I keep trying to find upsides from the pandemic. One of them has been the chance to watch some TV shows and films I've missed, or not watched for a long time. I've now had a second look at two television series which aired in the 70s and 80s respectively. They are adaptations of Dorothy L. Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey novels, with different actors playing Wimsey. All the books but Whose Body?, Unnatural Death and Busman's Honeymoon were screened. There has never been a TV or film version of the under-rated (but tricky to film) non-series novel, The Documents in the Case.
The first thing to say is that both series stand up to the test of time. Much better than I'd have expected, to be honest. This is perhaps especially true of the first series, starring Ian Carmichael as Wimsey. One tends to under-estimate Carmichael, and as he admitted himself, he was really too old for the part, but he throws himself into it with so much enthusiasm that one can't help but be swept along. He was a real fan of the stories, and that degree of commitment is evident. Wimsey isn't the easiest character to play, because of his (often deliberate) mannerisms, but Carmichael does a good job. The production values aren't brilliant, but the scripts are very capable.
I had warmer memories of the subsequent series, featuring Edward Petherbridge. The way in which he conducts his pursuit of Harriet Vane (splendidly played by Harriett Walter) is slightly more mannered than I recalled, but his performances are consistently good, as he rises to another testing challenge. Wimsey in the later books had become less of a Woosterish 'silly ass', and rather more of a romantic hero. There was some element of wish fulfilment in his portrayal, as Sayers herself admitted, and also in that of Vane, but I've always thought that it's rather patronising, as well as less than accurate, to say that Sayers 'fell in love with her hero'.
Sayers' ambition as a crime writer was admirable. Yes, there are flaws in all the books, but there are riches too. And by and large, the stories make excellent television. Five Red Herrings is a relatively plodding alibi mystery, but the TV version was, for me at least, definitely more enjoyable. The screenplay of Have His Carcase might perhaps have been better as three episodes rather than four, but reducing the chit-chat in Gaudy Night resulted in an entertaining version that captures some of the flavour of the original without the prolixity. I also loved Richard Morant's version of that estimable sidekick Bunter.
So - Carmichael or Petherbridge? If you'd asked me a year ago, I would definitely have opted for Petherbridge's interpretation. But on reflection, I must say that both actors (supported by very good casts) do an excellent job. For escapist viewing, both Wimsey series are perfect for these troubled times,
38 comments:
First time commenter here, writing under my own name! I'd say Petherbridge - I think he captures the underlying darker side of Wimsey, the legacy of his war experiences, very well. I haven't seen any of the TV series for many years, but I could never get away from Carmichael's 'silly ass' image and suspect I would still feel the same way. Probably unfair to be influenced by Petherbridge being a 'serious' actor and Carmichael being a 'comic' one, but perhaps inevitable. Interestingly, in the radio versions (often repeated on Radio 4 Extra), Carmichael comes across very well. Maybe it's time for a reappraisal - would be a good way to fill some of the long hours ahead!
I adore the radio plays with Ian Carmichael. I have listened to them multiple times and he nails it for me.
Despite Sayers being one of my favorite mystery novelists (as well as one of the first I read) I'd never seen any of the adaptions with Edward Petherbridge. I watched the first episode of Strong Poison today and enjoyed it immensely. Thank you for the recommendation.
I remember reading a while back that the producer of the series wanted to take extensive liberties with the stories. He wanted to remove essential clues in Have His Carcase and wanted to shorten Whimsy's proposal in Gaudy Night to two lines. That last was only avoided by Petherbridge and Walter refusing to shoot the scene unless it was rewritten to be closer to the original.
Hello Mike. Your reaction is similar to mine - until I took another look at Carmichael's work. It definitely impressed me more the second time around.
Thanks, Rumpers. I haven't listened to the radio versions, so worth bearing in mind.
Thanks, Kacey. Glad you are enjoying Strong Poison - a very adaptation, I think.
When the Petherbridge adaptations started one tv critic commented something to the effect that where Ian Carmichael played Wimsey as Bertie Wooster, Edward Petherbridge played him as Fred Astaire. Despite the flip nature of the comment, it comes back to me every time I watch the different series.
