Original and Ingenious
\W ITH Dragnet, Mr. Harlequin, the various ZB "soap-operas" and the old mystery play riding the air-waves,
Auckland would seem to be more than well provided for with crime dramas. But the late-night 1ZB feature Box 13 has some unusual features to recommend it. To some extent, it follows the Dragnet pattern, but without the decumentary style, the solemnity and the mannerisms which make that feature such a gift to parodists. Box 13 contains original and ingenious plots, much closer to the "intellectual" whodunit form than to the Mickey Spillane abominations, and flavoured with a very pleasant American wit. As Dan Holliday, the quiet, razor-brained sleuth, Alan Ladd shows himself a better radio player than he ever was a screen-actor (save in Shane). Perhaps the absence of his poker face and bared torso helps here. In any case, this programme is very well produced, fast-moving, and manages to treat crime without being either sordid or silly. Altogether it is a welcome addition to what is usually the least exciting period of the evening’s
listening.
J.C.
R.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19540702.2.22.3
Bibliographic details
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 31, Issue 780, 2 July 1954, Page 10
Word count
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179Original and Ingenious New Zealand Listener, Volume 31, Issue 780, 2 July 1954, Page 10
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Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
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