Consumer Information Movie Reviews

The normally unflappable sleuth Albert Campion (played by a former Doctor Who, Peter Davison) loses a bit of his objectivity when murder strikes among some good friends, the bohemian enclave that's built up around a deceased artist who decreed that every year after his death one of his 12 last paintings should be unveiled. At the annual event, a sudden blackout gives someone the opportunity to stab an abrasive young artist with a pair of ornate scissors. As is usual with Margery Allingham's murder mysteries, the suspects in Death of a Ghost are a collection of eccentric personalities; their tics and accents are as entertaining as the elaborate unraveling of the improbable murders. This particular mystery is weakened by the small role of Campion's crusty manservant Lugg (Brian Glover), whose earthy attitude generally provides a much-needed counterbalance to Campion's smooth facade. --Bret Fetzer