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Based on the series of novels written by Dorothy L Sayers in the 1920s and 30s, Lord Peter Wimsey was dramatised for TV by the BBC between 1972-5. Ian Carmichael, veteran of British film comedy, played the genial, aristocratic sleuth; Glyn Houston was his manservant Bunter. The pair are similar to PG Wodehouse's Jeeves and Bertie Wooster (whom Carmichael played in an earlier TV adaptation) though here the duo are equal in intelligence, breezing about the country together in Wimsey's Bentley and stumbling with morbid regularity upon baffling murder mysteries to test their wits.
Those for whom this series forms hazy memories of childhood might be surprised at its somewhat stagy, lingering interior shots, the spartan paucity of music, the miserly attitude towards locations, especially foreign ones, and the rather genteel, leisurely pace of these programmes, besides which Inspector Morse seems like Quentin Tarantino in comparison. It seems that initially the BBC was reluctant to commission the series and ventured on production with a wary eye on the budget. The Britain depicted by Sayers is, by and large, populated by either the upper classes or heavily accented, rum-do-and-no-mistake lower orders, which some might find consoling. However, the acting is generally excellent and the murder mysteries are sophisticated parlour games, the televisual equivalent of a good, absorbing jigsaw puzzle.
There were five feature-length adaptations in all. "Five Red Herrings" is the last and perhaps the least of the series, involving a trout fishing holiday interrupted by the death of a local artist. --David Stubbs
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Having discovered Lord Peter Wimsey in the guise of Ian Carmichael on TV in the 1970s, and having enjoyed all the novels since then, I was delighted to find these programmes are now being released on DVD. I am glad to say I was not disappointed in Five Red Herrings. The essential parts of the plot are all retained and the characters brought to life by a veritable galaxy of actors some of whom are now very well known, such as Eileen MacCallum, John Junkin, David Rintoul and Russell Hunter. Ian Carmichael himself gets just the right balance in his portrayal of the highly intelligent sleuth who is not nearly as much of an ass as he sometimes seems, and Glyn Houston's rendition of Bunter has sprung straight from Sayers' pages.
The period feel is further enhanced by excellent attention to detail, from the typical ornaments on Wimsey's mantelpiece to the wonderful motor-vehicles such as Wimsey's beautiful Bentley (although it should have been a Daimler according to the book) effortlessly negotiating a pend not much wider than the car. One minor quibble; while it is understandable that Wimsey's car would always be kept immaculate, would the equally-authentic local bus have been quite so spotless as it plied its trade?
A final character which has to be mentioned is the wonderful Galloway scenery; this programme, due I believe to studio-workers' industrial action, was filmed entirely on location, if not at the exact locations in the book, then very near to them. I hope that the Dumfries & Galloway Tourist Board have taken note of the magnificent views of Kirkcudbright and the surrounding countryside and are able to use it to promote the area. Without doubt this will attract many visitors who wish to follow the trail of the Five Red Herrings.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
LORD PETER TAKES A BUSMANS HOLIDAY IN THIS BRILLIANT OUTING ADAPTED FROM THE NOVEL BY DOROTHY L SAYERS.IAN CARMICHAEL IS CHARMING AND WITTY AS LORD PETER ACCOMPANIED BY HIS BUTLER AND SIDEKICK BUNTER IN THE HUNT FOR THE MURDERER OF AN UNPOPULAR LOCAL ARTIST.JOIN THEM TO DISCOVER THE TRUE KILLER FROM THE FIVE RED HERRINGS.
Format:DVD
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. 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 watched the one I missed on 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.
Campbell a local artist is being obnoxious and makes everybody's life miserable. Let's face it Campbell needs killing. You guessed it; he seems to have had an accident while painting. Lord Peter deduces that the so called accident could only be staged by another painter. Yep there are six suspects and more if it is not a painter. So that leaves "Five Red Herrings"
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 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.
Now I watched the one I missed on 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.
Campbell a local artist is being obnoxious and makes everybody's life miserable. Let's face it Campbell needs killing. You guessed it; he seems to have had an accident while painting. Lord Peter deduces that the so called accident could only be staged by another painter. Yep there are six suspects and more if it is not a painter. So that leaves "Five Red Herrings"
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 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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
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 sort of though the back door. Read more
Published on 19 Mar 2007 by bernie
Most irritating to the eye
I wish I could comment on the merits of this dramatization in terms of cast, screenplay etc. However, I never made it past the first 30 seconds or so because of the intolerably... Read more
Published on 6 Jun 2005
Good, but what was wrong with the book?
A sad reminder of the way in which screenwriters justify their pay by butchering books. Obviously bits need to be cut for length, but this is made worse by adding extensive scenes... Read more
Published on 11 Jan 2002
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