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Dorothy Sayers' Whimsey novels - do you know the (1980s) TV adaptations?

366 replies

JeanneDeMontbaston · 10/01/2015 11:33

I wasn't sure where to put this thread, but it feels as if it'd be more at home here that the TV threads. I love Dorothy Sayers. MN introduced me to her. I wish they'd do another adaptation, but the 1980s ones are surprisingly good.

The wonderful sconerhymeswithgone showed me the existence of these on youtube. (The link is to Gaudy Night, because that's what I'm watching, but there are lots of earlier ones).

What do you think? I liked the casting, but I have quibbles. And the ending to Gaudy Night is a travesty, right?

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IrenetheQuaint · 10/01/2015 23:37

I didn't know that about the earlier title, Yonic. But yes, I'm sure you're right about the 'unnatural' reference. The sexual element of Unnatural Death makes me feel a bit uneasy; I don't see it as DLS being anti-lesbian, she was too sophisticated for that, but (inevitably!) it reflects attitudes of the time to some extent. Have you read it, Jeanne? Would be v. interested to hear your view.

YonicSleighdriver · 10/01/2015 23:31

I think UD previously had a different title. But I think it's more a play on whether the original death was natural, as first certified.

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JeanneDeMontbaston · 10/01/2015 23:23

Thanks annie, I will try to do that!

irene - oh. I am not innocent. Smile

I hope she wasn't anti-lesbian. I liked the TV lesbians (who were more than hinted at, I think!) for Strong Poison, but can't quite remember how the book does it.

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IrenetheQuaint · 10/01/2015 23:21

Oh I believe you Jeanne, I'd just never spotted it. (I am quite innocent.)

There is a hint of lesbian goings on in Strong Poison with Eiluned and co, isn't there? And of course the much more explicit Evil Lesbian in Unnatural Death. (Hmm, is the title a reference to the subject matter? Hadn't thought of that.)

ArcheryAnnie · 10/01/2015 23:12

Jeanne if you are ever in London, the V&A has a copy of that production, filmed, and you can apply to see it!

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JeanneDeMontbaston · 10/01/2015 23:10

I'm jealous of you.

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ArcheryAnnie · 10/01/2015 23:07

I've seen some amazing stuff in the theatre over the years, but nothing has affected me like that production of Julius Caesar did. Nothing.

(Plus, I totally fell in love with her Brutus, which, talking to other people who saw that production, seems to be a pretty common response!)

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JeanneDeMontbaston · 10/01/2015 23:06

Sorry, irene, but it's definitely in the text. I might go see how much more there is.

I think she was quite open to that.

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IrenetheQuaint · 10/01/2015 23:03

Julius Caesar was totally amazing, wasn't it? It really blew me away. So exciting to see all those fantastic women actors playing those iconic male parts. Felt really transgressive somehow.

YonicSleighdriver · 10/01/2015 23:02

Ha,Artus, Patrick malahide read the Five red herrings audiobook!

IrenetheQuaint · 10/01/2015 23:00

Yes possibly... Anna Maxwell Martin is an excellent actress and could probably pull it off. I'm not sure they could improve on Edward Petherbridge and Harriet Walter, though.

(Still reeling at the thought of Peter/Impey Biggs shenanigans. So wrong, yet so right!)

ArcheryAnnie · 10/01/2015 23:00

IrenetheQuaint I saw Harriet Walter in Henry IV, too! And her Brutus in Junius Caesar, which is the best thing I have ever, ever seen on stage.

I loved the books first, but thought the casting of Petherbridge and Walter was perfect.

YonicSleighdriver · 10/01/2015 23:00

Ian C was in the radio plays but also read the unabridged books. Available on Audible Grin

opalsandsilver · 10/01/2015 22:53

Anna Maxwell Martin for Harriet Vane?

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JeanneDeMontbaston · 10/01/2015 22:50

Thanks, irene.

Impressive!

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IrenetheQuaint · 10/01/2015 22:46

The roses are from the book - the first line is 'There were crimson roses on the bench, they looked like splashes of blood' (except obviously a million times better written than that.

Then the final scene when Harriet is acquitted begins 'There were golden chrysanthemums on the bench, they looked like flaming banners.'

Hmm, I really need a life.

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JeanneDeMontbaston · 10/01/2015 22:37

Yes, I didn't get the roses either. Confused I remember noticing them, so presumbly they have some Deep Point?

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JeanneDeMontbaston · 10/01/2015 22:36

But the did the massive sexual tension just fine in Have His Carcass!

I think slash (not Bunter/Peter, mind, cos that'd be crossing class boundaries! Shock) is semi-canon.

Sir Impey Biggs is 'the handsomest man in England, whom no woman will ever want'. When they meet, Peter's voice becomes 'more husky ... than usual'.

C'mon! It slashes itself!

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PetulaGordino · 10/01/2015 22:34

I'm watching the first episode of strong poison and it seems funny to me that the judge has a case of red roses on the table in front of him! Is that usual do you think?

IrenetheQuaint · 10/01/2015 22:28

Well, I can see that it would be difficult to depict the massive sexual tension of the punting scene on film... so much of it is in Harriet's head, isn't it.

Have just watched episode 1 of Have His Carcase on youtube and it is excellent! Flowers I'd forgotten the bit where she asks to make another phone call and one thinks 'oh, she is going to ask Peter to come up asap to support her' but no, she rings the Morning Star and convinces them to put the story on the front page to get more publicity for her new book Grin

Agree about Bunter, though, he is too young and just wrong somehow. Plus I couldn't help remembering a piece of dodgy Wimsey/Bunter slashfic one of my friends sent me recently Hmm

PetulaGordino · 10/01/2015 22:23

Thanks for the link. I think te radio series are te Ian Carmichael ones yonic is referring to too

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JeanneDeMontbaston · 10/01/2015 22:01

I'll check those out. Smile

And enjoy the youtube.

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PetulaGordino · 10/01/2015 21:58

I'm basically just marking my place for the YouTube link but also to say that I also enjoy the repeats of the radio series they sometimes do on 4 extra

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JeanneDeMontbaston · 10/01/2015 21:53

YY, I agree with that, robin, about the director's view.

One of the things I think is well done in the book, is the way Harriet starts off being so impressed by the way the college tries to look out for the ordinary lives of staff, and then of course it's exposed that they don't (or can't?) do it perfectly. In the book, that's one of the central questions, how much women should compromise their own needs for other people. And that really doesn't come across at all in the TV version.

Also, why on earth did they bother to film the punting bit? It was just dull (the way they filmed it, not the original. The original rocks.)

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lucysnowe · 10/01/2015 20:53

KLAXON: the 1980s ones are being repeated right now on Drama!!! Thurs even I think.

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