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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 · 15/01/2015 23:53

Most of the riding is done by a stuntman, surely; but Richard M starts and finishes so he would need to look vaguely convincing.

The argument between them when Harriet is full of confused feelings and starts a fight to raise the emotional temperature without being aware of what she's doing is v. convincing.

YonicSleighdriver · 15/01/2015 23:53

...I mean a nice LPW/bunter moment.

YonicSleighdriver · 15/01/2015 23:53

Yes, I never thought of the not being able to ride thing - EP must be selling me on The Lord-of-Everything-He-Does character!

I agree it was a nice moment.

TheDoctrineOfSnatch · 15/01/2015 23:51

Why, hello!

Grin
LRDtheFeministDragon · 15/01/2015 23:38

I love the third episode of that, yonic!

My theory is that Edward Petherbridge can't ride, and either wasn't allowed,or wasn't able, to drive what must have been a rather expensive vintage car over dodgy roads. Perhaps Richard Morant was able to?

I agree, it struck an odd note, though.

But I did like the line 'there rides the man who ...,' because I think something the books do well is to get across how close they are, in a way we can't really relate to, and which must have been unusual to the point of anachronistic when Sayers was writing.

YonicSleighdriver · 15/01/2015 23:32

Back to DLS.

Just watched the third episode of Have has Carcase. I think it was very well done and the Harriet/Peter fight came to life really well.

But why was Bunter riding and driving?!

AllMimsyWereTheBorogoves · 15/01/2015 22:10

Oh, and Boyhood is extraordinary. Really enjoyed that.

[Here ended the 2014 Cinema Review as I think those are the only two films I saw in the cinema last year.]

AllMimsyWereTheBorogoves · 15/01/2015 21:41

I must say, though, Grand Budapest Hotel is brilliant. Saw it in the cinema last year and thought it was wonderful. Ralph Fiennes' performance was magnificent.

AllMimsyWereTheBorogoves · 15/01/2015 21:39

Mr Turner, which has been ignored (very oddly) by both Oscars and BAFTAs, has no actors of colour but plenty of grubby-looking working class people. That might have relieved things a bit.

SconeRhymesWithGone · 15/01/2015 18:12

I haven't seen any of the nominated films either, but I plan to see The Imitation Game this weekend.

Selma was nominated for best picture but none of the actors in in were nominated. I do want to see it, but I am a unhappy about reports that they have been a bit unfair in the portrayal of LBJ.

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JeanneDeMontbaston · 15/01/2015 17:59

It wasn't my tweet, and IMO it's not really about being overlooked - I'm sure that does happen, I just can't comment on it because I've seen next to nothing this past year - it's that films are still pretty white.

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ZeroFunDame · 15/01/2015 17:50

(Although it wasn't your tweet so perhaps irrelevant.)

ZeroFunDame · 15/01/2015 17:48

Who do you feel was overlooked OP?

SconeRhymesWithGone · 15/01/2015 17:44
Grin
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JeanneDeMontbaston · 15/01/2015 17:41

Yes, good for them - but that does make me have to share this tweet I've just seen:

When Laura looked out, all she could see was white. "Is it a blizzard, Pa?" "No, Half-Pint," Pa said. "Just the Oscar nominations."

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SconeRhymesWithGone · 15/01/2015 17:39

Well, in other news, it was announced today that KK and Benedict have been nominated for Oscars. Good for them. Smile

YonicSleighdriver · 15/01/2015 09:37

Still not finished it, watched 2 of 4. Enjoying it though! It's the most plot driven (rather than character driven) of the HV ones so agree it televises well.

PetulaGordino · 15/01/2015 09:15

No I don't think she's right for HV either, it was just the similarity of tone I noticed. I feel the same way about KK as you do Yonic

I remember HW's desert island discs being really interesting (thpugh of course now I forget the details)

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JeanneDeMontbaston · 15/01/2015 09:07

I think it's easier to project with a deep voice. I have noticed there's a particular tone to the voices of women actors (Frankie de la Tour has it, for example), which you also hear in women academics who lecture a lot.

I think KK's problem is she is quite pretty and gamine, and I don't see Harriet looking like that at all.

What did you think to Have His Carcass overall?

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YonicSleighdriver · 14/01/2015 23:26

I don't mind KK... I don't think she has much range but she can pretty consistently produce the middle to upper class young lady, and some roles are written with that as the main requirement.

Not right for Harriet though!

IrenetheQuaint · 14/01/2015 23:07

It's funny, HW's voice now is quite different, much deeper. I wonder if she changed it deliberately or it just happened with age.

Fortunately she can act much better than Keira (admittedly not hard).

YonicSleighdriver · 14/01/2015 22:50

HW's voice is very like Keira knightley's actually.

It ain't deep and honeyed though.

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JeanneDeMontbaston · 14/01/2015 21:21

No worries, cat. Smile

yonic - ooh! That's the one I thought was done best.

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YonicSleighdriver · 14/01/2015 20:55

Just started on Have His Carcase on YouTube.

YonicSleighdriver · 14/01/2015 20:45

Is she 5 ft 9, catmint?

Wink