FORCEFUL DRAMA

Evening Star, Issue 21992, 30 March 1935, Page 21

FORCEFUL DRAMA

UNUSUAL STORY OF 1 DR MONICA ’ By treating an intensely dramatic theme of ' love and sacrifice, ‘Dr Monica,’ the Regent Theatre’s current attraction, makes unusual and particularly entertaining faro. I Dr Monica ’ is a thrilling story of a woman’s battle for love and happiness in the face of a startling set-back, and is well enacted by an exceedingly strong cast. In addition the picture has the advantage of extremely clear photography. Kay Francis, a favourite with both the older and younger generations, is Dr Monica, a beautiful and rich woman who is married to an author. She fills an empty maternal corner in her own heart by helping to alleviate the suffering of others. All through Miss Francis gives a forceful performance, and is more than usually brilliant in the dramatic sequences. The part of her husband is played by Warren William. He loves his wife in his own way, but is unable to free himself from the love of another woman. In comparison with the others he has little to do, but he is nevertheless most impressive whenever he makes an appearance. The triangle is completed by Jean Muir, a fascinating blonde, whose spark of decency bursts into flame in time to bring back happiness to the lives she nearly wrecks. _ It must not be imagined that this is just another of the “ eternal triangle” themes that tend to make so many pictures alike; rather it is a forceful narrative of a wife who is denied the greatest joy of womanhood, an emotional vehicle given impressiveness by the genius of thbee great stars. ‘ Dr Monica ’ is based on a famous Polish play of a woman physician whose husband’s love has been stolen by a mutual friend. The doctor-wife is not aware of this, as her medical duties occupy the greater part of her time, while her husband’s story writing encroaches on most of the time that the couple would be together. Their friend is about to give birth to a child, so the doctor arranges to attend her. At the critical moment she learns that the other woman’s unborn child is by her own husband, but forcing her own feelings into the background, she attends to the patient. When her duty is over the doctor secretly plans to divorce her husband so that the child may be given its father’s name. The story rushes on to a gripping climax, and the young mother repays her debt of gratitude to the doctor in a manner that is both unexpected and highly dramatic. Had the principal roles in 4 Dr Monica ’ not been entrusted to competent players, there would have been a danger of the theme being unsuitable for screening, but the work ot the three stars, who are ably supported by several capable artists, results in a most thoughtful treatment of a delicate subject. Some of the other names prominent in the list of supporters are Veree Tresdale, Phillip Reed, Emma Dunn, Herbert Houston, and Virginia Pine.

A most entertaining array of short subjects is shown on the early portion of the bill. Perhaps the best of these is a vaudeville novelty in which several of the American variety stars appear, while another good item is ‘ Off the Beat,’ a revue picture. Nick Lucas is starred in a fascinating musical film, find the newsreel shows the latest world events.