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Summary: I've been waiting *15 years*...
Review: ...for this set of DVDs. The series on which they're based are among my all-time favorite books, and although the books are better (aren't they always?), this series is *great*. The actors are good, and they actually look (more or less) like the characters in the books. They're a delight to watch in these roles. There are a few things changed from the books, of course, but overall, the productions are very faithful, and this is an extremely enjoyable series. After 15 years of rewatching them on extended-play videos taped at home (with lousy video and almost no color quality left), I'm thrilled to be able to order them on DVD.
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Summary: Brilliant sophisticated romance/mystery
Review: As a male with a major distaste of the teeny-bopper tripe of modern TV and movies this is THE best sophisticated romantic movie ever produced.
Harriet Vane is self contained modern woman (and this was written in the 1920s and 30s) who is accused of murdering her 'partner' -as we would euphemistically call him today. Dorothy Sayers didn't 'beat around the bush' it was Vane's "lover" who was murdered!
Wimsey is besotted but Vane is NOT going to rush into his arms despite thinking how easy it would be.
The Gaudy Night episode does a sterling job at trying to create the atmosphere and intellectual dilemma of Harriet Vane in Sayer's original book (I thought they should have made two episodes of this). Here was a modern feminist discussing the issues of today's young women who have worked through the anti-intellectual diatribes of the 'bib and brace' set of the 1970s.
This is a quality product that makes television worth watching
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Summary: The REAL Lord Peter: to a "T"
Review: Calling all Lord Peter fans, & all those of ripping good film-making, too: AT LAST! We've all only been waiting since 1987 for these three BBC-films to be released in video -THAT's all! Yes, 15 years in the waiting, but looking spanking new & utterly worth the wait. You'll see: the even older Wimsey videos (Ian Carmichael) suffer seriously when compared to these latest three. I enjoyed Ian but was always bothered by the fact that he was too old, too grey & too thick-waisted to really seem anything like Peter. Edward Petherbridge's acting is top-drawer, & sticklers can rejoice that the actor even looks exactly as Sayers described Peter: right down to the long "goosey" nose, the particular look in the eye, the pale golden hair, & "the shoulders tailored to the point of swooning". Petherbridge's talent & informed style bring the very soul of Lord Peter to the screen in all his eccentric complexity: the wit, the fire, the wonderful silliness, the sudden vulnerability, the rapid badinage lacing literary & historical allusions in between forensic observations: zounds! Top that off with the marvelous presence, at last, of Harriet Vane, & you'll be watching all three novels in a row, straight on 'til morning. Further reassurance? 'Gaudy Night' is SUPERB. Very hard to do well (Hollywood would've ruined it), BBC has created a work of perfection. That early feminist island of Oxford's first college for women is so faithfully & delightfully rendered, even the most exacting viewers/readers will thrill. ORDER EARLY: THESE ARE KEEPERS!
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Summary: Thank god for amazon!
Review: Dorothy Sayers is my favorite author of all time. I own the Ian Carmichael DVDs, but have never seen the televised version of the Harriet Vane novels. I regularly search my local stores in the hopes that these movies would finally be released. Imagine my delight when I happened to click on the DVD page of amazon and saw that they were to be released in a few weeks. Oh, happy day! I wish I could comment on the movies themselves. The books are amazing, and must be read. I can, however, comment on the books. The best of the bunch, and the best of the Whimsey series IMO, is Gaudy Night. I'm not sure how it will translate to film, however. GN is Harriet's story. We see her struggling between the academic realm of emotional safety and intellectual risk, and emotional commitment, with all that entails for women at that time. Although some of the gender debate of the book is slightly dated, it amazes me how so much still resonates today. This is the one Sayers novel where the mystery is truly a backdrop for character introspection, and yet all the themes play off each other so well. Beautiful, beautiful book. As for Have His Carcasse . . . it's decent. Not great. The mystery is a bit more meaty than some Sayers novels, so if you prefer complicated story, this is your book. Yet the resort setting, as Whimsey observes, brings out the vulgar in our characters. Harriet does not acquit herself well, coming off a bit shrill and unsympathetic. And since the novel is told from her POV, it can be grating.
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Summary: Semi-autobiographical....
