MAJESTIC THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 157, 29 March 1941, Page 15

MAJESTIC THEATRE

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer have a knack of lighting on pleasant subjects for their “series” films, and among the best of these are the Dr. Kildare stories, which seem to improve from good to excellent as each comes out. The latest, now screening at the Majestic Theatre, is Dr. Kildare Goes Home,” with the usual cast of Lew Ayres as Dr. Kildare. Laraine Day aathe nurse, and Lionel Barrymore as the irascible Dr. Gillespie. This time Dr. Kildare has just finished his interne-ship and come out as a fullblown doctor, to receive a staff appointment as assistant to the famous diagnostician, Dr. Gillespie. He is full of the good news, but when he telephones his home, Mrs. Kildare replies in such a way as to make him suspect that something is wrong there. Sure enough, it is, for the depression .has hit the old country.town and Dr. Kildare, sen., is working himself to death trying to cope with the many ailments without assistance. Young Dr. Kildare attempts to give some help himself, and makes up his mind to give up his staff appointment to be a country doctor. But he remembers that there are many keen young doctors out pt work, and he decides, with the help of three of them, to start a co-operative clinic in Parkersvilje. The people are to be asked to contribute 10 cents a week to medical insurance— enough to run the clinic if a thousand join. But it sounds like “cheap medicine” to the conservative townspeople, in whom Kildare and his associates can arouse very little interest. A striking cure is needed to convince the doubters, and here the uncanny ski.l of Dr. Gillespie assists in the diagnosis of a case of a very well-known citizen, who is dramatically brought back from the jaws of death. . The story of this film is, in short, as simple and'straightforward as the others in the series; the extraordinary interest, excitement afid humour comes from the pleasant portrayal of character, the reallife drama and fun. “Young Dr. Kildare” has a sympathetic and pleasantset of characters .who cannot help put carry any audience along with them. Anu it is a tribute to the skill of direction and honesty of purpose of those who made it that one of the most dramatic moments seen in films is enacted so swiftly that it is gone before its full significance is reOver New Zealand,” a striking film about the Air Force iu New Zealand, produced by the Government film studios, heads an excellent supporting programme.