Rating: 
Summary: Ian Carmichael can't hold a candle to Edward Petherbridge
Review: Carmichael's Wimsey is great. Sir Edward Petherbridge as Wimsey is genious. Having seen his Wimsey on Mobil Theatre on PBS, I've tried for years to buy a set. To no avail. Let's have all the Wimsey there is!
Rating:
Summary: Compelling, cmplex story telling, flawless production values
Review: Clouds Of Witness (225 minutes, five cassettes) finds Lord Peter Whimsey's future brother-in-law murdered at the family estate of Riddlesdale Lodge with his brother Gerald Wimsey, the Duke of Denver, being charged with the crime. Gerald is totally uncooperative with any attempts to investigate the matter, including a mysterious letter from Egypt, a grieving fiancee, a battered farm wife, and natural dangers on the moor. Very highly recommended for personal and community library video collections, both of these outstanding BBC productions (which aired as part of the PBS "Masterpiece Theater" series for American audiences) are hallmarked by scrupulous attention to minute historical detail, wonderful costuming, intelligent dialogue, and a genuine mystery that plays fair with the viewer in trying to discover "whodunit" amidst the clues, red herrings, and complex story telling.
Rating:
Summary: Compelling, cmplex story telling, flawless production values
Review: Clouds Of Witness (225 minutes, five cassettes) finds Lord Peter Whimsey's future brother-in-law murdered at the family estate of Riddlesdale Lodge with his brother Gerald Wimsey, the Duke of Denver, being charged with the crime. Gerald is totally uncooperative with any attempts to investigate the matter, including a mysterious letter from Egypt, a grieving fiancee, a battered farm wife, and natural dangers on the moor. Very highly recommended for personal and community library video collections, both of these outstanding BBC productions (which aired as part of the PBS "Masterpiece Theater" series for American audiences) are hallmarked by scrupulous attention to minute historical detail, wonderful costuming, intelligent dialogue, and a genuine mystery that plays fair with the viewer in trying to discover "whodunit" amidst the clues, red herrings, and complex story telling.
Rating:
Summary: a great mystery portrayed by a great cast
Review: Clouds of Witness is filmed like a stage production of a mystery play. I first saw the series as a child when it was broadcast by PBS on Masterpiece Theater almost 30 years ago. Perhaps there is too much nostalgic fondness in my review, but I found it to be one of the more entertaining and twisty television mysteries, done with impeccable style and good taste. Ian Carmichael is quite dashing and debonair as Lord Peter, and the rest of the cast is equally appealing. It is truly first class entertainment, and it leaves me wondering why more shows can't be like this.
Rating:
Summary: Well done Lord Peter Wimsey
Review: Dorothy L. Sayers writes many non-fiction books however among her best is the Lord Peter Wimsey series. I came to this series sort of though the back door. My first taste was the BBC productions with Petherbridge as Lord Peter that can now be found on DVD ASIN: B000062XDX. So 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 watch the one I missed in PBS. The first thing I notices was that Ian Carmichael talks much faster than Petherbridge. And all the people seem older. Of course Peter was supposed to be older when he met Harriet. Lord Peter returns from Corsica. To find his older brother the Duke of Denver (David Langton) practically accused of murder. What is worse is his brother is not talking. So it is up to Peter to find out what happened and clear his brother.
In the process he puts his foot in it and practically gets all his relatives and friends accused. As with all Sayers' stories nothing is simple there are overlapping plots and foolish deeds, as if Peter can not figure them out. On the side we learn a little about English society and ballistics. 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. I am glad they finally made a DVD version. However the one I watched was the tape series and I swear just as soon as you turn it on the part (episode) is over and it is time for the next tape as the story moves very fast.
This item is worth purchasing as you will want to replay it often.
Rating:
Summary: The Gold Standard!
Review: Every member of the Wimsey family is a hairball. The Duke is really slow upstairs but he's got tons of money and property and the title. Lady Mary is, like her mother the Dowager Duchess, no rocket scientist. Lord Peter may show frequent flashes of brilliance as a sleuth, but he lacks basic common sense. Gets into incredibly risky situations all the time. No matter. This is TV at its absolute best--Golden Age stuff. It's been all downhill since, in my opinion. Ian Carmichael for me is Peter Wimsey. That other guy who tried to play the part in later years was--well, lacking in many ways. Clouds of Witness is not the best story in the series either. I hope they release the others soon. This is the gold standard by which all TV programs should be judged.
Rating:
Summary: A classic. Let's hope "Nine Tailors" etc. will follow.
Review: Great writing and wonderful character and period acting. Fun to watch and worlds better than what passes for entertainment on TV these days. "Clouds of Witness" could only be topped by "Nine Tailors", "Five Red Herrings", or "Murder Must Advertise".
Rating:
Summary: Long awaited and worth the wait
Review: Hopefully, this wonderful taped set will be followed by the others in the series with Ian Carmichael, particularly "Nine Tailors". I would love to add all of the them to my collection. Equally wonderful is the later series with Edward Petherbridge and I look forward to acquiring those tapes as well. The video version is very true to the book. The decor, costume and performances are wonderfully British. MORE, MORE, please!!
Rating: 
Summary: Whimsical Fun At Last on Video!
Review: I am an avid fan of the Lord Peter Wimsey novels and was greatly excited when they finally started releasing some of these on video. Ian Carmichael does a fine job portraying the aristocratic sleuth and I especially enjoyed the performance of the actor who played Chief Inspector Charles Parker. While you can tell that this was made in the 70's, the film is solid, well-acted, and as a whole sticks to the orginal novel written by Ms. Dorothy L. Sayers (except for the ending of which I think the book ending is more entertaining). While I do prefer the Lord Peter series with Edward Petherbridge and Harriet Walter, these series of films with Mr. Carmichael are a wonderful addition for any Peter Wimsey fan.
Rating:
Summary: Whimsical Fun At Last on Video!
Review: I am an avid fan of the Lord Peter Wimsey novels and was greatly excited when they finally started releasing some of these on video. Ian Carmichael does a fine job portraying the aristocratic sleuth and I especially enjoyed the performance of the actor who played Chief Inspector Charles Parker. While you can tell that this was made in the 70's, the film is solid, well-acted, and as a whole sticks to the orginal novel written by Ms. Dorothy L. Sayers (except for the ending of which I think the book ending is more entertaining). While I do prefer the Lord Peter series with Edward Petherbridge and Harriet Walter, these series of films with Mr. Carmichael are a wonderful addition for any Peter Wimsey fan.
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