彼得·温西爵爷探案  

ThreeDorothyL.SayersmysteriesinvolvingamateursleuthextraordinaireLordPeterWimseyandthelovelyHarrietVanearerealizedtoperfectioninthese1987BBCadaptations.InStrongPoison,Harriet(HarrietWalter)isontrialformurder.LordPeter(EdwardPetherbridge)becomesenchantedbyheranddecidesshecannotpossiblybeguilty.WhatfollowsarethetwinstoriesofLordPeter'ssearchtofindtherealkillerandhisromanticpursuitofHarriet.Botharecharming.Asalways,Sayershasplottedherstorybrilliantly,withasatisfyingmysteryandaslycomictouch(agentlepokeatthespiritualistmovementisparticularlyfun).Theperiodatmosphereispulledoffnaturallyandwithcloseattentiontodetail,andtheadaptationhasacarefulreverenceforSayers'snovel.Theperformancesareallremarkablystrong.PetherbridgeisperfectasWimsey,revealinghisbrillianceandallowinghimtobehopelesslyinlovewithouteverdamaginghisdignity.WalterplaysHarrietwithrichnuance,sayingasmuchwithhersilencesasshedoeswithherlines,andRichardMorantisquietlyfantasticastheremarkableBunting.　　Harriet,freshfromthetrial,triestogetawayfromitallandendsupstumblingoverarecentlykilledbodyinHaveHisCarcass.Unabletoresistacrime(or,forthatmatter,Harriet),LordPeterissoononthecase.InGaudyNight,LordPeterisstillproposingatfrequentintervals,andHarriet,thoughunabletosayyes,isalsounabletosendLordPeterentirelyaway.Butenoughwiththeromance.AsWimseyheadsoffforsomeforeignservicework,HarrietvisitsherOxfordalmamaterandlandssmackinthemiddleofapoison-penscandal.Harriet'sstatusasamysterywriter,naturally,meansshe'stheonewhoshouldinvestigate.Sayersclearlyhadfunwritingthisone,usingHarriettogentlytweakherownprofession,atthesametimebothparodyinganddefendingthecloisteredlifeatawomen'scollege.--AliDavis