Review: Dorothy Sayers never married although she did have an out-of-wedlock son, the result of a love affair. She never revealed the identity of the father of her child, but she finally acknowledged her son as her own toward the end of her life. Sayers lived during the first half of the 20th Century, a difficult age for women. She was born before women had acquired the vote, and attended university before women were welcome on campus (along with Virginia Wolfe). She had a successful career as a writer, first of mysteries and later of theological tracts. Many biographers think the character of Harriet Vane, the protagonist of the three tales: STRONG POISON, HAVE HIS CARCASE, and GAUDY NIGHT was modeled on Dorothy Sayers own life, and thus the tales are semi-autobiographical. If you haven't read these books, do so before you view the DVDs. You will probably enjoy the DVDs whether or not you read the books, but the writing is so excellent, the exchanges between Harriet and Peter are so witty and intellectual, and the sexual tension...well so tense...that you will cheat yourself if you only watch the DVDs. Harriet meets Peter for the first time in STRONG POISON. Harriet is in prison for the murder of her fiance. But did she do it? Peter thinks not and sets out to prove it in spite of the fact Harriet does not want his help. The Peter Wimsey of STONG POISON (Edward Petherbridge??) appears at first glance to be a bigger fop than Ian Carmichal who plays Peter in all the other dramatised Wimsey tales, but the Peter in STRONG POISON is different. He exudes a powerful sexuality and is sensitive and sensual. And, yet this is a very serious mystery. A woman is in the dock, and if Peter can't save her she will be hung. In this story (book/DVD) you learn just how badly hurt Peter was by his experiences in WWI and the role Bunter played in nursing him back to life and health. And Harriet has been badly damaged by the recent events of her life. So, it appears that in spite of the obviously strong attraction Peter feels for Harriet, they will not end up as a couple. At the end of the story, Sayers leaves you wondering if there is a future for these two people. In HAVE HIS CARCASE (from the Latin 'Habeas Corpus' in reference to the requirement for a dead body to prove a murder has been committed), Peter and Harriet cross paths again. Harriet has taken off for a walking tour of the West Country. She feels a good long hike along the coast of Cornwall will help heal her damaged psyche. But poor Harriet is destined to fall over dead bodies and walking along the shore she stumbles on a poor sod who appears to have a slit throat. Tracks on the shore indicate he was alone, so it must be suicide. Peter turns up with Bunter when Harriet reports the murder in town, and soon the three of them are working hard to determine if the fellow on the beach was murdered or killed himself. Time and tide wait for no man, and this is an ingeneous story. It may be hard to follow if you haven't read the book, but the scenery is smashing. As with the earlier book/DVD in this triology, HAVE HIS CARCASE is filled with intelligent dialogue between Peter and Harriet, and Bunter and Peter. Peter is quite smitten with Harriet by now and he proposes, but she is not interested. In GAUDY NIGHT, the third in the trilogy, Harriet has returned to the university she attended years earlier for a reunion with her female classmates (she was educated in the "girls" college at the university). The setting is Oxford--I believe Peter's school is Balliol and would you believe it, he is on the scene around the time Harriet gets together with her classmates. The highlight of Harriet's reunion is a party or "Gaudy Night" as it is called. Once again the viewer is advised to read the book. Harriet's professors on the staff at her college have been receiving threats--from someone, possibly a member of their own circle? And, strange things have been happening, including a midnight burning on the Quad. The local constabulary acts as if the women are insane or imagining the whole thing. Why is that many men and even some women condem a group of women stirred up by odd happenings as "hysterical" when they react with fear? Some male critics have said GAUDY NIGHT is not as "interesting" as her earlier two novels--probably because Dorothy Sayers is making a political statement about female sufferage. I think GAUDY NIGHT may be the best of the lot. Harriet experiences a critical event during her Gaudy Night that leads her to finally put some of the painful events from her past to rest. Peter might propose marriage again (is he beginning to sound like Mr. Darcy??)--but will the newly liberated Harriet accept? Does the path of Harriet Vane's life verge from or follow that of Dorothy Sayers? This is a great series, and one of the best Mystery Theatre ever presented. Oh yes, Peter Wimsey does have primrose colored hair and he is just as rich as Darcy--and good in the sack (or so he tells Harriet!!)