Though "Busman's Honeymoon" was not adapted for tv, Edward Petherbridge did star in a revival of the play in the theatre. "Busman's Honeymoon" was also made into a film in 1940, but I have not seen it.
In an essay he wrote about the tv series, Ian Carmichael does say that the project was suggested to him (and he was enthusiastic about it) as a follow-up to his success as Bertie Wooster.
Very interesting, Michael, thank you. That Astaire comparison is new to me and I definitely appreciate it! I've never seen the play of BH, and the story did start life as a stage play. I suspect it may well work better in the theatre than on the page.
It's been decades for me, but I suspect I still won't feel Ian Carmichael is Peter Wimsey. I don't expect you to be likely to fall in love with Lord Peter, so perhaps you are more tolerant of the less suitable of the two actors.
Martin - it was great to see this post. I am completely prejudiced on this issue, as Edward Petherbridge and his wife Emily are friends and put me up for years in their guest house every time I came to London. That puts him over the top for me. But you've inspired me to go back and reconsider the Carmichael versions!
I hate fenceriders [ ;-) ]...but I like them both. I think Carmichael captures the spirit of the early Wimsey. I wish with all my heart that the powers that be would have been willing/able to do this when he was first interested in it and was himself younger. He would have been perfect. And, I think he was good enough as an actor that he could have grown the character out of the "silly ass" portrayal. Petherbridge captures the older Wimsey who, in the process of wooing Harriet, learns some very hard lessons about himself and matures a great deal in the latter books.
I know what you mean Martin - it is a bit too easy to be dismissive of the earlier series when actually they are very entertaining (and, by the way, so are the BBC Radio adaptation that Carmichael starred in at the time, mostly produced by Simon Brett). The later series sees our hero in a mellower mould and so does feel more substantial - but the style is generally so different, and the leading men having such different approaches, that a comparison seems pretty invidious to me.
I was lucky enough to see Petherbridge in the stage production of Busman's Honeymoon and it was tremendous fun, with Harriet played by Emily Richard (his real-life wife).
I've only watched the Petherbridge series and the first time I watched it was when I had just begun to read Sayers' book, (starting with Gaudy Night first). Visually he fitted the character very well and I enjoyed his on screen interactions with Harriet, (who was also played very well by Harriet Walter). It's a shame he didn't get to do more of the books.
Hello bookwitch. I do always try to be tolerant, though sometimes I fail! I think my original take on the Carmichael version was a bit too severe, despite questions about his age and physique.
Wendall, friendship is a pretty good reason for a bit of prejudice and he really is a good actor too!
Bev, Sergio, thanks!
Kate, yes, I think it would have been great if there had been more Petherbridge adaptations.
Thanks for this Martin. I have really enjoyed both actors playing Wimsey. I can't *quite* take Carmichael as Harlequin, but everything else is there and although I adore Petherbridge, Carmichael's readings of the audio books are better - he does a better French accent for a start! Maybe it's just time for a new Wimsey - and no I am not getting in to who would do it best!
I agree with most of what you write... and wish that Busmans Honeymoon had been done by Petherbridge and Walter et al.
You are spot on about the two actors and their portrayals. I do think though that in Gaudy Night it was a shame to not include the nephew - as it does bring out a different side of Harriet and gives us the readers more background on LPW and his family .... I would have cut one of the HHCC eps for the addition to GN... which could really have been 6-8 eps.
ah me... I do find that I dip into the EP/HW series a bit more than the IC series... What inspired casting of HW for HV. and i have always been a huge fan of EP.
Delighted to find your blog ...
The movie of Busman's Honeymoon is 5 negative stars dreadful. I've seen it via youtube, not any better recording, but the casting is poor, the acting terrible.
Thanks for these very interesting comments. I think I might not rush to watch BH on Youtube!
I love Carmichael, because he was my introduction to Sayers and Lord Peter. But I also like Peterbridge. I have DVDs of both.
