Indianapolis Times, Volume 38, Number 189, Indianapolis, Marion County, 13 November 1926 — Page 7

XOV. 13, 1926'

STAR OF‘BEH-HUR’ WRITES OF BIG ROLE .IN FEATURE FILM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture Starts Second Week at English’s. By Ray moil Novarro “Ben-Hur,” now playing at English's and all next week, had a curious effect on me. I had read—or had heard road —the novel when a boy, retaining only vaguely a amemory of it; and when Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer offered me the role of BenHur in the picturization of the Lew Wallace novel, it just seemed an actor’s job—very interesting and important, it is true; yot, essentially, like other work. One of the studio staff suggested: "Read the book! I accepted the suggestion, and dipped "i had gotten only into the Wise Men of the East scene when I realized that here was a setting that transcended any book or play or continuity I had ever been acquainted with. The Star of Bethlehem — the Nativity ... the Adoration ... the Edict of Herod . . . the Blight into Egypt—nearly a hundred pages filled with the mightiest event in history. The proud Sadduoean family, and the lowly Jesus. How could I help being chilled by the contrast? How indeed fail to realize what the story meant! Truly Ben-Hur is beautifully pictured by Lew Wallace. Ingenuous, brave %nd boyish, devoted to his mother and sister, filled with youthful enthusiasm for his chum and equally for the world’s high adventure, yet deeply prideful and willing to dare and suffer all rather than to forego principle. What a lightness, an idyllic quality if I may say so, in, his first meeting with Esther in the market place, where he restores the crippled dove to her hand and craves to know her better. The more somber parts of the action brought to my attention again the marvels of the book In its painting of the wickedness, lust and cruelty of tho Greek or Roman world at the opening of the Christian era, and the sublime power of our Holy foith in combating these conditions and eventually overcoming them. It was recreation at this period to visit the Castle of St. Angelo, the museum and library of the Vatican, St. Peter’s Cathedral and in particular the wonderful £lstine and other galleries where the concepts of our religion are plcturized In visible form by Michael Angelo and Raphael. Had I wanted a demonstration of th/s truth that the world changes but human nature Is more or less permanent, I could equally have found it in the violent quarrels twixt the Fasclstl and anti-Fasclstl 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 Livornian with Roman. If it had not been for Fred Niblo, our diplomatic director, the magnificence of the sea fight could not have been obtained. Grandeur of General Wallace’s depiction of the great Antioch scenes and tho 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. I rejoiced in the role and it has bettered mo mentally and spiritually and I might add physically. Such a part oomes but once in a lifetime and I am glad that it come only once because it is so close to th*: foundations of our beings, to the Godward impulses that are within us.

MOTION PICTURES

HOOT GIBSON IN “The Phantom Bullet” Sunday, Monday, Tuesday “Aloma of the South Seas” With GIEPA GRAY. PERCY MARMOT TODAY GEORGE: WALSH IN “The Count of Luxemberg” SUNDAY, MONDAY “Rustling for Cupid” Featuring GEORGE O’BRI'EN f* F' (|||( t ' :l Be * f prh’ONES - IBelow lOC m ZERO” a! the f/'f Pathe Review Time f|gg Brav Pictograph SUN.. MON. AND TUES. COLLEEN MOORE in* “It Must Be Love” Hamilton Comedy Koko Song Car-tune News and Fable Wed. & Thur., “THE OLD SOAK” Fri. & Sat., “Amateur Gentleman”

Here Is Pat

'^ir*

Phil Brown announces that Pat Rooney and Marion Brent will top the bill at Keith's for the week of Nov. 21.

ARDATH, NICOLA AT‘VAUD’HOUSES (Continued From Page

new act conceived for laughing purposes only. KINZO —Comedy juggler who give's a marvelous exhibition of skill and remarkable dexterity. FAUNTLERCY AND VAN—A unique comedy pair known as “The Oklahoma Slickers.” OXFORD TRIO —Athletic stars in a speedy exhibition of basketball played on bicycles. ON TRW SCREEN—A Ben Turpin comedy, “Harem Knight,” Kinograms, a Pathe Review and an episode of the Bill Grim series adapted from the prize ring stories of H. |C. Wltwer. The giraffe is believed to exist for three-quarters of the year without water in North Kalahari.

romance / Cl’/not' Qfxm% PRODUCTION & & LOVE'S BLINDNESS -d PAULINE STARKE ANTONIO MORENO ULYAN TASHMAN SAM DE GRASSE A THROBBING'LOVE STORY TOLD AS ONLY ELINOR GLYN CAN TELL IT! \ Helen and Warren Comedy “BACK TO MOTHER” DAD PAOnriM —WIZARD ORGANIST—DV/O UV/aUVn Playing Novelty Organ Solo OIMIIEMVK AND HIS GANG f

ROUNDING ROUND rpur 1? A r P UU Q With WALTER 1 llLiv I LJXO D HICKMAN

Just what part good shownanship plays in putting over a picture to satisfactory box office results has been well illustrated here this week. The Red Grange movie, “One Minute To Play,’’ had a spotted experience, according to reports, before it arrived at the Circle.

