The Nine Tailors 

The title refers to the nine strokes of a church bell to announce the death of a man. In this adaptation of Dorothy L. Sayers's intricate, nostalgic, and atmospheric novel of the same name,... See full summary »

Stars:

Ian Carmichael, Glyn Houston, Elizabeth Proud

Cast

Series cast summary:
Ian Carmichael	...	Lord Peter Wimsey 4 episodes, 1974
Glyn Houston	...	Bunter 4 episodes, 1974
Elizabeth Proud	...	Mary Thoday / ... 4 episodes, 1974
Patrick Jordan	...	Cranton 4 episodes, 1974
Gail Harrison	...	Hilary Thorpe 4 episodes, 1974
Christopher Banks	...	Archbishop of Canterbury 4 episodes, 1974
Donald Eccles	...	Venables 3 episodes, 1974
Elizabeth Bradley	...	Mrs. Venables 3 episodes, 1974
Neil McCarthy	...	Will Thoday 3 episodes, 1974
Kenneth Thornett	...	Supt. Blundell 3 episodes, 1974
David Jackson	...	Jim Thoday 2 episodes, 1974
Dan Meaden	...	Ezra Wilderspin 2 episodes, 1974
Herbert Ramskill	...	Hezekiah Lavender 2 episodes, 1974
Peter Tuddenham	...	Jack Godfrey 2 episodes, 1974
Charles Lamb	...	Harry Gotobed 2 episodes, 1974
John Duttine	...	Walter Pratt 2 episodes, 1974

Storyline

The title refers to the nine strokes of a church bell to announce the death of a man. In this adaptation of Dorothy L. Sayers's intricate, nostalgic, and atmospheric novel of the same name, Lord Peter Wimsey, stranded in a New-Year's Eve snowstorm ca. 1930 in the fens of eastern England, becomes the guest of a local clergyman, an adept enthusiast of the esoteric, mathematical art of change-ringing the eight swinging bells of his magnificent medieval church. Wimsey is pressed into service to assist with a heroic and historic all-night peal to welcome the new year. A few months later the vicar, having learned of Wimsey's reputation as a sleuth, summons him back to the village to investigate a mysterious body newly discovered in the churchyard, an unknown man secretly buried, who had apparently died about the time of Wimsey's first visit. A much earlier jewel robbery, details of church architecture, unclaimed letters from a French farm, and peculiarities of canon law are only a few of ...

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Plot Keywords:

church | new year | bell | 1930s | detective | 

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Genres:

Mystery

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 April 1975 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Lord Peter Wimsey: Nine Tailors

Filming Locations:

Walpole St Peter, Norfolk, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

[Lord Peter guesses that two suspects have run away to get married in secret]
Lord Peter Wimsey: Ah yes, I thought he had a nice easy number. May I use your telephone?
Supt. Blundell: Help yourself.
Lord Peter Wimsey: [into telephone] Canterbury 123, please. If you wouldn't mind, it's urgent.
[to Superintendent Blundell]
Lord Peter Wimsey: In their flight, you know there is one thing the Thodays certainly overlooked. We have an ally, Blundell. A haughty prelate. An arbitrary prince. To wit, the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Supt. Blundell: Oh yes, and Mr. Mussolini and the Emperor of ...

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Connections

Followed by Five Red Herrings: Episode #1.1 (1975)

User Reviews

The best of the Sayers mysteries

Of all the novels by Dorothy Sayers, this is the best for mystery and surprise. This Masterpiece Theater production does it full justice. Carmichael is almost tolerable as the insufferable Peter Wimsey and a competent cast supports well, but the real star is the plot and is thoroughly engrossing and entertaining.