Some suspense of doubtful quality

Press, 25 February 1977, Page 11

Some suspense of doubtful quality

By KEN COATES Wednesday night's viewing turned out to be an exercise in suspense of doubtful quality. It was one of those evenings when a viewer can get hooked on one channel, and at the end of it wishes he had bestirred himself to exercise his right to switch channels. South Pacific Television would have been better to leave its very indifferent offering jf •'Spyforce” in Australia. It was a dreary flight — 24 hours in an old flying boat with a captured German general aboard — and it had all the characteristics of boredom. Whenever a television programme resorts to having the characters playing cards to while away the time, as this one did

twice, it is a sure sign of mediocrity.

It was a flimsy story for the unconvincing members of the top-secret branch of Australian Army Intelligence to act out.

Perhaps it is nearer the truth to say the intelligence service was rather similar to the picture presented, but that it hardly makes a vehicle for either suspense or entertainment.

Almost the entire film was shot in the obvious mock-up which purported to be the cabin of the wartime flying boat. Even the Japanese Zero attack remained a half-hearted effort as though the special effects men had been allowed to spend only a fraction of their budget.

Films of this type are usually at least able to

simulate bullets ripping into the fuselage and pieces of the aircraft being torn away.

The director had obviously tried everything he could think of to make a rather dull script and limited action, interesting. But the viewer tired of repeated shots of the petrol guage, the radio, the faces of the pilot and co-pilot, the face of the general, and the aircraft in flight. Even the final scene, when the general was shot in the back (whatever happened to British security?) was rammed home by flashbacks to each “highlight” of the boring flight. # sjs

Lee Marvin, the presenter of “crime as it actually happened.” was hardly a change for the better.

The family which had been robbed went through the motions with great reluctance, and even the “crooks” lacked enthusiasm. There was nothing particularly interesting, instructive or entertaining about this programme. And certainly solution of the crime presented no great challenge to the “big, alert police force” of Philadelphia.

The best of the three programmes viewed on S.T.P. was "Harry O”. At least this series is built around a strong character and David Janssen plays the role of the tough cop turned private investigator reasonably well.

Perhaps the former underground boss looked a trifle too benevolent with his beard, but there was some element of suspense as to who killed the pregnant girl found dead on the beach.

There is one problem with Harry Orwell, though; he is so used to facing danger from all quarters that riding down a steep, winding road in a van with no brakes evinced no sign of emotion on his face. Harry is inclined to be ho-hum about the whole business, a feeling which somehow transmits itself to the viewer.