Product Description

Sir derek jacobi is brother cadfael ellis peters crime-solving medieval monk in this acclaimed series seen on pbs mystery! Studio: Acorn Media Release Date: 07/10/2001 Starring: Sir Peter Jacobi Run time: 228 minutes

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30564 in DVD
• Brand: Brother
• Released on: 2001-07-10
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 3
• Running time: 228 minutes

Amazon.com
Never tell Brother Cadfael, the medieval mystery-solving monk, your theory of how a crime "must" have been committed. "We must always be wary of 'must,'" he states. "Nothing is certain." And so attest these three divine mysteries based on the books by Ellis Peters and originally broadcast in the U.S. on the PBS series Mystery! Each feature-length episode in this boxed set is self-contained but plays against the backdrop of England's civil war between forces loyal to King Stephen and those to Empress Maud. Derek Jacobi (I, Claudius, Gladiator) stars as Cadfael, who at one point is aptly described as "an odd kind of monk." The former "soldier, sailor, sinner, and Crusader" has his faith tested by crimes of royal intrigue and baffling murders that seem to plague the neutral ground of 12th-century Shrewsbury. The best of the three, "The Virgin in the Ice," is a good introduction for Cadfael initiates. This story of "violence and cruelty" involves the near-fatal beating of a young monk, the murder of a nun, and the disappearance of two children. Viewers' advisory: one of the chapters in the scene selection menu on the DVD contains a major spoiler. The "strange difficulties" continue in "The Devil's Novice," in which Cadfael's suspicions about a recently arrived novice are heightened by the murder of the bishop's chaplain. Finally, the local merchants are revolting, and the murder of two tradesmen further mar the festivities in "St. Peter's Fair." All three episodes costar Eoin McCarthy as local undersheriff Hugh Beringar, who relies on Cadfael when murder subverts his efforts to keep the peace. A tense standoff between these two friends heightens the climax of "St. Peter's Fair." Americans have never seen a sleuth such as Cadfael, a fascinating character who is at once a man of God, of science, and even of action. You'll find few Benedictine monks so skilled at using a quarterstaff. --Donald Liebenson

From the Back Cover
"Enchanting!...medieval England comes marvelously alive." - The Washington Post. Seen on the PBS Mystery! series, these riveting programs star Sir Derek Jacobi (I Claudius, Gladiator) as Brother Cadfael, the medieval crime-solving monk who tackles mysteries that arise in the dark world of twelfth century Shrewsbury. Having fought as a crusader prior to entering the brotherhood, Cadfael is no ordinary monk. A shrewd and intuitive detective, he relies on his medicinal skills and knowledge of botany to foil treachery and solve crimes. This highly acclaimed series is based on the bestselling novels by Ellis Peters. Includes The Virgin in the Ice, The Devil's Novice and St. Peter's Fair. DVD SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE exclusive audio comments by Derek Jacobi, Ellis Peters materials, production scrapbooks, captions for the hearing impaired and more.

Customer Reviews

So what if this Hugh isn't the *real* Hugh (Sean Pertwee)?
... Brother Cadfael is *still* the most unique, complex, fascinating detective out there. Add to that the endlessly treacherous and intriguing setting, and you've found a winner.

The production standard is incredible; visually, it's an impressive effort and very realistic. It manages to be grand and gritty at once.

The acting is likewise superb. I could never have pictured a better Cadfael than the sterling Sir Derek Jacobi.

The only reason I gave this set four stars rather than five is that this particular Cadfael series is not my favorite of the four. All of them are worth owning, however.

Jacobi does it again!
These videos are extremely well done. I learned more about the post crusade era in the Catholic Church then I would have in any history class. Derek Jacobi is a superb actor, and his talents are highlighted in these entertaining and educational videos. I would recommend these to anyone with an interest in religion, history, or science, or to any one who loves a good mystery.

Cadfael my Son
This is one of the best sets in the series. Although I think Sean Pertwee in the first set was a better sheriff, this group of stories is incredible. We see consoling, love, intrigue, lechery, murder, highway bandits, rape, kidnapping, and a host of other acts of love and violence. Some true chivalry, an evil monk but not the one that is accused, and mysterious disappearances of people make this set great to watch. The set contains many sub stories in each story that makes them all the more interesting. We find out a piece of the puzzle in Cadfael's love life while he was on the Crusades. The set does not contain much as far as extra's but the series alone is well worth the price. The quality is comparable with the rest in the series and quite adequate.