I loved this series when it was first aired on PBS' "Mystery!" series in the late 1980s and have since read most of Allingham's novels. Peter Davison is perfectly cast as the deceptively self-effacing detective with a mysterious past.
Having just finished re-reading the book on which this episode is based, I felt compelled to make a few comparisons. One definite improvement over the book is the inclusion of Mr. Lugg in the TV dramatization. Brian Glover's delightful portrayal of the former Cockney burglar is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the series and it would've been a real shame not to have him put in an appearance here. He is skillfully written into the episode, taking some of the lines spoken in the book by others and gleefully assisting Campion in the fight with the tramp, Thomas Beveridge. (In the book, it is one of the servants who comes to Campion's aid.)
And speaking of the tramp, I was puzzled when I saw this site's cast list spelled his last name "Beverbridge" until I watched the episode again this morning and saw the credits at the end do indeed contain that undoubted error. For it is obvious to any careful listener that the name is definitely pronounced without the second "b" by both the man himself and Lugg. In addition, a joke is made of the name in the novel due to its being a homophone of "beverage," which the tramp apparently enjoys in great quantity!
One final niggling point: As it had been several years since I had seen this show, I was curious to see how the question of George Faraday's shameful parentage would be handled in the episode. In the book, he is of mixed race, his mother being what old Mrs. Faraday refers to as a "blackamoor." I would have thought audiences of the late 20th century could handle this plot point, which better accounts for the reason behind Mrs. Faraday's blackmail. However, the show's writers (or perhaps someone else) decided to make George simply "illegitimate." I think the original version a much more credible explanation of why the grand old lady would've acquiesced so readily to George's demands over the years.
OK, one last thing - I was disappointed that they did not include the bit at the end where Campion is given an old framed photo of Mrs. Faraday as a lovely young girl. I thought it was a nice touch at the end of the novel and, given how remarkably unattractive Mary Morris (the actress playing Mrs. Faraday) was, could have been a revelation. :-)
Having just finished re-reading the book on which this episode is based, I felt compelled to make a few comparisons. One definite improvement over the book is the inclusion of Mr. Lugg in the TV dramatization. Brian Glover's delightful portrayal of the former Cockney burglar is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the series and it would've been a real shame not to have him put in an appearance here. He is skillfully written into the episode, taking some of the lines spoken in the book by others and gleefully assisting Campion in the fight with the tramp, Thomas Beveridge. (In the book, it is one of the servants who comes to Campion's aid.)
And speaking of the tramp, I was puzzled when I saw this site's cast list spelled his last name "Beverbridge" until I watched the episode again this morning and saw the credits at the end do indeed contain that undoubted error. For it is obvious to any careful listener that the name is definitely pronounced without the second "b" by both the man himself and Lugg. In addition, a joke is made of the name in the novel due to its being a homophone of "beverage," which the tramp apparently enjoys in great quantity!
One final niggling point: As it had been several years since I had seen this show, I was curious to see how the question of George Faraday's shameful parentage would be handled in the episode. In the book, he is of mixed race, his mother being what old Mrs. Faraday refers to as a "blackamoor." I would have thought audiences of the late 20th century could handle this plot point, which better accounts for the reason behind Mrs. Faraday's blackmail. However, the show's writers (or perhaps someone else) decided to make George simply "illegitimate." I think the original version a much more credible explanation of why the grand old lady would've acquiesced so readily to George's demands over the years.
OK, one last thing - I was disappointed that they did not include the bit at the end where Campion is given an old framed photo of Mrs. Faraday as a lovely young girl. I thought it was a nice touch at the end of the novel and, given how remarkably unattractive Mary Morris (the actress playing Mrs. Faraday) was, could have been a revelation. :-)
