Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries: Set 2

 

 

Create your own review

Dorothy Sayers created a rather unusual sleuth in Lord Peter Wimsey -- think Bertie Wooster, except with a formidable crime-solving brain and a haunted past. And "The Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries: Set 2" brings together a second round of the solid BBC adaptations of her works, which are hampered mainly by the fact that the cast is a bit old for their roles.

"Murder Must Advertise" when an employee at an advertising agency falls down a spiral staircase and breaks his neck. Using the name "Death Bredon," Lord Peter goes undercover at the agency, and quickly discovers that he has a natural talent for it. He also discovers that the agency is involved somehow in a seedy drug smuggling ring, and has links to an upper-class party crowd. Oh yeah, and there are more murders.

Then in "Five Red Herrings," a fishing/painting vacation to an arty little village in Scotland goes horribly awry. Bunter and Wimsey stumble across the body of Sandy Campbell -- a violent, malicious, verbally-abusive painter who has alienated almost everybody in Galloway -- face-down in the pond. At first it appears to be an accident, but Wimsey soon realizes that it was murder. Now he has to figure out who actually murdered the man everyone wanted to throttle.

And finally, in "The Nine Tailors" Wimsey helps out the bellringers at a remote village by helping them ring in the New Year... and of course, a corpse is found the next day. As Wimsey investigates the identity of the mystery man, he discovers that it's connected to stolen emeralds from several years ago -- AND the biggest mystery is not just who killed the man, but HOW.

The BBC did an excellent job preserving the spirit of Dorothy Sayers' classic mystery novels, steeped in the atmosphere of post-World War I England -- gentlemen's clubs, tweed jackets, wood-paneled manorhouses and flapper dresses. There's incisive wit in the dialogue, clever humor ("Every time I get my pay packet, I glow with honest pride!"), and an array of characters including fusty old gentry, office drones, feisty artists to drug-addled flappers.

Even better, these are genuine whodunnits. All three mysteries are tangles of lies, deceptions, infidelities, errors and the occasional bizarre twist such as a Nosferatu-esque man scaring a maidservant into a few grey hairs. In "Nine Tailors" and "Five Red Herrings" there are plenty of motives and suspects, and "Murder Must Advertise" has only a few of both. But as the plot unfolds Peter wrangles out a sensible solution that explains everything (and usually without too many disasters along the way).

Perhaps the biggest problem of the story is that Ian Carmichael Carmichael is old enough to be his own character's dad.But despite being in his mid-fifties, Ian Carmichael plays Wimsey with a light, incisive touch and a clever tongue, and he's a good detective who can be steely when the occasion demands it. Glyn Houston is a warmly jolly Bunter, and he's sorely missed in "Murder Must Advertise."

"The Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries: Set 2" brings together a solid trio of murder mysteries -- lots of jolly good writing, befuddling murders, and the occasional "vampire rising from the grave."

We enjoyed the stories because the writer is Dorothy L. Sayers, but much as we like Ian Carmichael, the supporting actors are not very good. The three series done with Edward Petherbridge and Harriet Walters were very well done. There is an amateur stage quality to the series with Ian Carmichael, since the actors don't seem to have the depth of acting skills required for their roles. Production quality is satisfactory and plays well on HDTV screen.

"Murderer Must Advertise"

Victor Dean spirals to his death

Victor Dean (Robert Hamilton) writes, "There is something going on in the organization that is very undesirable and might lead to serious consequences,"

Shortly after that, Victor Dean spirals to his death. An accident?

It may be coincidence but to be on the safe side Mr. Pym (Peter Pratt) of Pym's Advertising Agency heirs a privet detective "Death Breen" to secretly find the answer. Mr. Breen poses as a beginning copywriter and gets to know the staff. We notice that Mr. Breen is too well dressed for the part and looking closer, we recognize him as...

Lord Peter (Ian Carmichael) used the address of the empty apartment owned by his brother-in-law Chief Inspector Parker (Mark Eden) and sister Lady Mary (Rachel Herbert)

While Lord Peter is doing his investigation of the mysterious doings at Pym's, Chief Inspector Parker is investigation dope smuggling. Their paths cross frequently.

Is there a link?
And was Victor Dean just a victim of an accident?
Watch and find out.

You may notice that Ian Carmichael is really showing his age in this film and is just a tad old for the part.

They took the time to put just about everything relevant from the book in to this production. There were a few exceptions but not worth bothering about. The production is complete enough that you do not have to read the book.

Dorothy L. Sayers writes many non-fiction books however among her best is the Lord Peter Wimsey series. I came to this series somewhat though the back door. My first taste was the BBC productions with Petherbridge as Lord Peter, which can now be found on DVD and as a set of Lord Peter stories. Therefore, I read all of Dorothy's books containing the relationship of Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane. Now it is time to go through the whole series.

This item is worth purchasing, as you will want to replay it often.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Five Red Herrings"

Well done Lord Peter Wimsey

Dorothy L. Sayers writes many non-fiction books however among her best is the Lord Peter Wimsey series. I came to this series somewhat though the back door. My first taste was the BBC productions with Petherbridge as Lord Peter that can now be found on DVD. Therefore, I read all of Dorothy's books containing the relationship of Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane. Now it is time to go through the whole series.

Now I watched the one I missed on PBS. The first thing I notices was that Ian Carmichael talks much faster than Petherbridge. In addition, all the people seem older. Of course, Peter was supposed to be older when he met Harriet.

Campbell a local artist is being obnoxious and makes everybody's life miserable. Let us face it Campbell needs killing. You guessed it; he seems to have had an accident while painting. Lord Peter deduces that another painter could only stage the so-called accident. Yep there are six suspects and more if it is not a painter. Therefore, that leaves "Five Red Herrings"

As with all Sayers' stories nothing is simple there are overlapping plots and foolish deeds, as if Peter cannot figure them out. On the side, we learn a little about Scottish society and see the landscape.

They took the time to put just about everything relevant from the book in to this production. There were a few exceptions but not worth bothering about. The production is complete enough that you do not have to read the book. Yet you will want to for the differences and more dialogs.

I am glad they finally made a DVD version. However, the one I watched was the tape. This item is worth purchasing, as you will want to replay it often.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The Nine Tailors"

He sent forth a raven

A young Lord Peter (Ian Carmichael) in formal uniform on his way to the war. He is standing in for his brother The Duke of Denver at a wedding. Mischief is afoot and an emerald necklace was pinched. Where it was stored for safekeeping I cannot say. It looks like the perpetrator was winged by a well-placed shot. We get the inside story and know the truth.

All in the first chapter, we see the crime and the fate of the perpetrators. We also get a first hand view of the meeting and growing relationship and Wimsey and Bunter (Glyn Houston.) As fate would have it, Lord Peter finds himself once again in Fenchurch St. Pauli. This time as providence would have it just in time to replace a sick bell ringer on New Year's Eve.

Three months later a body is found in and Lord Peter is invited to the inquest.

Anthony Steven bases this film on a Dorothy L. Sayers novel of the same name with the screen adaptation.

At first, you are not sure that this is the same peter Wimsey when you see the blond hair and mustache. However if you look close they made little attempt to cover the wrinkled face.

If you have, an opportunity to view this film before reading the book you will not be distracted by the deviations and omissions form the written story.

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 3 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

 

Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

Search Listmania!