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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
...so went the joke at the time of the 'Happy Valley' set in 30's Africa. I have waited a long time for this excellent 3 part series to become available on dvd, and it is worth the wait. Trevor Eve is the former Scotland Yard Superintendent whose dogged pursuit and ultimate shooting of a murdering politician leads to him being 'banished' to the police service in colonial Kenya. A very PC man, clearly light years ahead of his time, Albert Tyburn (Eve) treats the native population and the white settlers with the same sense of fair play and justice, and is soon at loggerheads with his new boss.
The stories are well written and each episode runs to 105 minutes. The quality of the filming and the stunning locations no doubt were the reason that costs prevented any more episodes being made, but each of these stand alone films is so involving they will be watched again and again by the viewer.
Susannah Harker (Pride and Prejudice) is the private pilot Emma Fitzgerald who is on hand to provide transport as well as possible romance for Albert, whilst Julian Rhynd-Tutt (Green Wing) is excellent as the highly-bred crackshot police officer James Valentine, who puts his shooting prowess down to a father with a gambling problem, a large country estate - and the fact that "a chaps got to eat".
I knocked off one star purely because no matter how much the viewer in 2009 might wish to believe it, it is unlikely that such a right thinking man would exist in the 30's Colonial world. Trevor Eve smiles quite a bit during these stories, perhaps thinking the same thing. Watch out for his cricketing skills in the 3rd story - I believe he still holds the record today for the youngest Brit to score a century (at age 15).
The Happy Valley lifestyle is perfectly present though, with well meaning missionaries, utter cads, alcoholic bored upper class wives and struggling plantation farmers, as well as tribal leaders, native villagers and native police officers who face daily struggles to survive in their own land.
The stories are well written and each episode runs to 105 minutes. The quality of the filming and the stunning locations no doubt were the reason that costs prevented any more episodes being made, but each of these stand alone films is so involving they will be watched again and again by the viewer.
Susannah Harker (Pride and Prejudice) is the private pilot Emma Fitzgerald who is on hand to provide transport as well as possible romance for Albert, whilst Julian Rhynd-Tutt (Green Wing) is excellent as the highly-bred crackshot police officer James Valentine, who puts his shooting prowess down to a father with a gambling problem, a large country estate - and the fact that "a chaps got to eat".
I knocked off one star purely because no matter how much the viewer in 2009 might wish to believe it, it is unlikely that such a right thinking man would exist in the 30's Colonial world. Trevor Eve smiles quite a bit during these stories, perhaps thinking the same thing. Watch out for his cricketing skills in the 3rd story - I believe he still holds the record today for the youngest Brit to score a century (at age 15).
The Happy Valley lifestyle is perfectly present though, with well meaning missionaries, utter cads, alcoholic bored upper class wives and struggling plantation farmers, as well as tribal leaders, native villagers and native police officers who face daily struggles to survive in their own land.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
I came across a reference to this series on IMDB - that invaluable site. Went to Amazon and there it was at a very reasonable price. And my wife and I had three very enjoyable evenings. OK - it isn't The Wire but it is well made, interesting plots and sub-plots, engaging characters, and beautiful setting - filmed in Zimbabwe but supposed to be set in Happy Valley, Kenya between the two world wars.
Trevor Eve does a very good Trevor Eve; Joss Acland and others overact most enjoyably. And I fell in love with Susannah Harker all over again - particularly when she had a flying suit on. Would have liked to see a little more of the dark side of colonial Africa but maybe we got as much as an entertainment can provide. Must have cost a bomb to make and maybe that's why it was discontinued after three episodes. Or maybe the audience was not comfortable with the way in which the "Empire" was depicted. Anyway, well worth a punt for a viewer.
Trevor Eve does a very good Trevor Eve; Joss Acland and others overact most enjoyably. And I fell in love with Susannah Harker all over again - particularly when she had a flying suit on. Would have liked to see a little more of the dark side of colonial Africa but maybe we got as much as an entertainment can provide. Must have cost a bomb to make and maybe that's why it was discontinued after three episodes. Or maybe the audience was not comfortable with the way in which the "Empire" was depicted. Anyway, well worth a punt for a viewer.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
A great production, three extremely exciting and well produced dramas.It also benefits from a first class cast,once again the option for subtitles is welcomed and I feel that this option should be included in the description as it can help customers decide on selection of an item.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
heat of the sun giving me hot flushes!
can't wait to rewatch this programme. i loved it when on the TV, so looking forward to watching it at leisure
Published 1 month ago by Mrs. Claire Truman
oh how values/morals have changed ( and still remain the same)
Trevor Eve (waking the Dead) plays a police officer banished to Kenya 1930 for having the temerity to shoot and kill a child murderer who was being protected by the London "upper... Read more
Published 5 months ago by grumpy fred
heat of the sun
Set in Africa(Kenya in the 1930)Trevor Eve plays a British detective sent to Africa .He plays his usual-roll in solving crime,great viewing .I would recommend to whatch
Published 11 months ago by perth australia
Heat Of The Sun
It is a shame that they stopped after 3 episodes. Trevor Eve is extremely effective in this role as he was in shoestring and waking the dead. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Expat in OZ
a truely great show, one of the best ive seen in a long while
i bought this even though id never heard of it or read anything about it because i love the star trevor eve in other things he has done but am i ever glad i did i can honestly say... Read more
Published 15 months ago by vera
If You Dream of Africa in Colour
"Heat of the Sun" (1999), is a British television series of crime dramas that unfold as police procedurals; it was made by Carlton TV and the American PBS (Public Broadcasting... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Stephanie DePue
great
I originally watched this in 1998 when it was first aired on TV and throughly enjoyed it. I had to wait until I lived in the USA before I was able to buy it on DVD. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Gilly
Heat of the Sun
did what it said on the box and a welcome update from my original (and tired) VHS video.
Published 19 months ago by pag
good stuff...
i saw this series when it was first on the telly... but missed the last one as i was on afternoon shift... so was glad to know i could buy the dvd... thanks a bunch... Read more
Published 21 months ago by H. MAC-RAE
Heat & Then Some
I had a nasty suspicion that this would be not be as good as I remembered it but I was wrong. The African location is stunning and the director's use of it to take us back to the... Read more
Published on 16 Feb 2010 by Michael Field
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