DVD Review: Father Brown: The Complete Collection

 Fondly remembered from its run on PBS’s Mystery! in the mid 1970s, the acclaimed mystery series based on the well-loved stories of British writer G.K. Chesterton, Father Brown: The Complete Collection arrives on DVD on April 29, 2014 from Acorn, an RLJ Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: RLJE) brand. Film legend Kenneth More (The Forsyte Saga, A Night to Remember) stars in this witty and playful series as a wily clergyman-detective whose calling as a priest brings him into contact with all levels of society. Streaming exclusively in February 2013 on Acorn TV, the premier British streaming service available to North American audiences at http://acorn.tv. Marking the first time the series has been available on DVD as a complete collection, this DVD 4-Disc set includes all 13 episodes of the series that conveys all the charm, cleverness, and suspense of Chesteron’s detective stories ($59.99, AcornOnline.com).  The series also inspired BBC One’s 2013 adaptation starring Mark Williams in the title role that began airing January 2013. 

Heaven help the murderer who crosses paths with G.K. Chesterton’s cassocked crime-solver, Father Brown. Despite his absentminded air, the kindly priest always manages to confound criminals with his inescapable logic and keen understanding of the human condition. Often joined by his friend, thief-turned-private-investigator Hercule Flambeau (Dennis Burgess, Truman at Potsdam), Father Brown unravels devious schemes in 1920s England.

Street: April 29, 2014                                    SRP: $59.99                           UPC: 0-54961-2015-9-4

DVD 4-Disc Set: 13 episodes on 4 discs; Approx. 671 min.; 4:3 full screen; British mystery

Bonus:  G.K. Chesteron biography 

My Thoughts 

I love all the old British mystery series, but there's something about this one that I found especially endearing.  Maybe it's just because I was raised in the Catholic church and knew a few priests who would've made great sleuths just like Father Brown. Set in the 1920's, this series gives an amazingly accurate portrayal of the times with stunning costumes and backdrops. This box set includes thirteen fabulous episodes about the amateur detective of the cloth. 

The Hammer of God - A rich colonel feels he has the right to take the wives of any man he likes, leaving behind a lot of suspects when he is murdered. 

The Oracle of the Dog - Another colonel wants to change his will which leads to mass panic among his possible beneficiaries. When he's killed, the family dog leads Father Brown to the right suspects. 

The Curse of the Golden Cross - This is one of my favorites because it ties in some med-evil history. An archeologist is murdered and Father Brown uses his knowledge of the past to find the killer.

The Eye of Apollo - A woman is a member of a cult, but Father Brown proves her death has nothing to do with anything spiritual. 

The Three Tools of Death - A philanthropist of the community dies under mysterious circumstances. His future son-in-law confesses to the crime, but Father Brown feels there is more to the story.

The Mirror of the Magistrate - The local magistrate discovers German spies in London and dies shortly afterward.  An Irishman with German ties is thought to be the culprit but Father Brown believes he's innocent.

The Dagger with Wings - When a man and his sons are all killed, Father Brown uncovers a satanist in their mist.

The Actor and the Alibi - The search for a missing runway model leads Father Brown to a theater with murder on the agenda. 

The Quick One - When an outspoken bigot dies in an Eastern style bar, Father Brown must figure out who served the deadly cocktail.

The Man With Two Beards - A local book keepr and friend of Father Brown is accused of robbery and murder. The good father works to prove his friend's innocence.

The Head of Caesar - The daughter of a famous coin collector is being followed by a man in disguise.  She's certain he means her harm, and Father Brown comes to her aid. 

The Arrow of Heaven - A man buys a chalice and laughs about its supposed curse, until an arrow pierces his heart. Now Father Brown must figure out if the curse is real or if there's a murderer on the loose.

The Secret Garden - A decapitated body turns up at the police party and Father Brown is the only one who can solve the crime.

This is a great series with lots of awesome guest stars. Each mystery will leave you wanting more because the villain is never who it appears to be.  In addition to the complete collection of episodes, the DVD set also includes an interesting biography of G.K. Chesterton. If you want to get the advantage of a full set of amazing  stories that will leave you on the edge of your seat, than this is the box set for you. You can order Father Brown: The Complete Collection  for the everyday low price of $59.99 at Acorn Media.


***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. I did receive a sample of the product to try in order to write a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and were not influenced in any way. ***