‘Glittering Prizes’ has real glow

Press, 2 August 1977, Page 15

‘Glittering Prizes’ has real glow

The enjoyable and very professionallyproduced first episode of the 8.8. C. series, “The Glittering Prizes.” from TVI, convinced me that the remaining five will make compulsive Sundaynight viewing in the weeks ahead. The programme consists of a series of six self-con-tained plays, and follows a group of people from the 19505, when they first meet at Cambridge, until 1976. Tom Conti was superb as Adam Morris, the caustic, sharp-tongued Jewish boy, brilliant and charming, who is determined to ignore even the strong traditions and constraints

of his upbringing. Contrast was skilfully drawn between the two room-mates at Cambridge, the impulsive, selfcontained Adam, and the sensitive Donald Davidson (played by David Robb), who came from an aristocratic Roman Catholic family. The character of each young man emerged clearly as the relationship de-

veioped. The inherent differences between the two and their intensity of feelings were emphasised by physical struggle. Then there was the attitude of each towards the opposite sex — Adam, self assured and success ful; Donald, rich, lacking

By

KEN COATES

confidence, and dreaming of his first encounter. One of the most telling scenes, and one which fairly bristled with suppressed tension, was Adam’s visit to his family at Christmas, when he refused to fit into the mould his parents took for

granted. Dramatic interest was sustained through .idam’s inescapable role in events once it was clear that Donald had only a short time to live. But there were subtle shifts in attitudes and relationships, conveyed by well directed and effective dialogue. Even Lady Frances (Elizabeth Spriggs) showed that she could be human after all in a memorable scene with Adam over tea. “The Glittering Prizes” is the kind of series that proves that television programmes of integrity and quality are still being made.