The Sport of Kings)

Starring:Trevor Eve, Susannah Harker, Akbar Kurtha, Lawrence Simbarashe, Jimmi Harkishin, Peter Joyce, Sophie Dix, Quinton Gasa, Kate McKenzie, Memory Santos, Peter Sullivan (III), Hugh Simon, Barry McNicholl, Ewan Stewart, Sean Gallagher, Michael Byrne, Theo Landey, Flora Montgomery, Margaret Ngugu, Sharah Forgette
Director: Paul Seed, Adrian Shergold, Diarmuid Lawrence
Studio: Wgbh Boston
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Former Scotland Yard detective Albert Tyburn (Trevor Eve) finds himself in colonial Nairobi, the setting of Out of Africa, as head of a new criminal investigation unit. Imagine an athletic Hercule Poirot in the heat of the Kenyan sun. Superintendent Tyburn's unrelentingly independent policing style is remarkably effective against the murder, arson, blackmail, slave-trading, and other crimes that await him. The most serious impediments to Tyburn's investigations come from pompous Police Commissioner Ronald Burkitt (Michael Byrne) and the elitist, expatriate community's secret passions and vices. The outstanding cast includes Tyburn's talented crime-solving assistants, Constable Jonah Karinde (Freddie Annobil-Dodoo) and Assistant Superintendent James Valentine (Julian Rhind-Tutt), and his romantic interest, Emma Fitzgerald (Susannah Harker). The attractive, strong-willed biplane pilot Fitzgerald bears remarkable similarity to the real-life Beryl Markham, who recounted her experiences in West with the Night. The three episodes, "Private Lives," "Hide in Plain Sight," and "The Sport of Kings," are well written and action-packed. Mobil Masterpiece Theatre's Heat of the Sun will delight fans of fine detective work. --Tara Chace
Description
A tangled web of blackmail, murder, passion, and more awaits former Scotland Yard detective Albert Tyburn (Trevor Eve from The Politician's Wife) when he arrives in Nairobi. He has been sent to head up a new criminal investigation unit under the command of pompous local police commissioner Ronald Burkitt (Michael Byrne). In these three mysteries: Private Lives, Hide in Plain Sight and The Sport of Kings, Tyburn uses his cunning, courage and headstrong policing style to battle arson, drug-dealing, murder and the creeping colonialism of Kenya's hedonistic expatriate community.

Special DVD features include: link to the Mystery! Web site; scene selections; and closed captions.

Amazon.com

Former Scotland Yard detective Albert Tyburn (Trevor Eve) finds himself in colonial Nairobi, the setting of Out of Africa, as head of a new criminal investigation unit. Imagine an athletic Hercule Poirot in the heat of the Kenyan sun. Superintendent Tyburn's unrelentingly independent policing style is remarkably effective against the murder, arson, blackmail, slave-trading, and other crimes that await him. The most serious impediments to Tyburn's investigations come from pompous Police Commissioner Ronald Burkitt (Michael Byrne) and the elitist, expatriate community's secret passions and vices. The outstanding cast includes Tyburn's talented crime-solving assistants, Constable Jonah Karinde (Freddie Annobil-Dodoo) and Assistant Superintendent James Valentine (Julian Rhind-Tutt), and his romantic interest, Emma Fitzgerald (Susannah Harker). The attractive, strong-willed biplane pilot Fitzgerald bears remarkable similarity to the real-life Beryl Markham, who recounted her experiences in West with the Night. The three episodes, "Private Lives," "Hide in Plain Sight," and "The Sport of Kings," are well written and action-packed. Mobil Masterpiece Theatre's Heat of the Sun will delight fans of fine detective work. --Tara Chace

Description

A tangled web of blackmail, murder, passion, and more awaits former Scotland Yard detective Albert Tyburn (Trevor Eve from The Politician's Wife) when he arrives in Nairobi. He has been sent to head up a new criminal investigation unit under the command of pompous local police commissioner Ronald Burkitt (Michael Byrne). In these three mysteries: Private Lives, Hide in Plain Sight and The Sport of Kings, Tyburn uses his cunning, courage and headstrong policing style to battle arson, drug-dealing, murder and the creeping colonialism of Kenya's hedonistic expatriate community.

Special DVD features include: link to the Mystery! Web site; scene selections; and closed captions.

On three DVD5 discs. Region coding: All regions. Audio: Dolby stereo. Screen format: Letterboxed.

Customer Reviews:

Compelling stories and great acting combine for terrific entertainment.......2007-07-04

I too saw this series years ago and loved it. It's an amazing treatise on how the British went to a certain part of the world and thought they owned it, and how Tyburn comes in and treats everyone equally, to most of the "polite society's" astonishment. I have followed Trevor Eve's career since then, since I like his work so well ... "Waking the Dead" is a wonderful series that he's been in for the last 3-4 years. I first saw Susannah Harker in "Jewel in the crown" and she impressed me there. I just wish that this series had been filmed in widescreen vs full screen to get the full impact of the cinematography and the wonderful vistas of Africa.

first sight of trevor eve.......2007-03-28

this was the first ever i had seen or heard of trevor eve, and quite by accident, surfing channels. excellent for the colonial times and quite apt i think.

Heat of the Sun.......2006-11-14

Excellent PBS Mystery series. A great period piece. Excellent attention to costumes and equipment. However, in an African colony, in 1931, one would hardly expect all of the autos to be the current models. All of the vehicles used are 1931s, except for one coupe, which is a 1932. But only a vintage car buff would notice.

Fantastic and Intelligent - Compare to Foyle's War.......2006-09-04

I have hoped that this series would be continued past the first three stories - in vain. If you like Foyle's War (which has, fortunately, been continued), you will like Heat of the Sun. It's realistic; it's intelligent. It can be uncomfortable because this is not a pretty world. On the other hand, there are "good guys", just like in the real world, and, just like in the real world, they are not cartoon cut-outs, but flawed humans who are heros nonetheless. I very much recommend this series.

Excellent, one of the best PBS Mystery! series.......2006-08-06

Excellent series set in beautiful Kenya in 1931, the time of Beryl Markham and Isak Dinesen. The protagonist, Tyburn, is attractive, intelligent, knows police procedures and refuses to back down when determining who is guilty of the crimes committed. He has the right attitude (including contempt) toward the so-called elite of England and of Nairobi. He believes that no one is above the law. He also is not a bigot and treats the native Africans as they should be treated, as equals. The relationship with Emma (a bush pilot) is just right as to intensity and scope; it blends in very well with, but does not detract from, the plot. The acting is excellent and the plots very interesting. Having been to Kenya, this series did appear to have been filmed there and the settings appeared authentic and the scenery beautiful. Anyone who enjoys mysteries set in interesting historic locations with romance will thoroughly enjoy this series. I wish more of this series had been done.

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