The Flame Trees of Thika

I first saw the Flame Trees of Thika 40 years ago and had forgotten what a superb program it was. I just saw it again on Acorn TV and it is a real feast for the eyes. Made on location in Kenya with actors playing their own nationality, Scots playing Scots, Dutch playing South African Boers, and Kenyan actors and native tribespeople playing the Kenyans, and real wildlife (lots and lots of wildlife) . The location scenery is stunning and amost a travelogue for Kenya. Ben Cross, who passed away last year was in his 30's and ruggedly handsome as a horse trader/safari leader. The acting was top notch. Although set in the early 20th centurywhen Kenya was being colonised by aristocratic second sons and former military officers of the British empire, this is not The Happy Valley of White Mischief - more the second class settlers who are very hard working farmers struggling to establish coffee plantations and farm animals and doing the work themmselves, tatherr than appointing stewards. I plan to buy the DVD to keep on hand for when the series on no longer available on TV.

Unfortunately the first episode on Acorn does not have captions, and has an inferior picture, but I persevered and the subsequent episodes had both captions and a better picture. There is a disclaimer to the effect that certain scenes and lanaguage are counter to what is acceptable today and may offend some people. I don't know what was offensive - colonial rule in East Africa was what it was and we did not see any atrocities or brutalities carried out by the white settlers, nor was there any bad language or graphic sex, so the series could be enjoyed by the whole family.

Very interesting series. Representative of those times when Africa was under British rule. The British elite & their treatment of the Africans & the brutal hunting of animals in the wild. A well told story.

I recall seeing this movie on PBS in the early 1980's when Masterpiece Theatre presented a rich assortment of British TV shows. In this series, we find the Grant family in colonial Africa before and during World War I. The show is seen through the eyes of daughter Elspeth played superbly by Holly Aird.

It was a pleasant surprise to see Hayley Mills in this series along with David Robb who has been performing on British television for many years. The series gives the viewers some wonderful scenery and a glimpse of life in Africa at the time. It is very telling to hear the comments of young Elspeth on the lives of her parents and the people they interact with in Africa. All in all, a great series with very appealing background scenery.

Fabulous min-series making you wanting more. Magnificently shot capturing the wilds of Africa and the superstitions of its people. A story seen through the young eyes of Elspeth displays why these types of British mini-series are so wonderful even after almost 25 years to watch again and again. Great supporting performances by Haley Mills and Sharon Maughan lights up the storyline and it is a shame they did not continue the series onto the next Huxley autobiographical book. It was a pleasant surprise to see that Roy Ward Baker was also the director for one my favorite Titanic movies, 'A Night to Remember'. A bit of trivia that had escaped me all these years. If you enjoyed 'Out of Africa' by Dinesen, you will surely enjoy this series. The quality of the DVD and extras were less than stellar but it does nothing to diminish the beauty of the story, the acting, or the beautiful wilderness of Africa.

Sometimes you watch a bit of something, and you just KNOW you're seeing something special.

I first saw this series around 20 years ago as a weekly mini-series on PBS. The wonderful story, great acting, beautiful scenery and haunting music has stayed with me. When I saw the video at our local library I was happy to renew my acquainenance with Elspeth and her family in Kenya. The story plays just as well 20 years later.

Thanks to all who had a part in "The Flame Trees of Thika" for giving us such a gift.