MAJESTIC THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 181, 27 April 1940, Page 16

MAJESTIC THEATRE

Not surprisingly, “The Women,” based on Clare Boothe's stage success of tlie same name, has entered a further Meek —the third—of a season at tlie Majestic Theatre. Tlie cast is one wlncn fairly bristles with popular names— Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell, Mary Boland, Pau ette Goddard, Virginia Weidler, and others—and, though throughout the whole length ot the film no mere man appears, tile theme centres on the matrimonial tangles and maladjustments of about six couples. The main character (and, incidentally, one of the few “nice” women in the story), is Mary Haines (Nonna Shearer), a loving wife and mother who. though married to Stephen for 10 years, still loves him as deeply as she ever did. One day Mary is aghast to discover that Stephen is conducting a clandestine love affair with Crystal Allen, a girl from tlie perfume counter of one of the big department stores. The set of women with whom she spends most of her time— Mary lives on Park Avenue, where money i s plentiful and none of the women seem to have many useful purposes in lite are not at all loath to help the disillusionment along to its—in their eyes—logical conclusion, and in the long run asks for and is given a divorce. Stephen then marries Crystal, and for two Y ear ® Mary lives in lonely misery; but only till site 'hears that Crystal is tired of being the wife of a “gentleman and has yet another admirer in tow. She then shows that she, too, can arch her back on occasions. and. after a scene with one of Crystal’s friends, she manages to stage a showdown in which Crystal is put out of countenance. In the last scene Mary is seen hastening along the passage ot a hotel toward Stephen, who has been asking for her.