ENTERTAINMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 14 September 1936, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT ATTRACTIONS “MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION,” AT MAJESTIC THEATRE,

“Magnificent Obsession,' 1 now at the Majestic Theatre,-where it is enjoying a popular, run; is an artistic creation ... a good deal removed from the ordinary run of screen stories and ever so far distant 1 from the banal and meretricious in life. Filled with heart quickening drama and delightful comedy, “Magnificent Obses-. si on” reveals the storyiof the power of ai great love. The charming Irene Dunne plays the great role of her career, and her performance excels even those of “Cimarron” and “Back Street.” During a part of the picture she is blind, and her experiences bring tears to the eyes of almost everyone in the audience. Robert Taylor, as the young wastrel who becomes regenerated, is revealed as a dramatic actor of ability, and the scenes between these two are presented stirring dramatic qualities. Others in the cast who do good work are Charles Butterworth, whose comedy is delightful; Betty Furness, Sara Haden, Gilbert Emery, Ralph Morgan, Cora Sue Collins, Henry Armetta and Arthur Treacher. A famous and wellbeloved doctor dies, partly as a result of the folly of a young man, and later his widow is stricken blind, for which the young man, Merryk, is also partly responsible. Under ■ cover of her blindness Merryk strikes up a firm friendship with the blind woman, ending when she leaves him rather than marry him and become a burden on his life. ■ He devotes himself to a study of medicine, and when he finds her after many years he restores her sight and her happiness. Some entertaining “shorts,” newsreels, comedy, etc.,, precede the main picture. Returning for a repeat season on Wednesday, “The-Count of Monte Cristo,” the clever adaption of Dumas’s immortal story, whose romantic fantasy,, imaginative adventure have enthralled millions for generations, v/ill be shown* Robert Donat plays the part of “The Count” and beautiful Elissa Landi is opposite him.

STATE SCREENING “CHARLIE CHAN’S SECRET.” “REMEMBER LAST NIGHT” COMING WEDNESDAY.

Warner Oland’s latest brilliant characterisation in the role of Chan, the suave oriental detective, continues to draw big houses, every patron enjoying fully the sparkling fun, clever story and exciting sequences which make the picture the best of an outstanding series. Bright in dialogue flashing in settings and with an absolutely new idea as a plot. “Remember Last Night?” opens a short season on Wednesday. The picture, based on the novel of the same title is produced as one of Universal’s outstanding productions of the season. The screen tale opens with the social prominent “fast set” of Long Island giving a progressive anniversary party for an engaging couple played adeptly by Constance Cummings and Robert Young. In the group are Sally Eilers, and Reginald Denny, who carry their, roles as slightly inebriated society folk excellently. Rounds of drinks, rounds of estates, and a roadside inn end in oblivion for all. The next morning, it is found that one of the group has been murdered. It is here that the unusual twist comes in which gives the film its unique appeal.

REGENT: LAST TIME, “CHARM SCHOOL,” “MYSTERY LINER.” TUESDAY - WEDNESDAY, SIR SEYMOUR HICKS IN “MR WHAT’S HIS NAME” AND “WHILE THE PATIENT SLEPT”

A highly entertaining programme of good measure is provided in the two featured attractions now at the Regent to be shown finally to-night. “Charm School,” a hilarious musical comedy, which contains many good laughs has Jack Oakie at the top of the cast. Ned Sparks, still as happy as ever in his own inimitable style, supports Oakie who inherits a girls’ school from his aunt. Oakie hits on a scheme for sparking things up by introducing dancing, singing and the like, and turns the place into a miniature Broadway show. The second feature is a most unusual mystery film and one of the finest .to be adapted to the screen, “Mystery Liner.” Noah Beery and Astrid Allyn head a long cast. The story is based on a theme in which is involved experiments in remote control apparatus on .a large liner, international espionage and murder on the high seas. Two long pictures each different in type and both thoroughly entertaining constitute the new programme at the Regent to-morrow evening. In the first, that cheerful soul, Sir Seymour Hicks, heads a strong cast. “Mr What’s His Name” is its title and it deals with complications that follow when Alfred Henfield, Seymour Hicks, loses his memory in a train wreck. Aline MacMahon and Guy Kibbee have two interesting roles in the second feature, “While the Patient Slept,” a murder mystery story. The audience is set to solve the riddle first of who killed an impecunious son and later butler, and like most pictures of its kind the :real murderer is well concealed. There is a generous sprinkling of witty - dialogue which prevents the more thrilling moments of the picture becoming too serious.