Poise and polish in "An Awful Silence”

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33092, 6 December 1972, Page 4

Poise and polish in "An Awful Silence”

For polish and professional proficiency, “An Awful Silence” will probably rank as the best N.Z.B.C. television production to have come to our screens.

This first essay into science-fiction was a pronounced success. There are some science-fiction addicts who will swallow anything, but there are probably far more sceptics than enthusiasts. It is not easy, therefore, to put over a sciencefiction story which will hold the interest of a wide audience, yet if “An Awful Silence” was somehow reminiscent of “The Invaders,” it did demand the fullest attention. It scored on almost every front imaginable. Although it was a weird and incredible story, it seemed real enough, because the dialogue was easy and natural, with no verbal pyrotechnics, no pretentious passages. The words , matched the people, and stayed with them. The dramatic highlights were accentuated by well- ■ timed cuts — but the cuts were not made purely to : keep the viewer groping and 1 wondering. The musical ■ background was ideal, and j never thrust itself too boldly ; into the consciousness. The j cameras contributed mag- ' nificently, in catching the suspense and holding it, in eye-pleasing shots. And the ‘ acting was supremely good. 1 “An Awful Silence” had a i

very experienced cast, with Davina Whitehouse excellent as the earnestly-believing Mrs Oliver and David Tinkham just as convincing as Dr Tree, the man from outer space. Susan Wilson was an appealing Jane McCarthy,

the air hostess turned detective, and Alan Jervis’s detective was, like the other roles, not over-played. It might be thought that to suggest “An Awful Silence” was as good as ah overseas production smacks of patronage. But it was as good as some top 8.8. C. or American shows, and better than most. * * o

“Arnie,” early on Monday | evenings, usually provides a few laughs. The nervy, i downtrodden Mr Nuvoi carries his worries in an! appealing fashion, and it is a comedy of situation, with' no hamming from the! principal. “Fraud Squad” was up to the mark again, although it would make a nice change if! Inspector Gamble had someone escape his clutches now and then. Aubrey Dow-Smith, played by Julian Curry, was a very toothy and smooth young villain, but one of the most interesting performances was! that of Deborah Stanford as his ■wife. Remember her in “Mogul” as the glamorous, rather intense Roz, wife of : Alec Stewart? This time she was very good as a 1 bespectacled, respectable, j rather dowdy and subservient; woman.

“Grandstand” had some exciting photography in its coverage of the moto-cross event and “Birds On the Wing” flew out with Richard Briers displaying his considerable gift for mimicry.— PANDORA.

CHTV3 2.00 p.m.: News. 2.03; Delta. Drama. 2.54: The Andy Williams Show. Variety (repeat). 3.42: Julia. Comedy. 4.06: A Gringo’s Holiday. Travel (repeat). 4.33: Fishwillippy. Puppets. 4.48: Kiko the Kangaroos in Red Hot Music. 4.56: Lassie. Adventure. 5.21: Archie and Sabrina. Cartoon. 5.43: News, weather. 5.49: My Three Sons. Comedy. 6.15: Circus. Variety. 6.42: Food Without Fuss. 7.00: Network news. 7.22: Weather. The South Tonight. 7.45: The New Dick Van Dyke Show. Comedy. 8.15: Nichols. Western. 9.12: Newsbrief. 9.14: Survey—“ls It Best For Us?” Immigration. Documentary. 9.48: Callan. Drama. 10.48: Late news, weather.

NATIONAL LINK [lncluding 3YA Christchurch (680 kilohertz): 2YA Wellington (570 kilohertz); 4YA Dunedin (750 kilohertz): and 3YZ Greymouth (950 kilohertz).] 7 p.m.: N.Z.B.C. Sports News. 7.30: The Maori Programme. 8.0: The Wilfrid Thomas Show. 8.30: Weather and News. 9.0: Those Remarkable Men and their Music Machines. 9.30: Stop Messing About. 10.0: Spotlight Bands. 10.30: N.Z.B.C. News, Comment, Weather. 10.45: The September Strings. 11.0: 8.8. C. News and Commentary. 11.15: Billiards. 11.18: Continuous. 11.30: Just a Minute. 1,0 a.m.: Premiere. 2.5: Rugby: New Zealand v. Midland Counties at Moseley.

3YC, CHRISTCHURCH (960 kilohertz) 7 p.m.; Marie Vandewart (cello); Kenneth Weir (piano); Dohnanyi: Sonata in B flat minor. Op. 8. 7.30: Handel: Anthem: Let Thy hand be strengthened — Danish State Radio Chorus and Orchestra under Mogens Woeldike. 7.41: Tchaikovsky; Symphony No. 2 in C minor, Op. 17 — U.S.S.R. Symphony Orchestra under Yevgeny Svetlanov. 8.15: 1972 Salzburg Festival. 3ZB, CHRISTCHURCH (1100 kilohertz) 8.2 p.m.: The Country and Western Show. 3ZM, CHRISTCHURCH (1400 kilohertz) 9 p.m.: Wishbone Ash. 10.0: Pye Sound Conspiracy.