Ian or Edward?

[tin...@ricochet.net]

Hello,
I would appreciate it very much if those who have seen the PBS
Masterpiece Theater and/or Mystery! versions of the Lord Peter Wimsey
series would tell me which they liked best. Also, which Wimsey do you
think suits the character more truly, Edward Petherbridge or Ian
Carmichael?

Thank you,
Wimsey
-------------------==== Posted via Deja News ====-----------------------
http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Post to Usenet

[David E. Cote]

tin...@ricochet.net wrote:

> Hello,
> I would appreciate it very much if those who have seen the PBS
>Masterpiece Theater and/or Mystery! versions of the Lord Peter Wimsey
>series would tell me which they liked best. Also, which Wimsey do you
>think suits the character more truly, Edward Petherbridge or Ian
>Carmichael?

Ian Carmichael.

[Louise Cooke]

> Thank you,
> Wimsey
> -------------------==== Posted via Deja News ====-----------------------
> http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Post to Usenet

No question in my mind; Edward Petherbridge was by far the better Wimsey.
he looked the part and acted it very well - I think his was the series
on 'Mystery'. I like Ian Carmichael as an actor, but not as Wimsey. He
was about 20 years too old and many pounds too heavy for the role. In
one (sorry, I forget titles easily) he supposedly dives from the top of a
very high fountain into the pool below - totally ridulous - but
Petherbridge would have been believable. I ranted and raved through the
whole A&E series about the fact that Carmichael simply did not fit the
part!

[Sarah A. Novak]

tin...@ricochet.net wrote:
>
> Hello,
> I would appreciate it very much if those who have seen the PBS
> Masterpiece Theater and/or Mystery! versions of the Lord Peter Wimsey
> series would tell me which they liked best. Also, which Wimsey do you
> think suits the character more truly, Edward Petherbridge or Ian
> Carmichael?
>
> Thank you,
> Wimsey
> -------------------==== Posted via Deja News ====-----------------------
> http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Post to Usenet

I've been lurking on this group for about a week (just got new internet
service). I'm so! glad to see other Wimsey fans. What have I missed?
Who is Edward Petherbridge? What Wimsey stories did he do (and
when)??! Ian Carmichael did the four dramas when I was in college (and
had limited access to TV). Does anybody know if any (Ian or Edward)
programs will be aired again (on PBS or A&E or somewhere else)? Also,
are any of these available on video? BTW, Ian Carmichael, much as he
may have loved the Wimsey character, was totally wrong for the part.
IMO, the only actor I know of who could have done Wimsey properly was
Leslie Howard. Does Edward Petherbridge resemble Howard? Thanks.
--
Sarah A. Novak "Overwork & Overworry Waste Nerve Power!
Pickerington, OH Nutrax for Nerves."

[Cindy Swoveland]

tin...@ricochet.net wrote:
>
> Hello,
> I would appreciate it very much if those who have seen the PBS
> Masterpiece Theater and/or Mystery! versions of the Lord Peter Wimsey
> series would tell me which they liked best. Also, which Wimsey do you
> think suits the character more truly, Edward Petherbridge or Ian
> Carmichael?

Petherbridge best fits my mental image of Wimsey. However, I liked
both.

Cindy

[Pam Jacoby]

Louise Cooke wrote:
>
> tin...@ricochet.net wrote:
> >
> > Hello,
> > I would appreciate it very much if those who have seen the PBS
> > Masterpiece Theater and/or Mystery! versions of the Lord Peter Wimsey
> > series would tell me which they liked best. Also, which Wimsey do you
> > think suits the character more truly, Edward Petherbridge or Ian
> > Carmichael?
> >

> > Thank you,
> > Wimsey
> > -------------------==== Posted via Deja News ====-----------------------
> > http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Post to Usenet
>

> No question in my mind; Edward Petherbridge was by far the better Wimsey.
> he looked the part and acted it very well - I think his was the series
> on 'Mystery'. I like Ian Carmichael as an actor, but not as Wimsey. He
> was about 20 years too old and many pounds too heavy for the role. In
> one (sorry, I forget titles easily) he supposedly dives from the top of a
> very high fountain into the pool below - totally ridulous - but
> Petherbridge would have been believable. I ranted and raved through the
> whole A&E series about the fact that Carmichael simply did not fit the
> part!

I agree. Carmichael just doesn't have that drawly, snobby upperclass bit
down. He also exhibited way too much energy.

[Millicentb]

I thought Edward more closely resembled Sayers' description, but his
wimpy, rabbity ways were pretty irritating. She (DLS) described him in
ways that sound physically unattractive, but then she really seemed to
fall for him, and he comes across as very compelling and handsome.
Particularly in _Murder Must Advertise_, where the focus is a little more
on how others perceive him. By the time he and Harriet get together he is
a classic romantic (in a positive sense!) hero.
Millicent

[Jess6612]

About Edward Petherbridge--on a recent trip to London, we were fortunate
to meet him when he led a delightful walk through the theater district and
Covent Garden. This walk is sponsored by London Walks and is very
popular. He wasn't just a guide but threw in bits of theatre lore, and
mesmerized us with snippets of his acting craft. I really would love to
see this Wimsey which I missed on TV. Edward also reads audio books for
Chivers. He is very versatile.

[Jess6612]

I forgot to mention that Edward Petherbridge really does not resemble
Leslie Howard--but he would be flattered to know that he is the subject of
discussion here.

