The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-11-13
STAR OF 'BEy-HUR'
WRITES OF BIC ROLE
IN FEATURE film
Metro GoIdWyn-Mayer Pic
ture Starts Second Week
at EngliSh'S.
IN RaymOn NOvarrO

"Ben.Hur." now playing at Eng
Iish's and all next week, had curl
ous effect on me. I had read-or
had heard read-the novel When
how. retaining only vaguely a amen
orv of it: and when Metro-GoldWyh-
MAYER offered me the role OF Ben
Hur in the perturbation of the Lew
Wallace novel. it just seemed an ac-
TORS iob-very interesting ana I'M
portant, it is true; yet, essentially
like other work. One of the studio
staff suggested: Read the book.
accented tie suggestion, and dipped
in
had gotten only into the Wise
Men Of the East scene when L real
lied that here was setting that
transcended any book or play or
continuity had ever been acqua1nt-
ed with. The Star OF Bethlehenl-
4ho Nativity the Alteration
the Edict of Herod
the Flight into Egypt-nearly hun
dred pages filled with the m1ghtlest
event in history. The proud Saddu-
ceap family, and the lowly Jesus!
How could [ help being chilled by
me contrast? How indeed fail TO
realize what the story meant!
Truly Ben-Hur is beautifully pic
t7,red by Lew Wallace. Ingenious
brave and boyish, devoted TO ms
mother and sister, filed with youth
ru1 enthusiasm for his chum and
eAually for the worlds high adven-
t11re. vet deeply prideful, and wiling
to dare and suffer all rather than to
forego principle. What charming
lightness. an idyllic quality II may
saw SO in, his first meeting with
Esther in the market place, where ne
restores the crippled dove to her
hand and Graves to know her better.
The more somber parts of the ac-
ton brought to my attention again
the narvels Of the book in Its paint
ing of the wickedness, lust anu
cruelty of the Greek or Roman
world at the opening of the chris
+iaA era and the sublime power OF
or Holy faith in combating these
conditions and eventually oVercoIn-
ing them. 1t was recreation at this
period to visit the Castle OF 81
Angelo. the museum and library OF
the Vatican, st. Peters Cathedral
and in particular the wonderful Sis
tine and other galleries where the
concepts Of our religion are pictur-
lied in visible form by Michael
Angelo and Raphael.
Had I wanted a demonstration OF
the truth that the world changes but
human nature Is more or less per
nlanent, could equally have found
IL In the violent quarrels twixt the
Fascist and anti-F'ascisd that
marked the making of our scenes
with myself as Ben-Hur as the
galley slave in the sea fight. Not
only these political divisions but even
geographical divisions were the cause
of fierce quarrels. Roman would
not work with Livornian, nor Livor-
man with Roman If 1t had not
been for Fred Niblo, our diplomatic
director, the magniticence of the sea
fight could not have been obtained.
Grandeur Of General Wallace's de-
piction Of the great Antioch scenes
and the thrilling chariot race is such
that it fired me to meet his ideal of
the dauntless Jew who wins through
to victory in the circus maximus
and to the love of Esther.
1 rejoiced in the role and 1t has
bettered me mentally and spiritually
and might add physically. Such a
part comes but once in a lifetime
and l am glad that it come. only
once because it is so close to the
foundations of our beings, to the
Godward impulses that are within
US.