"HER UNBORN CHILD” IS FEATURED BY THE CIVIC.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19269, 5 January 1931, Page 4

"HER UNBORN CHILD” IS FEATURED BY THE CIVIC.

“Her Unborn Child,” the principal attraction now showing at the Civic Theatre, is the story of a love affair that almost became a tragedy. It is a somewhat arresting change to see a talking picture which breaks right away from the now too familiar spectacular type of production, even to the extent of pointing a moral: but such is the film " Her Unborn Child.” The cast is headed by A dele Ron son as Dorothy Kennedy, the young woman whose honour is at stake. Paul Clare, as Jack Canover, Dorothy’s lover, Pauline Drake and Doris Rankin, and their acting, especially in the several emotional scenes, is creditable. The theme is simple enough—the love of Jack Canover, a young society man, for Dorothy Kennedy, whom his ambitious aunt considers not good enough for him. Forgetting all else but themselves, the lovers have been foolish, but even the knowledge that marriage is the only thing that can save Dorothy from disgrace does not cause the aunt to swerve from her purpose. At last, in despair at the apparent heartlessness of her lover, Dorothy agrees to save her reputation by a visit to a physician. The only doctor she will agree to see, however, peremptorily refuses the aunt’s request, and in rating her soundly for her social and moral code, draws from her the admission that Jack is really, her son, the result of a youthful love affair. Jack at last throws over his mother's influence and hurries to the Kennedy home, where he begs Dorothy to forgive and marry him. The serious atmosphere of the picture’s main theme is relieved by the very grown-up pose adopted by Dorothy’s young brother Stewart, who takes life and his first sweetheart very seriously. A gazette, a Hal Roach comedy, and an extremely clever and laughable “ Micky Mouse ” cartoon make up the remainder of the programme.