"Bird of Prey" (1982) TV series

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

22 April 1982 (UK)

Genre:

Thriller

Plot Keywords:

Computer | Independent Film

Cast

Richard Griffiths	...	Henry Jay (2 episodes, 1982)
Roger Sloman	...	Harry Tomkins (2 episodes, 1982)
Richard Ireson	...	DS Eric Vine (2 episodes, 1982)
Trevor Martin	...	Trevor Chambers (2 episodes, 1982)

Runtime:

UK:50 min (4 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Movie Connections:

Followed by "Bird of Prey 2" (1984)

Seminal BBC computer thriller.

One of the best things the BBC ever produced and still fondly remembered by thirtysomethings, this classic TV thriller pits mild-mannered computer programmer Henry Jay (the superb Richard Griffiths) against a malevolent conspiracy. The strengths in plot and characterisation remind one of Hitchcock's adage about ordinary people (Jay's hobby is stamp-collecting) in extraordinary circumstances. Music by Dave Greenslade of the eponymous Seventies Prog-Rockers (he went on to create the Pentateuch with fantasy artist Patrick Woodruffe). Michael Wearing went on to produce Edge of Darkness.