Description:
A Dorothy L. Sayers Mystery (TV Series 1987)
A Dorothy L. Sayers Mystery is a series of television adaptations of three Lord Peter Wimsey novels — Strong Poison, Have his Carcase and Gaudy Night—by Dorothy L. Sayers.
The series follows the aristocratic sleuth Lord Peter's romance with the crime writer Harriet Vane, and stars Edward Petherbridge as Wimsey, Harriet Walter as Vane and Richard Morant as Bunter. The adaptations were first broadcast on BBC Two beginning on 25 March 1987.
Episodes
1–3 "Strong Poison" Directed by Christopher Hodson, adapted by Philip Broadley (25 March 1987—8 April 1987)
The crime novelist Harriet Vane is on trial for the murder by poisoning of her former lover Philip Boyes. Lord Peter Wimsey is convinced of her innocence and falls in love with her. After the jury fails to reach a verdict, Lord Peter has 30 days until her retrial to investigate, and proposes marriage to Harriet should he save her. Suspicion soon falls on the solicitor Norman Urquhart, with whom Boyes dined shortly before his demise, with an inconsistent will of a wealthy relative appearing to be the motive.
4–7 "Have His Carcase" Directed by Christopher Hodson, adapted by Rosemary Anne Sisson (15 April 1987—6 May 1987)
Having been cleared of murder, Harriet Vane holidays in the West Country, only to find a recently-murdered body on a rock on a deserted beach. Before she can summon help, the corpse is washed away by the tide. Together with Lord Peter Wimsey she investigates and discovers a complex plot involving a wealthy widow and a gigolo who believes he is a member of the Russian aristocracy.
8–10 "Gaudy Night" Directed by Michael Simpson, adapted by Philip Broadley (13 May 1987—27 May 1987)
With some trepidation, Harriet Vane attends a reunion "gaudy" dinner at her old Oxford college, where she is welcomed by the dons, but suspects they are mostly interested in her association with Lord Peter Wimsey. A series of poison pen letters, acts of vandalism and other unpleasant events begins to plague the college and threaten the hard-won reputation of women at the university. Harriet is invited back by the Dean and Fellows of the college to investigate discreetly. At the end of the story, Harriet finally accepts Peter's proposal of marriage. |
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