Junior viewers have best deal

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33521, 30 April 1974, Page 4

Junior viewers have best deal

Child viewers were well catered for on Sunday by a collection of polished TV productions which were at once entertaining and informative.

especially the slow motion footage on the minnowcatching, made for compelling viewing.

their helpers made “The Best Of Vision On” a lively effort, with the accent on variety. The item on the Olympic rings, incorporating the hilarious by-play with makebelieve drums, showed that the programme will never want for wit or imagination. For pre-school children, “The Mouse Factory” can be warmly commended. A clever blending between cartoons and fancy-dress characters enhances the stories, aided by some exceptionally good editing. But the outstanding performer is the breezy Jo Anne Worley, a wonderfully gifted mistress of ceremonies. Without her presence, the programme would be just another tame Disneyland show. Adult viewers did not fare as well as their juniors on Sunday. They were confronted by the dithering Harry Worth, “The Lotus Eaters” in poor form, and a “Review” programme of limited appeal. There was satisfaction to be gained from the study of India up until the time of the partition in 1947 in “The British Empire” series. But although the high visual standard was maintained, there were deficiencies in Correlli Barnett’s script.

Peter Scott’s perceptive study of the kingfisher reached the same high standard of his previous wildlife programmes. The commentary' was full and far reaching, and the photography,

Some vital matters of historic interest were glossed over, and the impression was given that the script had been heavily edited in places where there was insufficient matching film. In other parts there was some wearisome repetition and, once again, a preoccupation with the statistics of war.

There were a few chuckles to be had from the sketches in “Thirty Minutes Worth,” but most of the material had a molasses-like quality, and Harry Worth is a failure as a stand-up comedian. The best news was that this programme has run its course; perhaps “The Goodies” will be a little better. Ht *

The people involved in “The Lotus Eaters” — on both sides of the camera — seem to have succumbed to the torpor of Mediterranean life. The latest programme was decidedly lifeless, and the introduction of two new actresses, Ingrid Hafner and Suzan Farmer, served only to titivate the ponderous proceedings. Two shameless free commercials added further discredit to the programme. * # *

The range and tonal quality of Beverley Bergen’s voice came as a pleasant surprise in an early-evening musical programme. This Dunedin singer has made considerable progress in Europe, and it was interesting to assess her improvement. With the peerless Maurice Till as accompanist, she produced some fine interpretations before a studio audience. although her choice of folk songs bv Ravel would have had limited appeal.

This effort was to be preferred to “Review’s” excursion into the realm of electronic music. The programme was well constructed, but the output made it plain that there was no need for Alfred Hill to roll over, as the subtitle suggested.—J.K.B.