Accelerating the silent seas

Press, 9 March 1982, Page 19

Accelerating the silent seas

Review

Douglas McKenzie

It seems to be an unfortunate correlation of nature that the most interesting or best looking fish in the seas are the very ones which, by reason of utility or taste, are threatened with extinction through over-fishing. The nature programmes are always producing harrowing film about losses among whales or dolphins. This week on “Our World” on One (Sunday) the almost hopeless fate of the giant tuna was traced. The tuna are glorious fish with a faultless torpedo shape and splashes of gold to touch up their colour scheme. They are also incomparable as seafood. They are beaten in life because they are too attractive; nobody ever seems to feel it necessary to make a 50-minute film about, say, the cockabully. Viewers are quickly prejudiced in favour of the tuna, not only because, they are splendid animals fighting a battle for survival but also because they find that the threat comes from foreigners — Sicilians and, of course, the Japanese. And not only that: the way they were finally brought out of the water in the Mediterranean with prolonged and clumsy gaffing, leading . to red foam everywhere was sad going. Clearly the world would be a more agreeable place if foreigners need be seen in terms only of soccer and even tennis. "Malice Aforethought" continues its run on One with

Hywel Bennett constantly looking as though he feels he should be doing something other than playing the part of Dr Bickleigh. This series defies an easy pinning down of what it is really about. It is too sinister to be comedy and too scatty to be taken seriously. 1 All the jogging around in Dr Finlay-type motor-cars cannot possibly go with genuine nastiness, yet there is Dr Bickleigh with one murder to his credit and plans already out for a second. While it is- not suggested that Mr Bennett of “Shelley,” should not be able to turn to a straight part, it is his own fault if he bounces around suggesting his personal opinion that Dr Bickleigh is a humourless stuffed shirt although this personal opinion has nothing to do with his characterisation of Dr Bickleigh. ?. In the meantime there are some outstanding views of English country houses and also some inadequate views of . the outstanding Cheryl Campbell. ' Miss Campbell is like a breath of fresh air in any production,' but even she is finding it heavy weather to help move this show along. On the face of it “Malice Aforethought” should soar: it has delightful sets, impeccable clothing of an era of unusually strong sentiment, and experienced leads. But it is a show without any proper thrust; the viewer has to be forgiven if he cannot believe in it.