AT THE PICTURES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 26 June 1943, Page 4

AT THE PICTURES

Regent: To-night, “The Man Who Hetumed to Life” and "Moonlight Masquerade”; with “The Gang Busters” serial. If you like a story to be gripping, reel and human, you are going to be more than satisfied with "The Man Who 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 Life.” A cast of talented young actors and actresses is headed by John Howard. Lucile 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. Jlage comedienne Betty Kean makes her film debut in this picture, and scores a hit bsth in the com *dy and musical sequences.

Majestic: Screening to-night, “Cairo. Jeanette MacDonald, the screens first lady of song, deserts the hoop-skirts and crinoline and goes completely modern in M.G.M.’s topical, farcical, adventure musical “Cairo.” The tuneful, romantic drama, which has Egypt for a background. Is a satire on Hollywood spy stories. All tne cliches of this type of drama lampooned. Robert Young is teamed with Jeanette MacDonald for the first time. The picture is also enlivened in the comedy department by Ethel Waters, famed blues singer, who plays a featured role. The storv is simple and expertly tola tinder the deft handling of W. S. Van Dyke 11. But it is in the music department that "Cairo” really, phases. Miss MacDonald Kings two intriguing numbers. The Waltz is Over" and the title song Cairo. The latter melody is heard in a Production spectacle at a native in the desert. Ethel Waters sings “Buds Yf°n t Bud and “A Woman Without a Man —both definite contenders for hit honours. *

State: screening to-night, sensational drama “Vigil *5 fjjjj!’ starring Carole Lombard, Brian . 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 romance of a self-sacrificing nurwof Wfh character, played by Carole Lombard. Her love for Brian Aherne. as a sympathetic surgeon, provides the heart appeal. A counterpoint of the drama is tne glster theme introduced in Anne Shirley s role as the girl who took up the nursing career and blundered in its many crisesa tense role relieved by Carole bard'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 Laroie Lombard's love for the surgeon Is crowned after a long struggle against adversity and misunderstanding.