"Piece of Cake" (1988) TV mini-series

User Rating:

8.6/10   

Seasons:

1

Genre:

Drama | War

Plot:

Stories of the men of the RAF Hornet Squadron during the early days of World War II.

Plot Keywords:

1940s | Food In Title | Battle Of Britain | Pilot | WWII

Cast

Tom Burlinson	...	'Fanny' Barton (6 episodes, 1988)
Neil Dudgeon	...	'Moggy' Cattermole (6 episodes, 1988)
George Anton	...	'Pip' Patterson (6 episodes, 1988)
Nathaniel Parker	...	'Flash' Gordon (6 episodes, 1988)
Boyd Gaines	...	Christopher Hart III (6 episodes, 1988)
David Horovitch	...	'Uncle' Kellaway (6 episodes, 1988)
Richard Hope	...	'Skull' Skelton (6 episodes, 1988)
Michael Elwyn	...	Air Commodore Bletchley (6 episodes, 1988)
Gordon Lovitt	...	'Sticky' Stickwell (5 episodes, 1988)
Gerard O'Hare	...	'Flip' Moran (5 episodes, 1988)
Tim Woodward	...	Squadron Leader Rex (4 episodes, 1988)
Stephen MacKenna	...	'Micky' Marriott (4 episodes, 1988)
Jeremy Northam	...	Fitz (3 episodes, 1988)
Mark Womack	...	'Moke' Miller (3 episodes, 1988)
Tom Radcliffe	...	'Dicky' Starr (2 episodes, 1988)
Patrick Bailey	...	'Mother' Cox (2 episodes, 1988)
John Bleasdale	...	L.A.C. Gullet (2 episodes, 1988)
Helena Michell	...	Mary (2 episodes, 1988)

(more)

Series Directed by
Ian Toynton		(6 episodes, 1988)

Series Writing credits
Leon Griffiths		(6 episodes, 1988)
Derek Robinson		(6 episodes, 1988)

Series Produced by
Linda Agran	....	executive producer (6 episodes, 1988)
Andrew Holmes	....	producer (6 episodes, 1988)
Adrian Bate	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Robert Eagle	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Peter Martin		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Peter Jessop		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Lynnette Cummin		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Lynda Armstrong	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tom Harvey	....	assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Paul Stephenson	....	full size aircraft construction (6 episodes, 1988)

Series Sound Department
Colin Chapman	....	supervising sound editor (unknown episodes)
Gerard McCann	....	assistant sound editor (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
David Brighton	....	special effects replica spitfire technician (unknown episodes)
Martin Gaskell	....	lead special effects technician (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Steve Griffin	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Steve Brooke Smith	....	aerial camera assistant (unknown episodes)
Peter Versey	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Simon Werry	....	aerial camera operator (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Ray Hanna	....	chief pilot (6 episodes, 1988)
Walter Eichorn	....	pilot: ME 109 (unknown episodes)
Nick Grace	....	pilot: ME 109 (unknown episodes)
Jerry Grayson	....	helicopter pilot (unknown episodes)
Stephen Grey	....	pilot: Spitfire (unknown episodes)
Reg Hallam	....	pilot: ME 109 (unknown episodes)
Mark Hanna	....	chief pilot (unknown episodes)
Peter Jarvis	....	pilot: Spitfire (unknown episodes)
Michael Malric-Smith	....	helicopter pilot (unknown episodes)
Anita Mays	....	pilot: B-25 (unknown episodes)
Hoof Proudfoot	....	pilot: Spitfire (unknown episodes)
Julie Robinson	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)
John Romain	....	pilot: Harvard (unknown episodes)
Carl Schofield	....	pilot: Spitfire (unknown episodes)
Brian Smith	....	pilot: Spitfire (unknown episodes)
Vernon Thorpe	....	pilot: B-25 (unknown episodes)
John Watts	....	pilot: Spitfire (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• London Weekend Television (LWT)
• Holmes Associates

Other Companies

• Castle Air Aces High  camera platforms
• Group Captain Peter Matthews  historical consultant
• London Philharmonic Orchestra  orchestra
• Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The  orchestra

Runtime:

52 min (6 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

UK:12 (re-rating) (2006) (uncut) | UK:PG (original rating) (censored version)

Filming Locations:

St Michael's Church, Syde, Gloucestershire, England, UK

Company:

London Weekend Television (LWT)

Quotes:

[aerial scene]
'Fanny' Barton: Red two, where the hell are you going?
'Moggy' Cattermole: I thought I'd catch last orders... sorry 'Jester' leader.

Tally ho!

`Piece of Cake' is one of those exceedingly rare examples of filmed perfection (or as near to it as you're likely to get) that have graced the small screen. Based on the 1983 Derek Robinson novel of the same name, `Piece of Cake' follows the fortunes of the fictitious RAF Hornet Squadron from the outbreak of the Second World War, through the infamous Phoney War and the Battle of France, to climax with the life and death struggle of the Battle of Britain.

Now I must admit that I was slightly suspicious of the filmed version as Robinson's book is, and has been for some time, my favourite novel. However after viewing the mini series I can honestly say it was brilliant. Certainly those who have read the book will no doubt have created pictures in their minds' eyes of what the characters should look like, and question certain events or omissions of events in the light of Robinson's book. However `Piece of Cake' is a stunning series and one which stands brilliantly in its own right.

The characterisation is first rate with Neil Dudgeon's `Moggy' a standout, and the interaction between the squadron members superb. The sometimes hilarious banter between characters which was so prevalent in the novel is, thankfully, here in the mini-series. There are some real gems of dialogue, such as Squadron Leader Rex's address to the squadron prior to their departure to France, good British advice on the French natures of alcoholism and fornication.

Visually `Piece of Cake' is stunning. The flying sequences are breathtakingly good and if, like me, you are an aviation enthusiast, you will be able to ignore the inaccuracies in Spitfire marks used or the fact that no Spitfires where sent to be stationed in France (Hornet Squadron in the novel flew Hawker Hurricanes) due to the simple fact of how good they are. The low flying and dogfights are magically filmed and fleshed out with some outtakes from 1969's `Battle of Britain' produce a visual aerial feast!

The direction and production teams have captured the feel of the era as well, the aerodromes, settings and trappings of the 1930s and 1940s really do seem to take the viewer back to those turbulent times and lend an atmosphere that is totally convincing.

This quite simply is a fantastic mini-series and one which I have no doubt most people would find exciting, engaging, interesting, heart rending and in parts highly amusing.

Without doubt `Piece of Cake' is a `10 out of 10' in my book!