POINTS of VIEWING

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33100, 15 December 1972, Page 4

POINTS of VIEWING

Callan is at the top of his particular tree

Television has had some colourful detective and espionage heroes, starting perhaps with Patrick McGoohan’s John Drake many years ago, but Edward Woodward’s Callan is probably the most authentic figure of them all.

“Callan” benefits immensely from the fact it is not rushed. Little, apparently, can be done in a half-hour programme to present a rounded story with characters carrying flesh on their bones. So many whodunits are vague, and hurried, and peopled by unreal characters rushing about for the action at the end. But programmes like “Softly Softly” and “Callan” certainly develop their characters. On Wednesday night, Callan even had time to fall in love. And a tender little romance it was, beautifully played by Woodward and the attractive Zena Walker. As Lady Lewis, widow of a British Foreign Secretary, Zena Walker was cultured and charming. Callan, in her company, was clearly aware of his rough edges. Yet their attraction for each other seemed utterly real and reasonable. So the murder of the delightful Lady Lewis made it a sad story, but one which allowed Edward Woodward to display the animal ferocity in which he is sometimes allowed to indulge. The plot was typical of this

and similar series, and did not matter very much, but there was plenty of action for admirers of the cold and ruthless Callan as well as those who like him for his shyness and his gentle inner self, a softness which comes out now and then in his treatment of Lonely. Callan, above all else, is consistent and the series is the better for that. William Squire, the current Hunter, also contributes generously to the success of “Callan.” He is the most odious Hunter so far and thus underlines Callan’s dislike of the section and its methods. * # Ss The other principal programmes on Wednesday evening were comedies. “Doctor at Large” returned,

none too successfully. It was all boisterous undergrad, ragging and this viewer regretted the absence of Ernest Clark as the acidulous Professor Loftus. “The New Dick Van Dyke Show” however, was much more enjoyable. Its situations were simple, but the show carried a note of confidence which served it well. A story which might well have been sub-titled “The Man Who Didn’t Come To Dinner” was really funny at times, Hope Lange offering much more than satisfactory support to the talented Dick Van Dyke. — PANDORA.