The Kitchen Toto *** (1987, Bob Peck, Phyllis Logan, Edwin Mahinda) – Classic Movie Review 9971

Writer-director Harry Hook’s 1987 British drama The Kitchen Toto stars Bob Peck, Phyllis Logan and Edwin Mahinda.

Mahinda plays a Kenyan boy called Mwangi, who is befriended by a British police chief, John Graham (Peck), when his priest father is killed by Mau-Mau terrorists in the 1950s. The boy moves in with the policeman and his wife.

The conflicts are seen through the eyes of the boy, whose divided loyalties spur the violent, moving drama.

Sterling performances from Mahinda, Peck and Logan (as Janet Graham) help director Hook to make a strong impression in his feature debut. He went on to remake Lord of the Flies.

Also in the cast are Robert Urquhart, Edward Judd, Kirsten Hughes, Nathan Dambuza Mdledle, Ann Wanjugu, Nicholas Charles, Ronald Pirie, Leo Wringer and Job Seda.

The Kitchen Toto is directed by Harry Hook, runs 96 minutes, is made by British Screen Productions, Channel Four Films and Skreba Films, is released by Cannon, is written by Harry Hook, is shot by Roger Deakins, is produced by Ann Skinner, is scored by John Keane and is designed by Jamie Leonard.

It is the last cinema film of Edward Judd.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9971

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