AT THE PICTURES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 25 June 1943, Page 4

AT THE PICTURES

Majestic: Screening to-ntghi. • Cairo.” Jeanette MacDonald, the screen's first lady of song, deserts the hoop-skirts and 2 * n< * Soes completely modern in M.G.M. s topical, farcical, adventure musit «l. "Cairo.'’ The tuneful, romantic drama, which has Egypt for a background, is a satire on Hollywood spy stories. All the cliches of this type of drama are lampooned. Robert Young is teamed with Jeanette MacDonald for the first time. The picture J« also enlivened in the comedy department by Ethel Waters, famed “blues" singer, who plays a featured role. The *lory is simple and expertly told under The deft handling of W. S. Van Dyke 11. But it is in the music department that ■‘Cairo'' really pleases. Miss MacDonald sings two intriguing numbers. "The Waltz is Over” and the title song "Cairo." The latter melody is heard in a production spectacle at a native fiesta in the desert. Ethel Waters sings "Buds Won’t Bud” and "A Woman Without a Man"—both definite contenders for hit honours. i

State: Screening to-night, Cronin's sensational drama "Vigil in the Night," starring Carole Lombard. Brian Aherne, Anne Shirley. This is a companion picture to the stirring "The Citadel" and by the same author. Dr. A. J. Cronin, eminent physician and author. Realism rules this romance rim self-sacrificing nurse of high character, played by Carole Lombard. Her love for Brian Aherne. as a sympathetic surgeon, provides the heart appeal. A counterpoint of the drama is the sister theme introduced in Anne Shirley’s role as the girl who took up the nursing career and blundered in its many crises—a tense role relieved by Carole Lombard's loving sacrifices for her. Vivid scenes in hospital life, with even a flavour of the present-day war panics abroad, are woven into a tremendous ordeal, with a tender poetic conclusion, when Carole Lombard’s love for the surgeon is crowned after a long struggle against adversity and misunderstanding.

Regent Theatre: To-night and at two sessions to-morrow, "The Man Who Returned to Life” and "Moonlight Masquerade": with "The Gang Busters" Serial. If you like a story to be gripping, real and human, you are going to be more than satisfied with "The Man Wha Returned to Life." It is one of those fascinating stories taken out of life and every character is the sort of real person you know and understand. There is drama and passion, laughter and tears in "The Man Who Returned to Lift.” A cast of talented young actors and actresses is headed by John Howard. Luctle Fairbanks. Ruth Ford and Roger Clark. In the other picture the cast is an extraordinarily good one. Dennis O’Keefe is in top form as a happy-go-lucky playboy, while Jane Frazee wins praise for an equally well-enacted characterisation. Stage comedienne Betty Kean makes her film debut in this picture, and scores a hit both in the com-dy and musical sequences.

Richmond Theatre: To-morrow, 2.15 and g p.m. Laughter and thrills with Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in their flying picture "Keep ’Em Flying"; good supporting programme.