Professor Erlich a TV personality

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33669, 19 October 1974, Page 5

Professor Erlich a TV personality

Some sort of speed record must have been set by Professor Paul Erlich, the American biologist interviewed on Thursday night in “Nationwide.” Seldom, if ever, has there been such a flow of words: the score, to the minute, was probably something like Erlich 150, Aberdein 2. And for the professor, this was an away match.

Hundreds of people have been interviewed in the last 10 years or so of television There have not been many more eloquent than Paul Erlich. And if he seemed determined to get into the Guinness book of records for speed of delivery, there was also much more of interest in what he had to say than in most television interviews. He was fast, but clear and he had a delightful flow ! about him. He was direct and outspoken, in his observations about population i growth, but with it, there I was a sharp sense of humour which made him one of the most lively screen personaliI ties of the evening. This was a highly successi ful interview, and so was the one which took the second section of the programme. This was with Sir Angus Sharp, Commissioner of Police, and about to retire. Sir Angus did not compare with the professor in verbal pyrotechnics, but it was a very revealing study of the man.

The much-publicised 924th | episode of “Coronation Street,” the first seen in colour in New Zealand, was based on a hospital, after the bus crash of the previous episode. So there was not much evidence of what colour will do to the Street ’ itself, where one has become thoroughly accustomed to ' drabness, in black and white. But the programme did show I that Elsie Tanner, sex symbol

of the Street, looks even! better in colour. They are making the most: of that bus disaster. Minnie' Caldwell is gravely ill, some of the others are injured,! there are a few walking! wounded: but several have yet to be accounted for, and it may take some time for the roll call to be completed. A slight decline in the rating polls shows that “Coronation Street” has more competition than it used to have. But however familiar the people in it may become, and if it all sometimes seems rather boring these days, one cannot but admire the proficiency of the performance. Each episode of “Coronation Street” seems to have been turned out with some television award in mind. The standard of acting is uniformly sound. * *

A depressing reminder of folly, “The World at War” dealt with life inside Germany from 1940 to 1944. This viewer sat dutifully through it, although sharing the feelings of a good many that there is no real need to have memories of horror revived week after week. But There was again a telling (collection of clips and interviews — one of Hitler’s secretaries was there — and

there is no denying the thoroughness of preparation this series shows in every episode. The ancient Burt Mustin nearly stole the show in “All In the Family.” But not quite. Jean Stapleton’s engaging 'vagueness, her habit of doing everything on the run, of confusing everyone with her apparent futility, still gives this comedy most of its appeal. It was not hilarious, but “All In the Family” remains very high in the list of American comedies. George Sewell seems to have moved half a pace back to make way for Patrick Mower in “Special Branch.” Mower, killed out of the last series of “Callan,” made most of the pace in a lowkey story. There were no murders, no spies, although there was the expectation that something startling might occur at any moment. It didn’t. But the piece was none the worse for that. It remained credible and convincing because it was not forced, either by the writer or the cast. The competent Gwen Watford as Mrs Dolland, and Doreen Mantle as Vera Mitchell turned in excellent performances. They helped: maintain “Special Branch” in the glossy, groomed category of television thrillers. — R.T.B.