Peter Ustinov showed remarkable versatility

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33062, 1 November 1972, Page 4

Peter Ustinov showed remarkable versatility

In the days of silent films, Lon Chaney won lasting fame as “the man of a thousand faces.” Without the benefit of make-up specialists, Peter Ustinov can be a dozen absolutely different people in a few minutes: and what a delightful guest he was on “Frost Over America.”

t Ustinov is a magnificent , entertainer, and incredibly * versatile as a writer, actor, - mimic, impressionist, pro--1 ducer. And with it all, a j delightful personality and a j most pleasing speaking voice. David Frost more or less " gave him his head, but it - was a two-way conversation, i and the better for it. The t. humour in Ustinov bubbles , out gently and it was never 3 more winning than in his - recollections about that pill box at St Margaret’s Bay, when he and two quite

; incredible characters were the three nearest soldiers to Hitler’s invasion force. Ustinov made Private Boniface and the Jewish Polish tailor utterly real people, and in the course of a few minutes one really felt familiar with them. Ustinov’s command of language is a prime asset. It was not paraded, but his choice of words drew quick but vividly alive sketches of people and events. The interview with Peter Ustinov was quite the best programme on Monday evening. Early in the night “Arnie” was very amusing in his lugubrious planning of disposal of his remains after death, but “Birds On The Wing,” which has been delightful at times, was much below its best quality, and the final comedy of the evening, “Uncle Tulip,” was very forced and hardly ever even slightly funny. Between times, the N.Z.B.C. had awful difficulties with its network. There were some unfortunate passages during the news, and much of Mr Marshall’s opening election address was heard and not seen. One can only sympathise With a service which maintains a high standard of efficiency, when things go awry on such an important occasion. And one can sympathise, too, with Mr Marshall, for the distractions during his policy speech.—PANDORA.