[nic...@cam.org]

Hi,
I never could make it throughan episode with Ian Carmichael. For me he was all wrong for the part - far
too old and chubby; I never for one minute believed he was Wimsey. Petherbridge is IT as far as I'm
concerned and his Harriet (forgot her name) was a perfect match IMH.
Nicole

[BoxHill]

Edward, without a shadow of a doubt. Edward was charming; Ian, appallingly
miscast.
Janet

//Dear Artemesia! Poetry's a snare:
//Bedlam has many Mansions: have a care:
//Your Muse diverts you, makes the Reader sad:
//You think your self inspir'd; He thinks you mad.

[Debra Barnabee]

Ok, I just feel that some one has to speak up for Ian Carmichael. I'm
not going to comment on whether he was the perfect Whimsey or not. But I
give him and Masterpiece Theater all the credit for intoducing me to Lord
Peter and Dorothy L Sayers. So, perfect or not when I think of Lord Peter, I
think of him and am grateful for all the hours of reading pleasure that
started with (gulp) watching t.v.

Debra
bc...@scn.org

[Kate Lambert]

In article <5c5qv3$s...@tandem.CAM.ORG>, nic...@cam.org writes

>Hi,
>I never could make it throughan episode with Ian Carmichael. For me he was all
>wrong for the part - far
>too old and chubby; I never for one minute believed he was Wimsey.
>Petherbridge is IT as far as I'm
>concerned and his Harriet (forgot her name) was a perfect match IMH.
>Nicole
>

His Harriet was Harriet Walter. I saw Busman's Honeymoon on stage with
Edward Petherbridge and his wife Emily Richard played Harriet (I think
Harriet Walter was booked with the Royal Shakespeare Company for the
summer). This was just after the series finished in the UK. Both
Harriets were brilliant, though I thougt Emily Richard's voice was more
appropriately deep.
--
Kate Lambert

[kswh...@gmail.com]

On Saturday, January 18, 1997 3:00:00 AM UTC-5, tin...@ricochet.net wrote:
> Hello,
> I would appreciate it very much if those who have seen the PBS
> Masterpiece Theater and/or Mystery! versions of the Lord Peter Wimsey
> series would tell me which they liked best. Also, which Wimsey do you
> think suits the character more truly, Edward Petherbridge or Ian
> Carmichael?
>
>
> Thank you,
> Wimsey
> -------------------==== Posted via Deja News ====-----------------------
> http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Post to Usenet

I agree that Edware Petherbridge fit my image of Wimsey better, especially as a love interest for Harriet. However, Ian Carmichael was very good and if you listen to him on audio renditions, he is great! You don't feel that he is too old for the part when you only hear him - he does Peter perfectly!

[bcb...@gmail.com]

Hello,
I loved the Ian Carmichael series as a boy.
Then a year ago I started reading the novels and I saw Edward Petherbridge.
I would say that Edward had the social attraction and the sense of breeding that Wimsey has but Ian has that slightly more whimsical touch which is also in the books.
I like them both - they show up different aspects of Lord Peter

[0nat...@gmail.com]

My favorite is Ian, because he exhibits the energy required for Wimsey. He is caring and compassionate while also being slightly socially ignorant in all the right places (Such as when discussing Parker and Mary at the end of Clouds of Witness). When I took on the role in a performance of Busman's Honeymoon, I based my Wimsey mainly off of Ian, while also, of course, learning a bit from Edward.

As for all of the side characters that appeared in both versions, I thought that Ian's were better cast. Especially Bunter. Glynn Houston is, without a doubt, the best Bunter.

[Nyssa]

I've never seen Edward (Whoever) in the role, only Ian,
so I can't give my opinion on a comparison of the two.

I was an Ian fan before he did Wimsey because of all of
those movies he did back in the day, especially with
Peter Sellers.

My favorite line of his in the Wimsey role is one I think
of often when he was discussing his new roadster and remarking
"and it goes like gee whiz!" For some reason that just
sums up his take on how Wimsey looks at life.

Nyssa, who is currently reading "Final Venture" by Michael
Ridpath, a murder mystery set in Boston around a venture
capital firm

[divo...@gmail.com]

On Saturday, January 18, 1997 at 3:00:00 AM UTC-5, tin...@ricochet.net wrote:
> Hello,
> I would appreciate it very much if those who have seen the PBS
> Masterpiece Theater and/or Mystery! versions of the Lord Peter Wimsey
> series would tell me which they liked best. Also, which Wimsey do you
> think suits the character more truly, Edward Petherbridge or Ian
> Carmichael?
>
>
> Thank you,
> Wimsey
> -------------------==== Posted via Deja News ====-----------------------
> http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Post to Usenet

It has been often noted in these responses that Wimsey was too old for the part and Petherbridge was more suitably cast because younger. But the fact is that when playing the role Carmichael was only 2 years older. And if one looks carefully at the closeups of Petherbridge as Whimsey, one can't help notice the bags under his eyes! Carmichael revealed no such signs of his age when playing the role. At very least he had the advantage of better makeup and camerawork. I personally prefer Carmichael because he brought more verve and wit and energy to the role than did Petherbridge. And I can't agree with those who think Carmichael's Wimsey didn't exhibit convincingly the qualities of his class. Whatismore, I find C's Wimsey more likeable than P's.