LOOK TO THE LADY
Jarrolds, January 1931
(*published as The Gyrth Chalice Mystery)
Albert Campion #3
Adapted for radio by Felix Felton and Susan Ashman
First Broadcast 27 May 1961, BBC Radio 4
The Gyrth family have guarded the Chalice for centuries in their ancient house in Suffolk, but they have never had an opponent like the Daisy before. Mr Campion's services are needed to save the treasure from a desperate and determined thief. He can cope with witches, gypsies and mysterious ceremony, but he has not reckoned with the true guardian of the chalice.
Characters in Look to the Lady
Albert Campion, a mysterious adventurer of noble blood
Magersfontein Lugg, Campion's servant, an ex-criminal
Percival St. John Wykes Gyrth, known as Val, a young man of ancient family
Colonel Sir Percival Christian St John Gyrth, Val's father, bearer of the Gyrth secret
Penelope "Penny" Gyrth, Val's sister
Diana Gyrth, Lady Pethwick, Val's aunt, "Maid of the Cup" and friend to bohemians
Branch, their capable butler, an old cohort of Lugg
Professor Cairey, their neighbour, an expert in archaeology and folklore
Beth Cairey, the professor's charming daughter
Mrs Dick Shannon, a loud-voice, tactless local stable-owner
Percy Peck, a knowledgeable local woodsman
Mrs Munsey, hairless old crone of the village
Sammy Munsey, her son, the village idiot
Israel Melchizadek, a jeweller
Stanislaus Oates, Scotland Yard Inspector, a friend of Campion
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Amazon.com
"Do you take the long road?" a gruff restaurant manager asks a hapless drifter, and thus is launched one of the serpentine mysteries featuring a 1930s sleuth by the name of Albert Campion, created by Margery Allingham. Look to the Lady centers around the attempted theft of a 1000-year-old golden chalice from the upper-class family entrusted with its care; along the way are woven in witchcraft, a vast criminal organization, strange rituals, and a murderous horse. Peter Davison, a former Doctor Who, stars as Campion, a bland-faced and genteel fellow with an almost ghoulish relish for crime. His interplay with his crusty manservant/assistant, Lugg (Brian Glover), a former burglar with an almost impenetrable Cockney accent, is the series' strongest element. The stories slip in and out of self-satire and seem to tweak the classic mystery genre, yet always stay firmly within its confines. --Bret Fetzer
With Richard Hurndall, Mary Wimbush, David March and Peter Claughton.
Produced by Audrey Cameron.
My profound Thanks to Roadcone and Usenet for these wonderful Gems.
Replies
Thanks, Rick!
Another Campion to enjoy! thanks Rick!
Thank you for the program.
Rick -
Thanks so much for sharing. I truly appreciate all the work you do for us all.
Bob
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, love Campion Mysteries and cannot remember this one.
Brilliant Rick - thanks! I've got loads of CDs & downloads of Campion readings, but for someone so famous and well documented in the crime fiction world, very few dramas.