Rating: 
Summary: Marvelous!
Review: I am so glad to see this on DVD, and those who have it on VHS will be surprised--it looks fantastic! You'd never know this was done in 1972.The picture is crisp and clear, even when switching from video to film (a common practice in those days--film outdoors, and videotape indoors). The sound level is a bit low, but it is not a problem--turning up the volume does not distort the sound in any way. Lord Peter Wimsey (Ian Carmichael) must find the evidence to clear his older brother, Gerald, the Duke of Denver (David Langton) from the charge of murder. The victim is the fiancé of Gerald and Peter's sister, Lady Mary Wimsey (Rachel Herbert). There is much conflicting testimony amongst the witnesses, and Lord Peter, ably assisted by his faithful manservant Bunter (Glyn Houston) and Inspector Parker (Mark Eden), does his best to save his brother. The script is well written, and well paced. We get to see a trial in the House of Lords, something most viewers have perhaps heard of, but never have witnessed. We see the Wimsey family (Lord Peter, the Dowager Duchess, Lady Mary, and the Duke of Denver), and their friends (the Arbuthnots and others), in an excellent adaptation of what life was life in the upper-crust families after World War I. The cast is first rate, as is the story and the quality of the DVD. There are extras (an interview with Ian Carmichael from September of 2000, information on Dorothy L.Sayers, a trivia quiz, and filmographies of the principal players) that make a nice addition to this slipcovered two-DVD set. Acorn Media has done a splendid job--highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Marvelous!
Review: I am so glad to see this on DVD, and those who have it on VHS will be surprised--it looks fantastic! You'd never know this was done in 1972. The picture is crisp and clear, even when switching from video to film (a common practice in those days--film outdoors, and videotape indoors). The sound level is a bit low, but it is not a problem--turning up the volume does not distort the sound in any way. Lord Peter Wimsey (Ian Carmichael) must find the evidence to clear his older brother, Gerald, the Duke of Denver (David Langton) from the charge of murder. The victim is the fiancé of Gerald and Peter's sister, Lady Mary Wimsey (Rachel Herbert). There is much conflicting testimony amongst the witnesses, and Lord Peter, ably assisted by his faithful manservant Bunter (Glyn Houston) and Inspector Parker (Mark Eden), does his best to save his brother. The script is well written, and well paced. We get to see a trial in the House of Lords, something most viewers have perhaps heard of, but never have witnessed. We see the Wimsey family (Lord Peter, the Dowager Duchess, Lady Mary, and the Duke of Denver), and their friends (the Arbuthnots and others), in an excellent adaptation of what life was life in the upper-crust families after World War I. The cast is first rate, as is the story and the quality of the DVD. There are extras (an interview with Ian Carmichael from September of 2000, information on Dorothy L.Sayers, a trivia quiz, and filmographies of the principal players) that make a nice addition to this slipcovered two-DVD set. Acorn Media has done a splendid job--highly recommended!
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed
Review: I did not see the original broadcast of the Lord Peter Wimsey series in the 70's. I did see and very much enjoyed the 80's episodes with Edward Petherbridge and Harriet Walter. When I purchased Clouds of Witness I expected a better production with a Lord Peter who at least approximated the character in the Sayers's mysteries. The Lord Peter in Clouds is a buffon, uncultured, clumsy and completely unlike the immaculately dressed clothes horse of the books. Bunter would have given up and taken up photography for a living. Also, five cassettes. What a waste. Takes up way too much space for the caliber of the videos. Last, the tapes themselves are of poor quality. Wait for the 80's series.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointed
Review: I did not see the original broadcast of the Lord Peter Wimsey series in the 70's. I did see and very much enjoyed the 80's episodes with Edward Petherbridge and Harriet Walter. When I purchased Clouds of Witness I expected a better production with a Lord Peter who at least approximated the character in the Sayers's mysteries. The Lord Peter in Clouds is a buffon, uncultured, clumsy and completely unlike the immaculately dressed clothes horse of the books. Bunter would have given up and taken up photography for a living. Also, five cassettes. What a waste. Takes up way too much space for the caliber of the videos. Last, the tapes themselves are of poor quality. Wait for the 80's series.
Rating:
Summary: This video was great.
Review: I have all of the books and I want all of the videos.I would like to get the ones that aired in 1987 on PBS Mystery ,any chances of that? Clouds of a Witness was wonderful I have watched about eight times since I recieved it.I need another one to watch I am wearing this one out.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Peter, but fun....
Review: I have looked long and hard for these videos, and finally here's Peter and the family- but be forwarned. If you, like most Sayers fans, know exactly what Peter looks, talks and acts like- if you know how Denver sounds and expect Sir Impey Biggs to be tall and spare and dignified- you'll have an adjustment to make. Still, I've enjoyed the series for two reasons- I can never really dislike Peter Wimsey in any form, and this is my chance to introduce the last remaining non-fan in the household to the Wimsey world. Carmichael is charming if too "blocky" and old to really play Peter, but the essence of the story and characters is captured well. Watching it with my faithful sheltie Wimsey at my feet made for a few pleasant evenings. My advice, read the books again but then enjoy the faintly familiar feeling you get from the pleasure of watching the story.
Rating:
Summary: Sherlock shake hands with Lord Peter
Review: I have this in my collection of mystery video's it is a must for any mystery lover. It has followed the book to a tee. I shall be looking for the rest of the series of Lord Peter Wimsey video's as soon as they are made available.
Rating:
Summary: Deeply Disappointed
Review: I must disagree with the majority of reviewers. As a Dorothy Sayers fan but never having seen any of the TV broadcasts, I had high hopes for this video, but was deeply disappointed. Clouds of Witness was a too-literal rendering of the book, tediously jumping from one clue to the next before any clue had a chance to sink in (except one, perhaps the most important in the whole story, which was so grossly over-emphasized that it may as well have come with a voice-over saying "Take notice, something very important is being shown"). The teleplay offered very little of the atmosphere or the finely-detailed depictions of English idiosyncracies which gave Sayers's books their particular charm. The production itself was theatrical (with stage-type lighting)and stagebound (confined in dim rooms, except for a few sorry attempts at outdoor action scenes, all of them utterly unconvincing). Aside from Peter Wimsey himself and the Dowager Duchess, virtually every actor seemed miscast and the performances were cold and unappealing. All combined, these factors gave the show an amateurish, dated feel. And finally, the 200 minutes or so of actual footage could have easily fit on two tapes instead of five, and been sold for half the price.
Rating:
Summary: Somewhat disappointing - not worth the money
Review: I remembered this series fondly, and I was excited when I sawit for sale. However, it doesn't stand the test of time. EdwardPetherbridge (of the later series) is a much better Wimsey than Ian Carmichael, and the other production values don't hold up well. Also be warned that although there are 5 cassettes in the package, there is only one 50 minute episode on each. Considering all of this, I find it very over-priced... I enjoyed seeing it once, but I regret buying it.
Rating:
Summary: Superlative
Review: I saw this and other Lord Peter Whimsey episodes when they first appeared on "Masterpiece Theatre" back in the '70s (the golden years). Some time ago, BBC produced another version of the Whimsey stories which were good but not nearly as good as the earlier ones with Ian Charmichael. This and the other Charmichael renditions of the Lord Peter Whimsey mystery stories are on a par with the likes of "Upstairs Downstairs" and "I Claudius". And they are better than the best of what has been seen on PBS's "Mystery" ( which is saying a lot -- I love "Mystery"). So if you are a "Masterpiece Theatre" lover but your viewing experience does not extend back to this era, I can assure you that these tapes will be a great treat.
| 
