A very clever Chesterton story is followed fairly closely in this adaptation, although it's mildly irritating that Father Brown's famous remark about dogs ("I always like a dog, so long as he isn't spelt backwards") is slightly altered when Kenneth More comes to say it. More's performance is, in fact, just a little uncertain, there are moments when he seems unsure of his lines, and the segment as a whole gives the impression of being somewhat under-rehearsed. The criticism of British imperialism made explicit in the story - where the Father says that "every imperial police is more like a Russian secret police than we like to think" - is dampened down, and the tone of the adaptation is not as trenchant as it might, to its benefit, have been. The dog behaves impeccably, however.
3 Reviews
Knox holes the key.
Sleepin_Dragon6 March 2020
It's the final straw for the wealthy Colonel Druce, his son Harry is a drunk and quite literally the idle rich, and his daughter is seeing a Frenchman he disapproves of. Colonel Druce send for a favourite nephew and his solicitor, with plans to change his will.
I thought this was equally as good as the first episode, even though the story has its ups and downs. Knox the dog is a central character and plays an important role in the end unmasking of the killer. I am still struggling to get used to Kenneth More in the role of Father Brown, as I am so used to Mark Williams playing the charismatic priest. some of the acting is a little bit patchy at times, but on the whole it's pretty good, I do enjoy watching Kenneth More in the role however.
Very good once again, 8/10.
I thought this was equally as good as the first episode, even though the story has its ups and downs. Knox the dog is a central character and plays an important role in the end unmasking of the killer. I am still struggling to get used to Kenneth More in the role of Father Brown, as I am so used to Mark Williams playing the charismatic priest. some of the acting is a little bit patchy at times, but on the whole it's pretty good, I do enjoy watching Kenneth More in the role however.
Very good once again, 8/10.
A tad insulting
menachim-27 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Has no one noticed that the reason Brown knows the murderer is not who he claims to be amounts to a grotesque lie about the history of the medieval Church, which is then followed by a wholly gratuitous bit of poison that would have made Goebbels proud?
The screenwriter certainly didn't want to hide Chesterton's antisemitism.
The screenwriter certainly didn't want to hide Chesterton's antisemitism.
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