I consider it a “freak draw.” meaning that a man who has no claim to being a good or a bad actor is given the lead/ because he is a shark and a great box office draw in professional footbalj, circles. Ace Berry was not satisfied to sit still and let things take care of itself during* the week of the Red Grange picture. Ho invited the football teams of all of the high schools of this city as well as the yell leaders to be his guests. He then named those nights Manual., Shortridge, Cathedral and the like. And where the team went, so did the student body. And they had a grand time. Dessa Byrd ripped off the school songs and hundreds of students joined in with all l*ieir power. Then the yell leaders appeared and turned she Circle Into about the, most noisy place in tho city, it was great fun. I dropped in one night this week while the yelling was going on and tlio singing. The Circle was certainly a live place. And the audience enjoyed every minute of the fun. And this is a splendid example of what splendid showmanship can and will do when properly applied by a theater management, and Ace Berry knows how to apply It. And so Red Grange and his movie will be on the right side of the ledger because a theater manager knew how to sell his product. Another example Is the coming of Fred Ardath to the Palace next week. Herb Jennings Rnd Eugene Reid have been so busy that the public has forgotten about the visit of

MOTION PICTURES

THE LNDIAJNAEOLUS TIMES

Queen Marie and are looking forward to the arrival of Ardath. In , just a few day’s time Herb Jennings | has made the name of Ardath as familiar ;,s the name of radio in every home of the city. A marvelous and powerful accomplishment. A. F. Miller, at English's, knew ] that "Ben-Hur” was such a poweri ful and well-known attraction that : it would play nightly to capacity I after it started. And it has done ; just that. Miller lot Indianapolis and Indiana !/v\v th>‘ time and the I place of “Ben-Hur" and the public | did tne rest. | All very interesting and very true. I- -I- -I* I am permitted to reproduce the following item of interest regarding “Beau Geste”: Tho authors of popular novels usually have ample <ause for complaint when their hooks are adapter! for the movies, but this ran hardlv be the ease wah Major Pereival Wren says Laurence St allj incs. motion picture critic, who reviews I “Beau Geste" as the play of the month for the December McCall's. I Savs Mr. Sherwood: “Here, it sems to me. is one instance in which the value of a story is maintMiud and even increased on the screen. ‘Beau Geste.’ in hook form, was a rousing stirring and vividly romantie tale: “Beau Geste.’ iujlilm form, is all that and more, "Mr. IW non emerges from ‘Beau Geste with more, laurels than he had ever won before, even in his exauisito reproduction of ‘Peter Pan.' Here he; shows that he can achieve strength as well as beautv oil the screen His scenes of the desert are indescribably lovely, and the characters that move through these scenes are vital and alive. In its wav. ‘Beau Getde is as thoroughly virile as ‘The Big Parade. “Wisely enough. Mr. Brenon has not stinted himself in the matter of the cast for his production. He has enlisted the services rtf such high-priced players as Ronald Column. Alice Joyce, Noah Berry. Mary Brian. William Powell. Neil Hamilton ' Ra.nh Forbes. Norman Trevor and Victor McLaglan: with the result that ‘Beau Greste’ is filled with brilliant performances. _ . “The work of Noah Beery stands out in heroic relief. As the bronzed, blustering brutal Adjutant Lciaune. commander of the Lost Lesion of Ft. Zindereuf. Mr. Bcerv strikes positive sparks of genius.

His characterization deserves to be ranked with those of the great German actor. Emil Jannings. than which no praise (from this reviewer, at least) can be higher.” The following letter explains it- ; self: C. Roltard Eggleston. Manager of Keith’s Theater, Indianapolis, Ind., My Dear Mr. Eggleston: The Indiana Magical Fraternity wishes to extend to you their sincere j congratulations in securing “The j Great Nicola” for your next weeks I bill. We are sure that he will prove , a rare treat for your audiences. lils fc not the size act ordinarily expected on the variety stage, but a real production. He is a real credit to the world of magic and to the vaude- I villo stage. Our members here expect to attend in a body sometime during the week, not only the local i members hut quite a few lrotn out! In the State. We know it will he a : magical event to have him with us, and that the show will longue remembered. To Nicola we wish to extend a warm welcofne and assure him that as far as It lays in our powers, the city is his. Sincerely yours. The Indiana Magical Fraternity, per Bert Servaas, president; W. C. Brumfield, secretary. I ! FORD TO DIRECT ‘MOTHER’ j John Ford, the director of I "Mother Machree,”l is. one of the I j’oungest in his field, having been Gtorn in 1895. Vet he has several jof the biggest pictures of movie ! history to his credit.

