Astounding programme rearrangement

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32524, 6 February 1971, Page 4

Astounding programme rearrangement

! For those viewers who watch their television sets diligently on Tuesday nights—good news. For those who follow the Thursday evening programmes, the outlook is gloomy.

of an incredible piece of programme arrangement, those two admirable adventures in the realms of detection, “Softly, Softly” and “Department S” are to be placed, back-to-back, on Tuesdays, while “Marcus Welby, M.D.,” and "Bracken’s World” will provide a sugary offering on Thursdays- . .„ This new arrangement will start next week, more’s the pity. It is hard to understand the move. A spread of good programmes over the seven days is surely more desirable than having evenings of such uneven quality as Tuesday and Thursday will provide in the future. The prospect of a WelbyBracken tie-up on Thursdays is as appealing as a double spoonful of castor oil. And even having the two crime programmes on Tuesday is not as good as it appears at first glance. Our blood pressure can stand only so much in a given night. « » «

We had a rare opportunity on Thursday evening to catch up on the adventures of Zorro. How similar it all was to the films turned out in the early days of Hollywood, with Douglas Fairbanks senior showing a similar aptitude for sword-play and gymnastics. And there is, too, a reminder of “The Desert Song” in Zorro's dual role of intrepid freedom fighter and indolent dandy. It’s al! good clean fun, and the youngsters love it. # Sc *

If we were a country and western fan, we would probably be able to discuss the merits of “The Johnny Cash Show” with confidence. We are not, and can not. It seemed a pleasant enough mixture. We were intrigued with Linda Ronstadt, who occasionally produced a deliciously gravelly note or two and wore the sort of earrings which could be used for gymnastic, equipment,

and also with Charlie Calla, a comic of much quality.

The “Department S” team found itself pitted against some fancy dress experts who were also very handy with explosives. Jason King, in particular, survived a number of damaging encounters, giving the impression that he was almost as indestructible as Superman. But although the plot strained the limits of credulity, the dramatic sequence of events and the fast I pace which was maintained I from the mass slaying at the ! start to the "gunpowder plot” at the end added many cubits to the programme’s stature. The New Zealand actor, Edward Brayshaw, was convincing as the villanous Vic Kent. After his success as the sinister Rochefort in “The Three Musketeers,” it seems he will be in demand for “bad guy” roles in television. » # *

The drawbacks of “Bracken's World” stood out starkly in a sickly story about a temperamental star who disrupted the making of a film. David, the former stuntman, now vested with great responsibility, gave a very good imitation of a totem pole—but at least We were spared the usual rantings by Kevin Grant. Tne episode meandered along predictably, and was then brought to an end with ruthless suddeness the heavy-handed touch which the Bracken team is so good at applying.—PANDOßA.

NATIONAL LINK (Including 3YA CMrlslchurch (690 kilohertz); 2VA, Wellington (570 kilohertz); «VA. Dunedin (760 kilohertz); end 3VZ. Grevmouth <S2O kilohertz) SATURDAY 7.0 p.m.: Sports Review. 7.30: Words and Music. 8.0: Death Speaks Another Language. 8.30: Weather and News. 8.40: Looking at Ourselves. 8.50: Local Sports Results. 9.0: Those Were the Days. 9.30: Does the Team Think? 10.0: Sounds Great. 10.30: N.Z.B.C. News, Weather. 10.45: Waitangi Day. 11.0: 8.8. C. News and Commentary. 11.15: Swimming. 11.17: Women’s Bowls. 1.0 a.m.: Dancing Time with Arthur Skelton. 2.30: Light Music from the Netherlands. 3.3: Dennis Gibbons. 4.9: Music of the Maori.

BYC, CHRISTCHURCH (960 kilohertz) 7.5 p.m.: Lauris Elms (contralto); Loretto Cunninghame (piano) Brahms: Magelone Songs, Op. 33 Nos. 1-5. 7.28: Rudolf Bruci (b. 1917): Sinfonia lesta J 1966) —Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra under Zivojin Zdravkovic. 7.57: Greig: Sonata in A minor, Op. 36 Paul Olefsky (cello), Walter Hautzig (piano). 8.24: Samuel Barber: Second Essay for Orchestra, Op. 17 Symphony of the Air under Vladimir Golschmann. 8.34: Wolf: The Gardener; Commission; Insatiable Love; The Meeting: Huntsman’s Song;