Thanks, Janet. I've been glad to see that Carmichael's interpretation still has plenty of fans.
I watched part of a version with Carmichael, and he so completely doesn't look like Wimsey, and I don't think I finished watching it. Then, this week, I ran across the Petherbridge ones. He looks exactly how I see Wimsey, and so does Harriet Walter as Harriet Vane, so much so that I wonder if I saw that version before and now that's why I envision the characters that way when I think of the books. I can't separate the books anymore from the way they were portrayed by Petherbridge and Walter, and I can't see any point in watching the Ian Carmichael ones. It's really a pity all of them weren't cast with Petherbridge and Walter. And, Edward Petherbridge is such a great actor, I want to see what else is available that he was in.
Petherbridge -hands down. They could not have cast a more prefect Wimsey. I wish they had done Busman’s Honeymoon.
I really don't like the adaptations with Ian Carmichael as LPW - but that isn't really Ian Carmichael's fault. He is very amusing as an earlier incarnation of the good lord. I just don't like these adaptations in general. The production values aren't great, and the cast isn't exactly fabulous either. But mostly I dislike that Sayers' novels have been turned into generic comedies. The human tragedies which shine through even in Sayers' early novels have been reduced to stage comedies, and it's impossible to take Ian Carmichael's LPW seriously. This is especially regrettable re: the adaptation of "The Nine Taylors" which is IMO Sayers ' best novel. The later tv adaptations with Edward Petherbridge and Harriet Walter are a huge improvement, and they aged very well! I actually like the adaptation of "Gaudy Night" better than the novel. When Sayers introduced Harriet Vane as LPW's love interest, she started to get a bit maudlin and overly sentimental, and the mystery solving became less important. I really dislike the novel "Busman's Honeymoon". It's an overly sentimental love story with a lot of intellectual drivel as decoration - which also features a murder as a side dish. Sayers herself acknowledged btw. that it's mainly a love story. Some readers like it, others don't. But it's possible that an adaptation with Petherbridge and Walter would've found a nice balance.
It's a pity that Sayers abandoned writing mystery novels later in life in order to focus on Dante and religion. I would have loved to read more mature LPW novels, and the horrific geopolitical developments which triggered WWII, could've let to far more serious novels. Jill Paton Walsh's attempts at channeling Sayers' style aren't very successful IMO.
Very interesting comment, thanks. I do think there's scope for an interesting modern adaptation of the stories. And I agree it's a shame that DLS gave up writing crime fiction when she did.
I'm with you on that! Carmichael does wonderfully in the audio and radio. He's really a brilliant interpreter. Petherbridge is my favorite in the tele series.
I have just watched the Ian Carmichael series and am beginning the Edward Petherbridge series, and I like them both very much. Carmichael has zest which fits well with the earlier books. (I remember Murder Must Advertise, for example, as a very amusing book, the way the ad agency's employees seemed to do everything but work.) At the same time, he can beautifully convey intelligence, skepticism and grief through his eyes. Also, I like Bunter in the earlier ones, and the relationship between them. I am just halfway through Strong Poison, and Petherbridge's more serious Wimsey fits very well for a man who has just fallen in love with a woman who may hang for a crime he's convinced she didn't commit. He has a very expressive mouth. They both have beautifully tailored suits! I think I saw both of these when they originally aired on TV. I am enjoying both of them a lot!
Thanks, Anon. The shows stand up to the test of time pretty well, I think. As do Sayers' novels.
Ok here goes. My considered opinion from knowing all the series and actors well. All the adaptations work very well although I found the substance of the Petherbridge ones, especially Gaudy Night were sadly deficient in the interests of squashing the story into a set number of episodes to suit the TV. Of the two, Petherbrige is definitely more my idea of the character of Wimsey, though Carmichael is not to be dismissed, He is far better in the radio adaptations and is much better at reading the unabridged versions than Petherbridge whose attempts at French, for instance, leave a little to be desired. But I can't get past the awful sight of an aged actor dressed wholly unsuitably in a Harlequin outfit attempting the dive into the fountain. I saw Petherbridge and Richards in the Busbman's Honeymoon in Hammersmith and thought they were terrific. That one does work well as a play. So Good Luck to them both, say I! Whatever your preference, enjoy them! And maybe we will get a new production sometime - perhaps when they come out of copyright in a few years?
