AMUSEMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1926, Page 1

AMUSEMENTS.

EVERYBODYS PICTURES.

REGINALD DENNY IN “OH DOC TOR”—TO-NIGHT.

“Oli, Doctor!” makes a good screen story. .It gives Reg. Denny opportunity to demonstrate his ability. “Oh, Doctor!” Universal-Jewel starring Reginald Denny and shown in the Princess Theatre to-night is one of the most entertaining combinations of humour, comedy, satire and rapid action ever shown on any screen. When it is realised that the picture adheres closely to the Harry I,eon Wilson classic of the same name, published in the Saturday “livening Rost” not so long ago, it can lie understood why the screen version has won such united acclaim. Denny, by his work in a varied assortment of screen vehicles, has established himself premier among screen players in certain manners of characterisation, said characterisation depending considerably on a comedy that is true comedy, and not slap-stick, and a humour that is of the subtle variety, to say nothing of his athletic prowess when it comes to combining tiio other two qualifications with an ability to produce thrills. In “Oh, Doctor!” Denny takes the part of Rufus Billups, Jr., becomes in his early youth a hypochondriac by reason of a still earlier environment, and attaining young manhood dominated entirely by the various obsessions that create the peculiar pathological condition in question.. While the whole situation is artistcially ludicrous, there arc several outstanding episodes that accentuate the tempo of the humour. The most hilarious of these is a mind experience of Rufus, who, intrigued bv a. painting of ft l'aun and a forest nymph, dreams that he is a faun, wpoing a beautious nvmpli, who turns out to be his nurse. Denny does another tine bit of work when be essays bis first bite of meat, for lie has become desirous of stepping into the world and showing tho nurse, with whom ho has fallen in love, that lie can be as other men—and even more so when it comes to deeds of daring. Eino direction by Harry Bollard, and an unusually capable supporting east, make for the complete success of “Oh, Doctor!” Mary Astor lias the leading feminine role, and others are Otis Harlan, 'William Along, Tom Ricketts, Lucille Ward, Mike Donlin, Clarence Ueldert, Blanche Bayson, George Kuwa, Martha Mattox and Helen Lynch. On Monday next a big Paramount special starring Gloria Swanson in “Society Scandal.”