Flaming Trees of Thika
The Flame Trees of Thika is a British television mini-series of seven 50-minute episodes made by Euston Films for Thames Television in 1981. It was adapted by John Hawkesworth from the 1959 book of the same title by Elspeth Huxley, and is set in and around the town of Thika in Kenya's Central Province. The story deals with the lives of British settlers in this part of East Africa in 1913, when the country was a British colony, up to the start of World War One.
The series stars Hayley Mills (in her first starring role after a six-year performing hiatus), Holly Aird, David Robb and Ben Cross.
Production
The Flame Trees of Thika was filmed on location in Kenya, directed by Roy Ward Baker and produced by Hawkesworth and Christopher Neame with Verity Lambert as executive producer. The filming included aerial views of the actual Kenya-Uganda railway train as it traveled between Mombasa and Nairobi heading toward Uganda.
The television series was nominated for three BAFTA Television Awards, including Ian Wilson for Best Cinematography.
It was originally transmitted on the ITV network from 1 September to 13 October 1981 and was released on VHS (now deleted).
It is currently available on DVD.
The spanking scene
It is the year 1913. Elspeth (Holly Aird) and her unconventional parents decide to settle down in Kenya, which then was a British colony, to start a coffee plantation.
This is a time of discovery for Elspeth, as she encounters the incredible beauty and cruelty of nature, and new friendships with both Africans and British expatriates. A side plot involves the beautiful and bored British Lettice Palmer (Sharon Maughan) who enters into an affair with a handsome safari guide. Eventually, however, the excitement of Elspeth's life is disrupted by the onset of World War I, and the changes it brings.
Elspeth's family went on a hunting trip with her father's business partner. When his business partner shot a pregnant animal, the Elspeth got very upset and expressed her disgust.
In the evening, when her father puts her to bed, he discusses the issue with her. He demands that Elspeth writes an apology. She replies "I won't". Her father counters "Oh yes, you will. Bend over!" Elspeth obeys and lies on her stomach.
Her father gives her four spanks with a hairbrush going "You're turning into a <spank> spoilt, <spank> impertinent, <spank> boring little <spank> girl".
External links
- Review The Flame Trees of Thika at the Internet Movie Database
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