MAJESTIC THEATRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 46, 26 February 1935, Page 7

MAJESTIC THEATRE

•NOW AND FOREVER.” That ingenuous chiid, Shirley Temple, undoubtedly carries the laurels in “Now and Forever,” now at the Majestic. With her remarkable ability she could hardly help this, for the picture, while starring such sound people as Gary Cooper and Carole Lombard, was, nevertheless, made for Shirley. The child actress has had notable past successes, but in none of her former films has she been asked to carry the responsibilities that this talkie gives her. Only sheer natural ability carries her through. It is the fresh, unstudied naturalness of most children, and it will probably fade as it fades in most children a little more advanced in years than Shirley Temple. But it is a rare thing to succeed so entirely in capturing this ingenuousness of childhood for the screen, and if there are still a few filmgoers who do not believe in the wonderful things they hear occasionally of the abilities of child stars, they should see this latest talkie of Shirley Temple, and be convinced that there is at least o-ne child who might become really great in Hollywood. * ‘Dr. Monica’ ’ Kay Eranvis and Warren William have the leading roles in “Dr. Monica,” a story based on a famous Continental play, which comes to the Majestic to-morrow, and which affords Kay Francis one of the finest roles in her career. She plays the part o c a woman doctor, specialising in maternity work, who is married to a happy and irresponsible author and who suddenly finds herself confronted by the ruin of all her happiness. The cause of this turn of events is an attractive young girl, a part played by Jean Muir, and the course which happenings take after this revelation makes this an unusual and interesting photoplay. The two women plan for the preservation of the happiness of the man they both love, and each in her own way seeks a solution ol’ the problem. When the end •comes it is in a most unexpected manner. The film is excellently acted, and the whole supporting cast, which includes Veree Teasdale, is of outstanding merit. Warren Williams makes an excellent foil for the beautiful Kay Francis and gives one of his best performances. Coming Saturday “The Barretts of Wimpole Street,” coining to the Majestic on Saturday, is one of the best of the many ambitious productions of Mctro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The action takes place in the Barrett household in London in the middle of last century, a laige family being ruled with selfishly oppressive hand by a despotic father. Elizabeth, the invalid, Is frequently told that she is not long for this world, and she experts only death until her poetry attracts the attention of Robert Browning. Full of the joy of life and abounding in strength and courage, ho persuades her back to health, and finally takes her as his wife away from the home she has grown to hate. The intensely absorbing story alone would make tlio picture worth while, but it is rendered doubly attractive by the cast of leading players. Norma Shearer as the dainty Elizabeth; Fredrie March as the intensely vital Browning, and Charles Laughton as the smugly tyrannical father are the three stars, and thev are ably supported by a host of first-class artists, not the least of which is Flush, the spaniel.