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Summary: Peter was great - Harriet less so
Review: Dorothy Sayers was truly a master in her genre and the BBC did a superb job at bringing the Peter/Harriet books to life (unfortunately leaving out "Busman's Honeymoon). In particular, Edward Petherbridge was so well cast as Peter Wimsey that even Sayers herself would no doubt stand up and applaud. He is handsome, slightly nervous yet full of sang froid, and appealling insecure about Harriet - but very sexy, magnetic even, while in pursuit of her. My problem was with Harriet Walter in the role as Harriet Vane. In the books, Harriet was deep, vulnerable, wounded, and passionate. Harriet Walter, by contrast, is a reactive, edgy, and angry character. Most unforgivably, her behavior towards Peter is very inconsistent; punishing one minute, smiling and conspiring with him the next. She comes across as far more neurotic than alluring. As such, the chemistry that was so pervasive in the books is very much absent between Petherbridge and Walter. And it is sorely missed: the romantic dimension to their partnership was one of the greatest in mystery fiction. Also, although I realize that we American viewers are used to perhaps overly beautiful performers, I'm sorry the BBC didn't cast a more attractive actress to play Harriet Vane. For one thing, Walter's voice is extremely high-ptiched and grating (the nails on a blackboard type). And her hair is so unruly and badly cut that it's actually distracting. That type of short and waved bob was popular in that period but it could/should have been managed more tastefully. These complaints about Harriet are the only ones I have about the series and otherwise ratify previous viewers' excellent comments.
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Summary: Yippeee! (And that's an understatement!)
Review: Edward Pethebridge is the BEST Peter Wimsey (looks, manners, etc.) I think Dorothy L. Sayers would have loved him. I've read all of her books and worn the covers off them. This set of three is the best and I can't imagine a better rendition of them. If you aren't familiar with her work this is a wonderful introduction. If you are then the only reason you are on this page is to place your order... so, what are you waiting for? They can probably express ship.... (I was on looking for items for my wish list but can't wait to get this so will be ordering it myself!)
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Summary: One of the best TV series ever made!!
Review: Edward Petherbridge is brilliant!! I recently acquired these DVD's (Strong Poison/Have His Carcass/Gaudy Night) and they are now my most treasured set. The performances by Edward Petherbridge and Harriet Walter are flawless! This series is a MUST HAVE for all mystery buffs (especially Dorothy Sayer's fans!) For those who were disappointed in the Ian Carmichael series produced 10 years earlier, take heart--you have now found the answer to your prayers! My only criticism is that there were no more titles produced in this series. I can't understand why they did not continue to make more of these wonderful productions. And furthermore, I can't understand why the BBC took so long to release this series onto Video/DVD. If I had known of the existance of this series sooner, I would have launched a campaign to demand that they make more episodes. Oh well...I guess we will just have to make do with the three gems that were made. (In fact you should probably buy two sets of these, as you may wear out your original DVD's from watching them over and over and over and ...ahem...oh yes back to the review...) The first two films, Strong Poison and Have His Carcass, are faithful to the books and each is truly a pleasure to watch. The third, Gaudy Night (or "Gaudy Lite" as I have seen it referred to) skimps a bit in comparison to the novel. However, the extraordinary acting on the part of Edward Petherbridge and Harriet Walter more than makes up for this, ensuring that this version of Gaudy Night is a highly entertaining one. This series should have segued into "Busman's Honeymoon." However BBC dropped the ball on obtaining the rites and left us all hanging. Perhaps it isn't too late for a continuation of this series after all. It has ONLY been 16 years since the last episode. Surely if Ian Carmichael could have the audacity to play Lord Peter Wimsey at his age, Edward Petherbridge could pull it off for at least another 20 years or so (and do it brilliantly I might add!) Needless to say, I have become an instant fan of Mr. Petherbridge and can only hope I may find more of his work on film. (This is a daunting task since this distinguished stage performer seems to shy away from the camera. Something about acting for the love of the thing and not the money. Oh these serious actors!! By the way, isn't he WAY OVERDUE for some sort of Knighthood or something ...hmm??!!) WARNING: Ordinary television will seem even more unsatisfactory after viewing these DVD's. As I said before, you'd better get at least two copies of each of these DVD's (or to be on the safe side, you'd better make it three!!) (NOTE: It seems that the UK version of the DVD's contain an interview with Edward Petherbridge as a bonus feature. Unfortunately for me, the American version does not. You lucky Brits!!) Enjoy!
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Summary: Dorothy L. Sayers Mysteries
Review: For any true Sayers fan, this is the best casting of characters. Harriet Walters is the superb Harriet Vane and a perfect foil for Peter Wimsey. Although the video isn't as close to the book as I would like the characterization of Etherbridge as Wimsey is absolutely first rate. Morant, as Bunter makes this video worth watching over and over again. It makes you sad to realize that no more videos with this pairing were made. I would highly recommend this to any Dorothy Sayers fan.
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Summary: So Exciting
Review: How exciting to have this series available. I've been searching for this series for years and sending whining notes to BBC and PBS asking why the PBS Dorothy Sayers series with Edward Petherbridge hadn't been released and urging them to do so ASAP. Edward Petherbridge performs the part of Lord Peter in just the way I had imagined it from reading the books. ...
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