MAJESTIC THEATRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 169, 20 July 1938, Page 9

MAJESTIC THEATRE

"CLOISTERED To-day, with a matinee and evening performance, there will commence ■at the Majestic Theatre the muchdiscussed production “Cloistered.” By its unusual nature and its revelations -concerning matters that have long been the subject of much conjecture, the Him created remarkable interest in other countries. In New York, it ran for some months in one theatre, and it had extended seasons in all other States. It ran for long engagements in England, was something of a sensation on the Continent, and at present is attracting capacity audiences •at one of Sydney's principal theatres. The remarkable interest aroused by “Cloistered” is not difficult to understand. In the first place, it is the only picture ever to be taken behind the walls of a cloistered convent. Nothing about it has been “staged” or “acted.” It records faithfully and movingly the daily lives of nuns in a strictly “enclosed” order* showing them working as carpenters, plasterers, typistes, gardeners, bootmakers, printers, and the like. It shows three groups of women—Penitents, Mag■clalens and Sisters—living under the one roof but fated never to meet. The Penitents, or repentant sinners, are seeking refuge from the world. Others are intractable minors sent to the convent at the wish of their parents. These may leave on attaining their majority, but the film assures its ■witnesses that the most rebellious spirits are chastened by the discipline and kindliness of the Sisters. Particular interest centres on the many strange ceremonies and rituals screened for the first time. There is the “living burial” of the novices—a ■truly awful moment, as one critic puts it. There is the utter contrast of the Sisters, who, on taking their final vows, are decked in bridal array and wear crowns of orange blossoms, and the Magdalens, who, in the same ceremony, are attired drably and wear crowns of thorns. Scenes of the hair being shorn from the heads of postulants add to the great interest. There are also revealed the curious tunnels within the convent grounds which enable the nuns to pass under city streets from one building to another without being seen by the outside world. Among specially selected supporting features will be a tec.hnicolour gem, “In Old Wyoming,” with song and music, a colour cartoon, “Bunny Mooning,” an interesting gazette, and other items. EGYPTIAN PROGRESS PROBLEM OF DEFENCE RAPID CHANGES TAKING PLACE (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, July 19. Italy is regarded as Egypt’s only potential enemy at the present time, said Mr. J. I. Craig, M.A., financial secretary to the Egyptian Government, who arrived by the Wanganella from Sydney to spend a fortnight in the Dominion before returning home, via Australia. He said that Egypt was expanding her defences in terms of the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of 1936, which the country was busily putting into operation. “Egypt is bringing her army to a high state of efficiency with most modern weapons specially designed for desert warfare. Sne is also rapidly expanding her air force. Her problem is defensive, to guard her long frontier and very long coast line,” said Mr. Craig. Economically the country has been rather hard hit by the fall in cotton prices, but her finances were sound. Britain had an important influence in Egyptian affairs; it was personal rather than legal.