Higgins is quarantined in the guest house with Magnum because TM may have been exposed to a deadly African virus. Or, is it something else?Higgins is quarantined in the guest house with Magnum because TM may have been exposed to a deadly African virus. Or, is it something else?Higgins is quarantined in the guest house with Magnum because TM may have been exposed to a deadly African virus. Or, is it something else?
Photos
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaGillian Dobb made her first appearance as Agatha Chumley in this episode.
- GoofsThe African cultural references here are rather silly. The so-called African music is in a made-up style that sounds more like south east Asia and has no relation to Maasai music by even the slightest degree. Also, Higgins refers to the Kikuyu as being a savage tribe. Historically, the Kikuyus are the tribe that was the most accommodating to the British. When the Uganda Railway was being built in the 19th century, the Kikuyus were open to trade with the British and many Kikuyu were hired in various capacities. In contrast, the Nandi tribe was extremely hostile. The Mau Mau rebellion of the 1950s did center largely on the Kikuyu, and some atrocities took place. As Higgins mentions, however, the British also committed some atrocities.
- Quotes
Magnum: When were you in Africa?
Higgins: Of course, I was in North Africa during the war, attached to Alexander's command. Fought against Rommel in the desert.
Magnum: Higgins...
Higgins: I remember once...
Magnum: Higgins...
Higgins: ...outside El Alamein...
Magnum: I meant, when did you see the Masai rites?
Higgins: When I was stationed in Kenya in '53.
Magnum: 1953? That was about the time of Mau Mau uprising, wasn't it?
Higgins: Yes.
[Higgins goes to get more drink]
Higgins: Scotch?
Magnum: No, this is fine. What was it like?
Higgins: It was bloody.
[Higgins returns to his seat]
Higgins: [glumly] The Mau Mau came from the Kikuyu tribe. And the Kikuyu could be a savage people. But then, so could we. Take away our bowlers and school ties, remove us from our cities where others kill our meat, from our books and films, where we vicariously live out our baser emotions, set us down in the African bush where every living thing is killing or being killed, and we can be as savage as any tribe on the face of the earth. You know what I mean?
Magnum: Yes, I've been there.
Higgins: Africa?
Magnum: Vietnam.
The tale begins in a romanticised Hollywood version of London - horse and carts, top hats and tails, etc. A full moon hangs over Big Ben like an outtake from "Curse of the Werewolf" and the beautiful Lynne Moody delivers the worst cockney impersonation since Dick Van Dyke playing Caractacus Potts. The feeling of the opening scene is therefore more Hammer Horror than Hawaii.
Ian McShane plays a haunted man, Edwin Clutterbuck. This is McShane's second (and last) appearance in the series and he throws everything into his role as a racist, thoroughly unpleasant soldier who is tormented by the demons of his past.
The fascinating Gillian Dobb appears in the series again, this time playing Higgins' number one fan and fellow Brit, Agatha Chumley.
I like this episode a lot. It's rich in atmosphere and there's great chemistry between the main cast. The only elements that leave a sour taste are the racist language used by the character Clutterbuck and the rather unusual title for this episode. Very '80s but not politically correct and it's difficult to imagine this episode being aired uncut today.
Overall, a very different type of tale for "Magnum, P.I." and worthy of a viewing. It's a spooky treat with great humour to break the tension.
- DVD_Connoisseur
- Nov 18, 2018
Details
- Runtime48 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1