| Reviews & Columns |
|
Reviews DVD TV on DVD Blu-ray 4K UHD International DVDs In Theaters Reviews by Studio Video Games Features Collector Series DVDs Easter Egg Database Interviews DVD Talk Radio Feature Articles Columns Anime Talk DVD Savant Horror DVDs The M.O.D. Squad Art House HD Talk Silent DVD
|
 DVD Talk Forum |
|
|
| Resources |
|
DVD Price Search Customer Service #'s RCE Info Links |
|
Columns
  
 
|
|
|
Lord Peter Wimsey - The Nine Tailors
Acorn Media // Unrated // September 11, 2001
List Price: $39.95 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
Mystery writer Dorothy L. Sayers created English detective Lord Peter Wimsey and followed his career through several books and plays. Several of these books were filmed by the BBC in the 70's and have been sporadically released on VHS and recently DVD. Not at all familiar with the series, but a mystery fan I decided to dive headfirst in The Nine Tailors and came away a little unsatisfied.
There is no doubt that Sayers was an excellent writer. The storyline of the four 55 minute episodes is well thought out and spread across two decades. It is the acting, camera work and pacing that harm this production in the end. Originally aired in the U.S. on PBS, the set of episodes brings back memories of Dr. Who. The video quality varies from shot to shot in extremes. Interior shots are well lit, with little atmosphere and are played out in a quiet manor. The outdoor scene look as is they were shot on a completely different system and are horrible grainy. Anyways, this has little to do with the plot, so on to that.
Lord Wimsey, the excellent Ian Carmichael, is attending a wedding of a prominent British couple. In attendance is a well-to-do woman in possession of an incredible set of emeralds. The butler (of course) is plotting with another criminal to steal the jewels and make a clean getaway. The first episode sets up this situation and plays out the theft and escape of the involved parties. As the next set picks up, it is twenty years later and Wimsey happens to break down in the same location.
The town is overcome with the Spanish Flu and in an attempt to aid a sick man he encounters the ex-wife of the butler involved in the crime so many years ago. He is slowly brought back up to speed and remembers the details of the case. Considered a famous detective now he agrees to stay on and help out after the discovery of a horribly mangled corpse that is believed to be related to the theft so many years ago. The last two episodes turn into a British courtroom drama and reunion as charges are filed and defended and old wrongs are attempted to be righted.
In the end, it is the time frame and span of the story that seems to cause the most problems with the story. The main characters introduced in the first hour of the story are pictures no longer save a few and this feels as if an hour were wasted on nothing. Large complicated mysteries don't always translate to the screen because a mystery when read can be flipped back and forth. Characters can be refreshed in your head if necessary. The originals theft could have been pared considerably and the main plot could have taken center stage. This also suffers from the pacing of a weekly television series. Four 55 minute episodes are not meant to be watched in one sitting and would be more enjoyable split up over several nights or a week.
The DVD:
The Video: As I stated above, the video varies greatly in quality. This due more to the filming that the transfers, but the color are still lackluster and dull. The video is presented in its original full frame mode and suffers no other problems other than those related to the presumably original production.
The Audio: There is nothing special about the audio on this disc. It is a standard stereo mix that performs to the task at hand. The dialog is easily understandable and there is little to no music, other than the title sequence.
Extras: There are a few extras included on the disc that prove to be entertaining. There is a small trivia game based upon the episodes that doesn't really function well. Regardless of your answer you can move on to the next question. Also included is a short interview with Ian Carmichael that was interesting. He describes, what some would call, his meticulous nature toward rehearsals and offers a few stories regarding his portrayal of the title character. The most informative of the extras are the few pages of text that describe the history of the Wimsey character and author Sayers. For one unfamiliar with either, this proved to be a nice introduction to both.
Overall: This is a nice set and fans of the author or series would do well to pick it up. Fans of meticulously crafted mysteries should check it out as well. Try to give yourself several days to enjoy the fine performances and spread it out over the course of the week. The pacing makes it hard to watch it all at once and they are best viewed in parts.
There is no doubt that Sayers was an excellent writer. The storyline of the four 55 minute episodes is well thought out and spread across two decades. It is the acting, camera work and pacing that harm this production in the end. Originally aired in the U.S. on PBS, the set of episodes brings back memories of Dr. Who. The video quality varies from shot to shot in extremes. Interior shots are well lit, with little atmosphere and are played out in a quiet manor. The outdoor scene look as is they were shot on a completely different system and are horrible grainy. Anyways, this has little to do with the plot, so on to that.
Lord Wimsey, the excellent Ian Carmichael, is attending a wedding of a prominent British couple. In attendance is a well-to-do woman in possession of an incredible set of emeralds. The butler (of course) is plotting with another criminal to steal the jewels and make a clean getaway. The first episode sets up this situation and plays out the theft and escape of the involved parties. As the next set picks up, it is twenty years later and Wimsey happens to break down in the same location.
The town is overcome with the Spanish Flu and in an attempt to aid a sick man he encounters the ex-wife of the butler involved in the crime so many years ago. He is slowly brought back up to speed and remembers the details of the case. Considered a famous detective now he agrees to stay on and help out after the discovery of a horribly mangled corpse that is believed to be related to the theft so many years ago. The last two episodes turn into a British courtroom drama and reunion as charges are filed and defended and old wrongs are attempted to be righted.
In the end, it is the time frame and span of the story that seems to cause the most problems with the story. The main characters introduced in the first hour of the story are pictures no longer save a few and this feels as if an hour were wasted on nothing. Large complicated mysteries don't always translate to the screen because a mystery when read can be flipped back and forth. Characters can be refreshed in your head if necessary. The originals theft could have been pared considerably and the main plot could have taken center stage. This also suffers from the pacing of a weekly television series. Four 55 minute episodes are not meant to be watched in one sitting and would be more enjoyable split up over several nights or a week.
The DVD:
The Video: As I stated above, the video varies greatly in quality. This due more to the filming that the transfers, but the color are still lackluster and dull. The video is presented in its original full frame mode and suffers no other problems other than those related to the presumably original production.
The Audio: There is nothing special about the audio on this disc. It is a standard stereo mix that performs to the task at hand. The dialog is easily understandable and there is little to no music, other than the title sequence.
Extras: There are a few extras included on the disc that prove to be entertaining. There is a small trivia game based upon the episodes that doesn't really function well. Regardless of your answer you can move on to the next question. Also included is a short interview with Ian Carmichael that was interesting. He describes, what some would call, his meticulous nature toward rehearsals and offers a few stories regarding his portrayal of the title character. The most informative of the extras are the few pages of text that describe the history of the Wimsey character and author Sayers. For one unfamiliar with either, this proved to be a nice introduction to both.
Overall: This is a nice set and fans of the author or series would do well to pick it up. Fans of meticulously crafted mysteries should check it out as well. Try to give yourself several days to enjoy the fine performances and spread it out over the course of the week. The pacing makes it hard to watch it all at once and they are best viewed in parts.
|
| Popular Reviews |
| Sponsored Links |
|
|
| Sponsored Links |
|
|
| Release List | Reviews | Shop | Newsletter | Forum | DVD Giveaways | Blu-Ray | Advertise |
|
Copyright 2024 DVDTalk.com All Rights Reserved. Legal Info, Privacy Policy, Terms of Use,
Manage Preferences,
Your Privacy Choices 
| |||||||