Excellent comment, Jasmine, and I agree. You make a very interesting point about copyright - fingers crossed!
So do I, and I was wondering if I were wrong about really liking both versions. I am happy to see I am not alone.
I was hesitant to leave a comment on something from 2021 but do see that people have been here as recently as a month ago so here goes!
I'm honestly surprised to see how many people here enjoy the Gaudy Night adaptation- not because I don't like the Petherbridge/Walter casting (in fact I think that Petherbridge is very good and Walter is PHENOMENAL and the yardstick by which I judge book-to-screen character adaptations) but because Gaudy Night finishes what the prior Petherbridge/Walter adaptations had, to a degree, started- they ruined the romance between Peter and Harriet. In the books, it's all about equality, and Peter understands Harriet's dilemma and, though he continues to make his interest in her clear, he doesn't push. In the show, Peter is the pursuer and Harriet is the pursued, and whether it's ruining the ending of Strong Poison by having Harriet walk away from Peter rather than the other way around or just... literally everything in Gaudy Night, Petherbridge is forced to not just look goopily at Walter the whole time but to overtly pursue her in a way that's quite uncomfortable and overtly NOT the way that Wimsey does in the books. As much as I otherwise really enjoy the adaptations of Strong Poison and Have His Carcase (which I do agree could have been shorter- I love the whole book but the adaptation could have streamlined), I can't deal with Gaudy Night not just because I love reading the whole long winding thing and love all the side plots and characters- whether Lord St George or the chessmen or the literary party- but because the Peter/Harriet relationship is run roughshod with.
Maybe part of it is that I love Sayers as a novelist almost more than I love her as a mystery writer- I think that her most successful melding of mystery and character/theme on equal terms with one another is Bellona Club, which is my second or third favorite of her books and just stellar. The other books of hers that I like best are the ones where she raises atmosphere, character development, plot, etc over the mystery itself, and to me Gaudy Night is a prime example- and in fact I think of it as more of an early ancestor of the psychological thriller rather than a mystery because I think that the unreliable narrator makes the distribution of clues and of detection very uneven within the book's narrative. But I love all those other things that go into it that distract from the mystery itself, and in many ways find the active events of the mystery uninteresting (I find all the CHARACTERS and their interactions interesting but lose track of who actually did what to whose gown or whatever), and so the things that the adaptation chose to focus on were honestly my least favorite bits, and the parts that I was set up to like ended up ruined for other reasons. (Also, I'm terrible with faces so I couldn't tell all the dons apart!)
I'll never quite get into the Ian Carmichael TV adaptations- he just doesn't feel right in the role to look at- but I do really enjoy his radio adaptations, and I love how much love he seems to have clearly had for the books. He seems to really get them.
Hello, Hannah. I'm delighted that you commented and comments on older posts seem to be getting more frequent, which I'm delighted about. Perhaps it's because the blog is getting more view now than ever at present, for whatever reason. Your analysis is extremely cogent and thought-provoking, for instance the idea that GN is an ancestor the psychological thriller. In fact, Marie Belloc Lowndes and Elisabeth Sanxay Holding were writing books of that kind at around that time, but I think you're right to pinpoint the shift in Sayers' approach and to suggest that it was influential.
Just found your blog as am visiting the EP and IC versions for the first time since the original broadcasts (I am 85 so remember them well); EP was the definitive version for me but having read all the above and am just now starting the IC list I shall try view him with a less biased approach. YouTube is a wonderful thing. HW ideal as HV.
Thanks, Anon, and agreed.
It hads been so interesting to come across and read these comments. I am a great fan of Dorothy L Sayers and the LPW books. Although I enjoy Ian Carmichael's work, Edward Petherbridge both looks the part, he portrays it extremely well.
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