"The Train” scored through simplicity

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33426, 7 January 1974, Page 4

"The Train” scored through simplicity

In an undistinguished collection of week-end programmes, one of the better’ contributions came from a 1965 movie, “The Train.’’ After two months of colour,. it was a reminder that black and white still, now and then, has distinct advantages.

This story of French resistance efforts to prevent the export of art treasures to Nazi Germany depended to a considerable extent on the simplicity of its telling. It was unpretentious, at times almost like a documentary in its recital of events, and it was probably the better for not being in colour, for it thus avoided the temptations oi this happy medium to over-do things. It was an interesting, sometimes exciting tale, with th? heroics kept at reasonable levels, and for the railway enthusiast, there were some enchanting moments. “The South Tonight” has earned its extremely high reputation for reporting, and for its rich leavening of humour. There can be very few viewers who are not delighted with what it does. But one had to wonder whether the Friday evening item on the Children of God was worthy of the attention it received, in the tight of the treatment the group was given.

Rodney Bryant’s comments

were amusing, in a rather savage sort of way. But if the Children of God, and the demonstration in Cathedral Square, were worth being reported at all, it seemed that they merited something better than the exercise in demolition to which they were subjected. There were two points of interest about “Mod Squad.” The first was the appearance (in it, in a very sinister role, lof Ben Murphy, alias Kid Curry' of "Alias Smith and iJones.” It should not have jbeen his cup of television 'tea, but he did well. The (second was that the episode (had nothing at all to do with (the advertised programme — by no means the first recent example of muddling. Saturday evening’s “Jokers Wild” still ranks as one of the most feeble and phoney performances inflicted on patient viewers. The standard of the stories told is very weak, and the contest highly unconvincing — this although the assembled competitors are comics of some repute.

The splendour of the colour in “The Julie Andrews Hour” has become familiar, but it is still remarkable; and so, on Saturday, was the camera magic used here and there. Week by week, it retains a freshness and vitality which are quite invigorating: and week by week, the costumes worn by the admirable Miss Andrews continue, it appears, to fascinate an army of women viewers. —R.T.B.

CHTV3 2.00 p.m.: News, weather (C). 2.05: Film (1961)—“Road to Hong Kong” (Bmg Crosby, Bob Hope.) (repeat). 3.35: The Paul Lynde Show. Comedy (C). 4.00: Grandstand—cricket. 5.04: Lassie. Adventure (final). 5.28: News. 5.30: Grandstand. 6.32: This Week in Britain. 6.37: Untamed World. Wildlife, 7.00: Network news. 7.20 t Weather. The South Tonight. 7.35: The Waltons. Drama (C). 8.35: Father, Dear Father. Comedy (C). 8.50: Newsbrief. 8.52: A New Zealand Documentary Series — “Encounter.” 9.19: Concussion. Play (C). 10.13: Ain’t We Got a Right?—musical play. 10.55: Late news, weather (C).

NATIONAL LINK [lncluding 3YA Christchurch i (690 kilohertz); 2YA Wellington (570 kilohertz); 4YA i Dunedin 750 kilohertz); and i 3YZ Greymouth (950 kil- i hertz).) 8 p.m.: Movie to Remember! Singin’ in The Rain. 8.30: | Weather and News. 8.40: Join] in the Chorous. 9.0: The Wil-1 frid Thomas Show: Malta- ■ The George Cross Island 1 9.30: Rhythm on Record. 10.0:1 Does the Team Think? 10.30: i N.Z.B.C. News and Weather. 10.45: Bowls. 11.0: 8.8. C. 'News and Commentary. 11.30: Stop Messing About. 1 a.m.: A Faith for Today. 1.30: Those Were The Days. 3YC, CHRISTCHURCH (960 kilohertz) i 7.10 p.m.: Pierre Bernac iMaster Classes. Ravel: La: ] flute enchantee (Sheherazade) ! —Jennifer Smith (soprano), ; Robin Bowman (piano). 7.24:, Lalo. Scherzo—Suisse Ro-1

Imande Orchestra under Emiest Ansermet. 7.30: Moody 'Tuesday by Robert Lord. • 8.30: Wallace Woodley i (piano) Brahms: 3 Intermezzi iOp. 117: Granados: The Lover •land the Nightingale. 8.53: : |Handel Opera Arias. Johni] Angelo Messana (counter- . I tenor), Monteverdi Orchestra Jof London under John Eliot 11 Gardiner. 9.38: Borodin. Sym:jphony No 2 in B minor—- : I Suisse Romande Orchestra .(under Silvio Varvisco. 10.4: J Rossini: Sombre Forests :: (William Tell); Refice: For the Jlove of Jesus (Cecillia)—Re::nata Tabaldi (soprano), St ‘ Cecilia Academy Orchestra . under Alexander Gibson. 10.20: Paganini: Violin Concerto No 3—Henryk Szeryng Orchestra under Alexander l ; Gibson. ’ 3ZB, CHRISTCHURCH L (1100 kilohertz) -I 7,30 p.m.: John Blumsky.