Rating: 
Summary: Don't Miss This
Review: THE FIVE RED HERRINGS by Dorothy Sayers is "must" reading for mystery lovers. In her 1920s novels about the exploits of Lord Peter Wimsey, Sayers devised many plot elements contained in mystery tales written afterword. HERRINGS is no exception. In fact, one of the plot elements in HERRINGS was used recently in the opening episode of HEAT OF THE SUN the BBC drama set in Kenya. I read HERRINGS before I saw the BBC dramatization and you may want to do so too. This is a complicated plot with six suspects, five of whom are red herrings. Each of Sayers tales is fresh and original, and I am amazed after all this time that her stories still retain a sense of newness. Of course for Anglophiles, the BBC dramas based on Sayers tales also retain a sense of the "good old days" beteen the wars before Britain became so Americanized (drugs, crimes etc.)--or is it the other way round?? But British murderers are generally genteel. While Americans whack peole and dump their bodies at sea (first puncture the lungs so the body doesn't float says Grandma Mazur in TWO FOR THE DOUGH). But the British murderers in Sayers tales stage phoney accidents that involve a palette knife and a tumble down a bank (supposedly the artist stepped back to admire his handywork). And best of all, British murderers are talented. They can duplicate other artists works and baffle the police. I am really pleased ACORN Media put THE FIVE RED HERRINGS on DVD. I've bought the other Wimsey tales on VHS tape and I know the DVD will last longer. Unfortunately, the transfer copy used for this process was not the best. I realize it would have cost a bit more to make this a "Criterion 'Lady Vanishes'" -- with which it has much in common-- but I sure wish had been feasible. The plot is clever and original, the acting superb, and the backgrounds and settings are filled with verismilitude. Unfortunately, the outdoor scenes are a bit faded--the light you know. Otherwise HERRINGS is a work of art. I'd still buy it flaws and all.
Rating: 
Summary: Almost perfect mystery fun
Review: The most entertaining mysteries for me are those in which the reader or viewer doesn't take the detective completely seriously. I guess I'll admit that Jeremy Brett's Holmes is an exception to that rule, but it usually holds. I love the slightly off kilter Poirot, Marple and this detective, Lord Peter Wimsey. Loved the books, loved the shows on PBS in the 70's, of which this is one. Ian Carmichael is perfect as the aristocrat who sometimes seems like he couldn't tie his shoe without his valet, Bunter, and sometimes is most ably galloping across the countryside in pursuit of a clue or the criminal. Wimsey is a man who expects to be served and respected but also serves, namely the cause of justice. In this mystery he has six suspects and manages to figure out the amazingly convoluted way in which the killing was committed. I felt the recreation of the crime by Wimsey was a little long-winded and that is the reason why I did not rate this video a 5. The supporting cast are wonderful. The town where the death takes place is replete with the usual variety of eccentric folk that always turn up in these "wimsical" mysteries. Longer and not as gripping as the Brett Holmes dramas, a Wimsey video is a nice way to fill a leisurely afternoon.
Rating:
Summary: Almost perfect mystery fun
Review: The most entertaining mysteries for me are those in which the reader or viewer doesn't take the detective completely seriously. I guess I'll admit that Jeremy Brett's Holmes is an exception to that rule, but it usually holds. I love the slightly off kilter Poirot, Marple and this detective, Lord Peter Wimsey. Loved the books, loved the shows on PBS in the 70's, of which this is one. Ian Carmichael is perfect as the aristocrat who sometimes seems like he couldn't tie his shoe without his valet, Bunter, and sometimes is most ably galloping across the countryside in pursuit of a clue or the criminal. Wimsey is a man who expects to be served and respected but also serves, namely the cause of justice. In this mystery he has six suspects and manages to figure out the amazingly convoluted way in which the killing was committed. I felt the recreation of the crime by Wimsey was a little long-winded and that is the reason why I did not rate this video a 5. The supporting cast are wonderful. The town where the death takes place is replete with the usual variety of eccentric folk that always turn up in these "wimsical" mysteries. Longer and not as gripping as the Brett Holmes dramas, a Wimsey video is a nice way to fill a leisurely afternoon.
Rating:
Summary: Don't Miss This
Review: This is classic Dorothys Sayers! It is exceptionally cast; the scenery is beautiful; and the suspense just what you would expect. Ian Carmichael's portrayal of Wimsey cannot be faulted. If you love classic British mystery, this is for you.
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