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Amazon.co.uk Review
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. "The Nine Tailors" weaves an especially elaborate tale, involving jewel theft, campanology (the art of bell-ringing) and dual identity. --David Stubbs
Special Features
DVD 5
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital English
Dolby Digital
Interactive Menus
Scene Index
Exclusive Ian Carmichael Interview
Filmographies
Trivia
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital English
Dolby Digital
Interactive Menus
Scene Index
Exclusive Ian Carmichael Interview
Filmographies
Trivia
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A thoroughly enjoyable video - a must see for Wimsey fans.,
By A Customer
This review is from: Lord Peter Wimsey - the Nine Tailors [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Once again Ian Carmichael proves that he is the definitive Lord Peter Wimsey in this thoroughly entertaining adaptation of the Dorothy L Sayers novel.The theft of the Wilbraham Emeralds is the catalyst for murder and betrayal - and even the innocent are drawn into acts of desperation with devastating consequences. Lord Peter is asked to assist in solving the mystery of the mutilated unidentified corpse in Lady Thorpe's grave; a quest which takes him to France and on a treasure hunt. The theft of the emeralds during the Great War had resulted in tragedy, now the efforts to recover them many years later leads to further death and misfortune. Will Lord Peter's quest for the truth finally end the curse of the Wilbrahem jewels. This BBC adaptation is timeless - quality acting, writing and direction, with wonderfully atmospheric locations. Put your feet up, put the answering machine on and enjoy some of the best television you will have seen in a long time (well, since the last Lord Peter video!)
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Flawed, But Enchanting,
By A Customer
This review is from: Lord Peter Wimsey - the Nine Tailors [DVD] (DVD)
Watching the first hour of this four hour serial I felt rather dismayed & I might not have stuck wih it if it weren't for the fact I'd gone and paid good money for the thing. I'm very glad I did though, because after a shaky start it turned into a very rewarding experience. I've always loved The Nine Tailors, family tragedy, missing emeralds, World War I, bell ringing, unidentifiable corpses, dodgy sluice gates, devastating floods and all; and this is an excellent dramatisation of the story, giving a real feel of the terrifying mysteries of gems, bells and floodland. Unfortunately the first episode, which mainly concentrates on the neccessary back story, is a bit too much to swallow, actually Changing The Story (Hiss!) in several aggravatingly pointless ways. The most infuriating of which is when the history of Lord Peter's relationship with Bunter is changed from the original poignant story of the devoted Bunter nurturing back to life the battle-scarred, shell-shocked and guilt-wracked Lord Peter, devastated by the horrors of the Great War, to a jolly (stupid) little tale of Wimsey needing a new man because his current one's too old. Add to that the fact that Ian Charmichael looks about ten years to old to play Wimsey in 1934 and is simply unbelievable in the first episode where this solid late middle aged man is supposed to be a gallant young stripling off to join his regiment in 1914... I mean, I know suspension of disbelief is a necessary requirement for a theatrical audience, but some leaps are simply too long for the imagination. However, once the first episode has been got out of the way, the subsequent three hours are a joy, sticking closely to the original story and sensitively dramatised. I hesitate to say too much, this is a mystery after all, but I can assure you that all the best moments are there: the record-setting nine-hour kent triple bob bell ring, the terrible flood and the sanctuary in the church... plus many more that I dare not mention for fear of spoiling anyone's fun. And the film on this DVD is certainly fun. I'm not quite certain whether the extras are really worth anyone's time, though I suppose if people truly know nothing about Dorothy Sayers the info on her will be of use, and I suppose the filmographies and interview with Carmichael are quite interesting. The triva game is a good idea, but ten questions is a bit too short to be much fun: just when you are getting into the swing of it, it's over. But it was a nice try at enhanced value, I'll say that for it. Hopefully they will release more of these seventies vintage Wimsey dramas onto DVD, I'll certainly buy them if they do, and maybe next time they'll have thought up something more rigourous by way of a trivia quiz!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
He sent forth a raven,
By
This review is from: Lord Peter Wimsey: Nine Tailors [DVD] [1974] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC] (DVD)
A young Lord Peter (Ian Carmichael) in uniform on his way to the war. He is standing in for his brother The Duke of Denver at a wedding. Mischief is afoot and an emerald necklace was pinched. Where it was stored for save keeping I can not say. It looks like the perpetrator was winged by a well placed shot. We get the inside story and know the truth.
All in the first chapter we see the crime and the fait of the perpetrators. We also get a first hand view of the meeting and growing relationship and Wimsey and Bunter (Glyn Houston.) As fait would have it Lord Peter finds him self once again in Fenchurch St. Pauli again. This time as providence would have it just in time to replace a sick bell ringer on New Year's Eve. Three months later a body is found in and Lord Peter is invited to the inquest. This film is based on a Dorothy L. Sayers novel of the same name with the screen adaptation by Anthony Steven. At first you are not sure that this is the same peter Wimsey when you see the blond hair and mustache. However if you look close they made little attempt to cover the wrinkled face. If you have an opportunity to view this film before reading the book you will not be distracted by the deviations and omit ions form the written story.
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