Good balance in Sunday evening viewing

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33653, 1 October 1974, Page 4

Good balance in Sunday evening viewing

There is no doubt: Sunday night viewing at , present is as rewarding as 1 it has been for a very long time. The reconstruction of Nile explorations, the adventures of the Shepherds in Crete, the inspired madness of the Monty Python programme provide a highly satisfactory blend of fact, fiction and fun. The dramatised documentary is a popular method of holding the interest of those few viewers who might tend to reject anything which suggests the classroom. “The Search For the Nile” is an outstandingly good example of what the dramatised documentary can do. From the writings of the principals, there is material of absorbing interest. From the acting of Kenneth Haigh as Richard Burton, John Quentin as John Hanning Speke there is equally absorbing drama in the clash of two strong personalities. And it all has some of the better elements of a detective story, supported by an extraordinarily realistic atmosphere and vivid colour in the settings. The sights, sounds, almost the smells of the jungle were sharp; “The Search For the Nile” is almost compulsive viewing.

“The Lotus Eaters,” first series, held a wide audience. The present, second series is better, for its serialisation rather than its collection of rather unrelated stories. The problems of the Shepherds do not diminish and now there is quite a large number — perhaps one or two too many — of intriguing characters

I becoming involved in the 'tale. lan Hendry is a very Ifine actor and Wanda Ventham, beside being very agreeable to look at, handles a difficult role capably. “The Lotus Eaters,” superb scenic;ally, is turning into a firstirate thriller. There will be wide support for recent complaints about the late placement of “Monty Python’s Flying Circus.” On Sunday “Review” no doubt held the interest of some, but it was almost certainly a small number, and it seemed that “Review” might well have been placed after “The Lotus Eaters” to make sure it had a substantial audience. But those viewers not enchanted by Hamish Keith and his observations on the painter McCahon were rewarded for their per-

severance with some riotously funny material from the lunatic circus team. The fight with the lion in the movie-making scene was gorgeous, and it is going to make “Big Time Wrestling” all the funnier, for the memories it will now evoke. Inspired madness: and thank heavens they all seem out of their minds. What rational writer could have dreamt up the Rugby match between the All Blacks and a collection of civic dignitaries including a' Lord Mayor 10 feet high — to control the line-outs —, and some on horseback; ori the soccer match between the Bournemouth Surgeons and the Long John Silver Impersonators? It left this viewer with sore sides. — R.T.B.