Arts And Entertainment ‘Revenue Men’ Dull Dogs

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32076, 26 August 1969, Page 10

Arts And Entertainment ‘Revenue Men’ Dull Dogs

(By

C.C.)

Smugglers are not what they used to be, and neither are the “revenoors.” The operators who hijack truckloads of British export cigarettes, and the sober-suited investigators of Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise, don’t appeal to a romantic like myself who still remembers Dr Syn, the brandy, the baccy, and the French lace.

I realise, of course, that modern smuggling is a business, and the methods used to counter it have to be businesslike. But so far I have not been very much impressed with “The Revenue Men” in the new 8.8. C. series. They have given me more talk than action, and their activities have not been particularly exciting. There are no signs yet that “The Revenue Men” will acquire the style of “Softly, Softly” or “Z Cars.” The presentation is competent, and so is the acting. But the Customs men are a trifle too urbane for my taste. I would

| Customs files. There is always I the possibility, of course, that H.M. Customs and Excise prefers the best files to remain closed. Smuggling is still one of the facts of life, and Customs investigators can't give away all their methods. But surely their work is not as dull as “The Revenue Men” appears to make It 1