iMSyV 17 Vi/ nMPWW t \ M BIG STARS\ ' / , . 1 | r- '—' women learned about men from him I 1 ben He had the devil In his eye and love In his heart—he wan > n | many women’s playmate and but one girl’s sweetheart. 1m I lu ‘ G * * I For twenty years his life was secluded—his love lay unawak* MJ d —and then It burst forth—-he was free wild—f|| - sa <o’~‘ unrestrained. 11$ 3h Lothar Mendes, the famous European director, In this his Jgjf ■m rw: fin fvr Ail INS 1 first American picture, has told a wonderful story, with If wL beautiful scenes, gorgeous settings, all woven Into one great Mm ■ '\j os£7 A First National Picture S \L t**JTTB “Selected Overture* jfijjjf 1 ftjl Circle Symphonic Orchestra M Stolarevsky £ fc, A !§fc S' D ii conducting " \ MARY Circle Comedy JW Nil STfe i Circle Scenic V”” K Circle Chats Ar | 1 A^j

MUTUALLY BURLESQUE THEATRE Under Direction of the Mutual Burlesque Association of New York City

LADIES AT THE <)P WK.-DAY MATINEE UO C

On the Screen Next Week CIRCLE —Ben Lyon In “The Prince of Tempters.” APOLLO —Mabel Normand in “Raggedy Rose’’ and another feature. COLONIAL —Elizabeth Patterson in “The Return of Peter Grimm.” OHIO —Antonio Mdreno in "Love’s Blindness.” UPTOWN Love,” with Colleen Moore, three days, starting Sunday. iftlS—Buck Jones in “Thirty Below Zero,” the first part/ of the week.

‘Ghosts’

Clayton Hamilton, author, dramatist and traveler, will lecture under the auspices of the Public Library in Cropsey auditorium, Central Library, Thursday evening, Nov. 18, at 8:30 p. m. on “Ibsen and His Influence on the Modern Drama.” Mr. Hamilton is lecturing in advance of Minnie Maddern Fiske’s appearance here in "Ghosts.” This lecture is free to all. Mrs. Fiske has been booked for Indianapolis around Thanksgiving time. •SUMMER BACHELORS’ Os all tin- “Summer Bachelors,” in she photoplay. Matt Moore is the only one who carried the bachelor in real life.

RAY READ AND HIS SPEED GIRLS ° 1927 WITH NELLIE NICE AND THE FAMOUS HOOP-LA CHORUS ! SNAP-PEPS

THEATRE GUILD ! TO PRESENT NEW CHRISMS PLAT Mrs. Samuel R. Artman Is Author of Yuletide Pageant. Mrs. W. O. Bates of the Indianapolis Theatre Guild announced that the Guild had secured the rights to anew Christmas play written by Mrs. Samuel R. Artman of this city.! The play is entitled “Christmas in Many Lands,” and it deals with the origin of our present Christmas customs and the manner in which they vary in different lands and climates. Mrs. Artman is well known as a lecturer and is ari International figure in the National Council of WornI en. She was a member <it the first j party to tour the old world, includ- 1 | ing Germany, after the World War. j i She has extensively traveled little j known byways and famous high-1 ' ways from the tip of South America 1 to the fjords of the Arctic regions, and in this play she presents authoritative resumes of the customs ; and phycology of all climes. Mrs. Artman was one of the women chosen to represent the National Council of women of the United States at the World’s International i Quinquennial 1n Norway In 1920.

MOTION PICTURES

AMUSEMENTS

What the Theaters Offer Today ENGLISH’S— “Ben-Hur." KEITH’S —Dare and WahL LYRIC— Yip, Yip. Yaphangers. PALACE —Kelso Brothers and their revue. OHIO —Monty Bunks in “Atta Boy.” COLONIAL—George Jessel in “Private Izzy Murphy.” APOLLO —“The Four Horsemen.” CIRCLE—Red Grange in “One Minute to Play.” UPTOWN—“The Code of the Northwest.” ISlS—“Rapid Fire Romance.” MUTUAL —Burlesque.

From her wide experience and keen observation she lias accumulated the material on which this Christmas play is based. From simple romance to gorgeous pageantry the Christmas idea is shown as it circles the globe. The cast will include many well-known Indianapolis persons and the entire ensemble will number over 250. Because of the j size of the production the ptay will ! lie staged at the Cadle Tabernacle. ! Mrs. Bates states that, in her opln- ! ion. this play will outrival the war and peace pageant staged by this society lust year. The play will be under tho direction of Carleton Guy and will be presented Saturday night, Dec. 18. Tickets will go on sale Monday morning, Nov. 16, at the Kauts sta- . tionery store, 110 N. Pennsylvania Ist.

\r f ~ m GINGER

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