SOPHISTICATED ROMANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 162, 12 July 1939, Page 4

SOPHISTICATED ROMANCE.

"NEAREST THING TO HEAVEN." Starting out as a facile sophisticated comedy, '"Nearest Tiling To Heaven," opening at the Civic 1 licatrc 011 Friday, shifts tempo, and becomes a straight love story, of a woman and a. man regenerated by their mutual desire to merit each other's affections. Kxcellent performances are given in the principal roles by Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer, two stars whose popularity ranks high in Auckland. Miss Dunne has concentrated 011 light comedies in the past, but she shows, in '"Nearest Thing To Heaven," the same dramatic ability which won her such wide .acclamation in "Magnificent Obsession." Boyer, of course, needs . 110 introduction to Aueklandci s. and his capabilities arc well known. His acting in this film is, 'according to adv.nice reports, well up to the best lie has done, and so Aucklanders may expect something distinctly better than average. Main supporting roles are filled by Maria Ouspensknya, Ijcp Bowman, Astrid Alwyn and Maurice Moscovitch. Although the dramatic story is concentrated 011 in the til 111 Miss Dunnes glorious singing voice is not neglected, and she presents two numbers. "Wishing" and "Sins My llea.it." In the plot a J-rench playboy (Boyer) and a singer (Miss Dunne) meet 011 shipboard and fall in love. They agree to meet attain in six months to see if their love still lasts. 'I lie dramatic complications 'hat follow work up to an impressive climax. "Ferdinand the Bull," Walt Disney's latest masterpiece, is on the same pro-