll pictureS--aS II II
were acclaiming victor as unex-
pected as Gene Tunney himself.
The extrayagances Of old Rome are
depicted in a manner to promote
contentment with our present CIVIL
cation. The fascinations OF spiendor
are irresistible. Yet the manner IN
which humanity may be mace 10
contribute to that splendor, at tear
f,I sacrifice of life and character, IS
made grimly clear. The chariot race
leaves us grateful for our ,. K. - ~
and for the rules which govern the
turf. The scene showing the gal
lcys, regarded by many as the 1nost
impressive of all. seems milestone
in human history, from which we
NAV calculate the wonderful rapldity
Of change from state of mankind
which chained the helpless merci-
lessly to their cars. to an era when
Mr.. Ford. in Detroit, is startling the
industrial world by seeking to re-
duce the already much-shortened
hours Of those who do an irksome
and perfunctory task, bcn-Hur
is one of the finest excursions OF the
films into the library yet under
taken. 1t shows heroic effort to
make the magniheence OF camera
craft equal the splendor of the theme
itself.