ENTERTAINMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 28 June 1935, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC: DICKENS’ “GREAT EXPECTATIONS” All lovers of Dickens will heartily enjoy the thrill of seeing their favourite Dickens characters come to life in “Great j Expectations,” which will be shown for j the last time to-night. Some great admirers of Dickens say that nothing in the whole range of Dickens surpassed this great story of love, intrigue and adventure, either in perfection of technique or in the mastery of all the resources of the novelist art. All the characters of the novel are vividly portrayed by an inspired cast of players. Delightful entertainment is provided in the film adaptation of the story by Alice Hogan Rice, “Mrs Wiggs of the ! Cabbage Patch,” which heads the new * programme to be presented to-morrow jat the Majestic. The picture proves ■ exceptionally fascinating to those who j have read the book as well as making ! first-class entertainment for audiences i not previously acquainted with the story*. Pauline Lord, an accomplished | stage actress, makes her first appearI ance on the screen in the loading role. ! She acts with the same sincerity and j unassuming naturalness which made her jso popular in the theatre. As Mrs Wiggs her performance is always pleas■i ing. She is faced with the task of bringing up a largo family on a meagre income after she has been deserted by i her husband. The theme offers great , scope for all the players and the acting j throughout is of the highest order. In ! addition to the brilliant entertainment 1 afforded in “Mrs Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch,” a special film of the King’s Jubilee celebrations will also be screened. It is a very stirring and interesting production showing the Royal procession through the lavishly decorated streets, the enthusiastic crowds and other spectacular incidents of the historic events. o REGENT THEATRE, SATURDAY: “SOCIETY DOCTOR” Action in plenty is provided in “Society Doctor,” which will open at the Regent Theatre at the matinee on- Saturday. It embraces a thrilling plot, drama, and comedy in its appeal. • The whole of the action extends over eight hours only. The story opens with an accident in the main street near wellestablished hospital, and the patient is attended by a Dr. Ellis. He diagnoses his condition as serious, but is forbidden to operate by the sick man’s father, Harris Snowden, an influential millionaire. Dr. Ellis calls in his superior, Dr. Morgan, and the latter immediately orders the patient’s removal to the operating room. A general “rumpus” ensues, and a solution is not reached until the father is over-ruled by the arrival of the young man’s wife, who sanctions the operation. Dr. Harvey, family doctor of the Snowden family, arrives with the intention of intervening, and immediately takes steps to stop the operation by going to the superintendent but Dr. Morgan overcomes this difficulty by severing the telephone connection. He makes a brilliant success of the operation and is acclaimed for his surgery work. However, lie is called to order for insolence to his superiors, and, .resenting the intrusion, he tells these celebrated men exactly what lie thinks of their system in the hospital. His discharge ‘in consequence, liis association with a wealthy widow, his wholesome adoration for an attractive nurse, all tend to build up a splendid dramatic theme, culminating in a strong climax in which he is shot in the stomach and supervises the operation on himself. Chester Morris, as Dr. Morgan, gives an outstanding performance, and his acting is one of the features of the film. Robert Taylor, a newcomer, ably assists him as Dr. Ellis. The chief feminine role is admirably handled by Virginia Bruce. Billie Burke is excellent as the widow. An excellent programme is in support, among which is it. technicolour musical cartoon entitled “Toyland Broadcast,” a highly diverting Hal Roach musical revue, Laurel and Hardy in one of their funniest comedies and a Metrotone Gazette. THEATRE ROYAL: TOM WALLS AND RALPH LYNN, SATURDAY Tom Walls and Ralph Lynn are to be seen together again, romping irresponsibly through gay story of how they played good Samaritans to a pretty pierrette stranded in a seaside town at j Christmas time, aided and abetted by i Mary Brough of ample proportions, I and Robertson Hare, henpecked as i usual. The plot is brilliantly amplified i by- tile clover, original work of the star j comedians which constitutes a laugh riot | from start to finish. Tom Walls is ' superb. Whether blarneying bis tortuous way out of compromising circumstances, whether scragging an unpleasI ant piece of work who uursues the pretty I little lady over whose misfortunes the whole of* these uproarious frolics arose, or whether demolishing a shop window. Ralph Lynn, the screen’s most ingenious purveyor of gentlemanly nit-wit studios, is also splendid. One of his most joyous scenes is that in which, after admonishing in the best Lynnsian style, two 1 urchins who were taking a surreptitious I peep at a piervot show does the same tiling himself and sees to it too that lie gets his share of the urchins’ lollies. Mrs Gather, in the hands of Mary

Brough, is a living .example of the grasping, self-righteous, irascible, type of landlady. There will be good supports.

HAPPY, HEALTHY. MIDDLE-AGE