Cover Her Face

In this video adaptation of P. D. James' first Dalgleish mystery, "Cover Her Face," many liberties were taken. These apparently were done to convert a leisurely "County" mystery to a fast-moving TV miniseries.

While many fans of P. D. James find the changes disruptive and not true to the original, it must be said that this introductory video adaptation proved successful enough to warrant more Dalgleish mysteries being filmed.

The story is essentially a character study of a young woman and her effect on a number of assorted personalities, ranging from a housekeeper-cook to a young physician.

It's set in an England that is already fading from the memory -- big stately homes, church fetes, horse-riding gentry. vicars out of Anthony Trollope...and no cell-phones.

Roy Marsden plays Adam Dagleish, who, in this story, has been promoted from Chief Inspector to Chief Superintendent, which would seem to be a rather exalted New Scotland Yard rank for a detective concerned with only one mystery, rather than the half-dozen or so at one time that a real policeman-executive on that level would be working. He has but one assistant, whose function is primarily to take suspects into custody. The local police are fawning and ever so grateful for the great man's presence. Questioning of witnesses and suspects is casual and low- key and rarely confrontational.

The actor Roy Marsden, quiet and cool, would seem, at first glance, to be an odd choice to play a police detective. But he was a good choice for the role.

His character as Dalgleish is diffident, soft-spoken, observant, intellectual -- a poet, no less. But he is a super-smart sleuth who can be tough if the circumstances so warrant.

The pacing of this story, though speeded up for TV, can still seem excruciatingly slow at times, but stick with it. Superb acting makes it all worth while.

While not a devoted fan of P.D. James, my husband and I have enjoyed several of her novels. We looked forward to the entire series of P.D.James adaptations in this set. But they were produced badly, and we can't quite figure out why. All of the actors bounce between being wooden and melodramatic, even though after looking up their other work they seem to be actors of high caliber. The camera angles seem borrowed from soap operas--even the music never seems to fit the action on the screen. The director, producer, screenwriter, or all three simply did not know what they were doing or did a very sloppy job. They are not unwatchable, but we found ourselves laughing at scenes that were supposed to be dramatic because they were so overdone.

This is my second favorite of the Adam Dalgleish mysteries - the first being the superb and fascinating "Devices and Desires" (which is the only one inexplicably not on DVD). (Update: "Devices and Desires" is now available on DVD).

The story here, the acting, the settings, are all first rate. An absolutely riveting murder mystery. That the other person commenting found it laughable in parts and overly melodramatic is mystifying to me.

Roy Marsden will always be the classic Dalgleish, sorely missed in the extremely inferior stories filmed after he left the series. Phyllis Calvert and the old woman who plays the cook in this one are particularly good. The seductive and cunning young woman who insinuates herself into the family, with the help of a wastrel son, is a master of female manipulativeness.

HIGHLY recommended for those who enjoy literate British mystery.

Cover her face is a satisfying mystery, it possesses a great deal of intrigue, boasts a very good cast, and provides an interesting snapshot of life at the time, thoughts and attitudes.

The first three parts are a little slow, it does take its time to get going, from Part four onwards it takes on a whole new life, and picks up the pace. When one of the main characters is removed, I would argue the show isn't made better by their demise, that individual adds a lot to the story. Parts 4 and 6 I would suggest are the best.

The attitudes and behaviours towards pregnant and single women are so at odds with those most of us hold nowadays, the thought on there being institutions for single mothers, bizarre.

The acting is very good, Phyllis Calvert is the standout, a remarkably talented actress, Julian Glover is also good.

Dalgleish is strong throughout and charismatic, he makes his presence known, and remains dogged in pursuit of the killer.

It's an engaging whodunnit.

Intriguing, 7/10.

This six-part 291-minute presentation is my introduction to P. D. James. Naturally, I had to buy the book. Naturally, the book is better. However, that is not to distract from the film that took the time to really tell the story and keep you glued to the screen. I discovered a new favorite and intend to work my way through the balance of the films.

Even with the length of time to present this story they had to cut corners. However, in places, it was like reading the book word for word. Yet, the film neglects to mention that Chief Superintendent Adam Dalgliesh is wealthy and owns a yacht.

The story is sort of convoluted. There are quite a few characters and they all look guilty. It appears that everyone had an opportunity to do it. Chief Superintendent Adam Dalgliesh (Roy Marsden) has a way of making everyone confess and look right through you.

Sally Jupp (Kim Thomson) is visiting her old job in London when she meets an old friend. Soon her friend is dead and she just misses seeing the culprit(s) that did the deed. The story gets a little stickier when we find that Sally in an unwed mother with a mysterious father and a new love. She may not turn out to be sweetness and light. This can lead to many tragedies.

Some of the scenery will rival the actors and story for your attention.