Brother Cadfael, Set 4 (The Pilgrim of Hate / The Potter's Field / The Holy Thief)

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The Pilgrim of Hate
Brother Cadfael, the Sherlock Holmes of the medieval world, discovers a corpse among the parade of the infirm and diseased taking refuge in the abbey on "Cripples Day." Thieves and con men ply their trades among the pilgrims so there is no shortage of suspects, but a few personalities leap from the crowd, namely a bitter young man accompanied by his pickpocket sister and a dying pilgrim making the trek barefoot while his pious brother pushes him along. The struggle between faith and dogma that rings through all of the Cadfael mysteries takes center stage in this story. The piety of the more judgmental Brothers of the Order comes across as hypocritical in their dealings with the unwashed peasants (who are, much to the monks' dismay, detained within the abbey walls during the investigation), but even their intolerance pales next to Cadfael's terrible discovery in the murder.

The Potter's Field
The brothers of the Shrewsbury monastery are doing some innocent backyard plowing when they turn up a murder victim's corpse--perhaps that of the former wife of their own Brother Ruald. Shrewsbury boils with rumors and accusations as a civil war devastates the countryside. The Potter's Field is a terrific mystery, filled with compelling human drama as well as a knotty riddle with a shocking solution. The production has an authentic feel, showing both the practicalities and the squalor of medieval life, and the direction artfully enhances the story. The acting is excellent across the board, with Jacobi's surehanded embodiment of Cadfael leading the way. This is an excellent, satisfying mystery.

The Holy Thief
Suspicion falls on the holy, the holier-than-thou, and the unholy when the sacred relics of Saint Winifred are stolen from the abbey and the pious prior of a fallen monastery and a greedy land baron both lay claim to them. Kidnapping, the jewel robbery, and murder only complicate the efforts of Brother Cadfael to separate holy miracle from worldly conspiracy. Derek Jacobi fills Brother Cadfael with a warmth to match his logic and a passion for justice that stands in contrast to the often fatal superstition of his world (trial by water as binding law). This episode is one of the darkest and most interesting entries in the series. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

Sir Derek and the Chronicles of a Truly Rare Benedictine........2006-09-08

When the decision was made to produce for TV several episodes from her mystery series about Brother Cadfael, that 12th century crusader turned monk turned detective who has been, ever since his creation, one of the most compassionate and unusual sleuths of literary history, novelist Ellis Peters (Edith Pargeter) was not entirely happy. In fact, as the series' star, Sir Derek Jacobi, explains in the extra footage provided on the now-released DVDs, Ms. Peters had very mixed feelings about giving up her brain child and entrusting it to other people who went about cutting and adjusting everything, from the storylines themselves to the way the protagonists speak and even the Chronicles' sequence, to the necessities and limitations set by the new medium. But she eventually acquiesced and at one point promised that "the next one I write, I'll make sure it's easier for you all to film."

While the thirteen episodes that were eventually produced are, thus, not entirely true to the individual Chronicles they are based on, they are closer than many other movie or TV versions of famous works of literature. Most importantly, they maintain not only the core story lines but also the historical authenticity, atmosphere and spirit set by Ms. Peters's books in a marvelous fashion. And Sir Derek Jacobi brings both the wealth of his experience and skill and all of his own shrewdness, intelligence, sense of humor and empathy to the role of the medieval Benedictine sleuth and thus truly becomes Cadfael -- for the thousands of new fans who are discovering the series through its enactment for TV just as much as for us who loved the books before they were ever transposed to a visual medium. A tremendous cast of supporting actors rounds out an overall excellent production; to mention just a few, Julian Firth as the ambitious and narrow-minded Brother Jerome, Terrence Hardiman as Abbot Radolfus and Sean Pertwee (and later Eoin McCarthy) as Under-Sheriff Hugh Beringar, who joins Cadfael in his investigations whenever, as is so often the case, these transcend the world of monastic life and require the administration of secular justice as well as clerical insight. Several episodes also feature noted guest stars.

The episodes are not entirely in the same order as the books; however, as most of the cross-references between the books have been eliminated in the screen versions, this is no great harm (although the lacking cross-references are probably one of the things avid readers of the books will find missing). The DVDs also provide background information on Ellis Peters, Sir Derek Jacobi and a number of the individual episodes' other actors.

Summary of the episodes contained in this set:

"The Pilgrim of Hate" (the tenth Chronicle): A cripple, his sister and two brothers on a painful pilgrimage meet at the Abbey during the annual feast of St. Winifred. Soon, the question arises whether religion is primarily penance or faith in God's love of mankind.

"The Potter's Field" (the seventeenth Chronicle): The discovery of the bones of a woman in a field once belonging to a potter turned monk leads Cadfael to unveil a harrowing tale of love, loss and a deadly wager.

"The Holy Thief" (the nineteenth Chronicle): Competitors for the possession of St. Winifred's relics show up in Shrewsbury! Then the holy bones disappear, a monk is found murdered -- and a tonsured troubadour finds his lady love.

Episodes contained in other sets:

First set:
"One Corpse Too Many" (the second Chronicle).
"Monk's Hood" (the third Chronicle).
"The Leper of St. Giles" (the fifth Chronicle).
"The Sanctuary Sparrow" (the seventh Chronicle).

Second Set:
"St. Peter's Fair" (the fourth Chronicle);
"The Virgin in the Ice" (the sixth Chronicle);
"The Devil's Novice" (the eighth Chronicle).

Third Set:
"A Morbid Taste for Bones" (the first Chronicle);
"The Raven in the Foregate" (the twelfth Chronicle);
"The Rose Rent" (the thirteenth Chronicle).

I love these stories!.......2006-02-04

I had never read the books or of this series when I bought the videos. Maybe because of this I really enjoyed the videos. I am a fan of Sir Derek Jacobi too as I have seen him in one other program and loved his acting. He seems to be perfect in this role. If you want a unique take on detective work, these can't be beat.

Not for Brother Cadfael fans.......2003-09-16

This set raises the question: why adapt a popular author's work and make so little effort to capture the spirit of her writing. If the writers/directors/producers don't like Ellis Peters' stories, why don't they create independent works and let them stand on their own? All this does is trick Peters's fans into buying something that will probably disappoint them and make it difficult for someone who actually likes the Cadfael stories to do a good video version of them. These don't have anything like the depth, breadth and historicity of Peters' books and they don't even try very hard.

My liking for the stories is strongly character driven, and unfortunately, however distinguished an actor Derek Jacoby may be, he's not really playing Cadfael in these tales. A few of the characters are well done: Brother Jerome, Prior Roberts. I think that is probably because the latter two characters fit very nicely into a jaundiced and rather shallow view of the Middle Ages.

I can't really separate my judgement of this from my knowledge of the books, so possibly someone who is not familiar with the books will enjoy these videos. None of the video versions are terribly good, but fans may want to watch the first series, which is far and away the best, just for some the visual images: its neat to watch the men walking around in their monastic robes, although I warn you that the quality of the costuming is extremely variable.

Brother Cadfael, Set 4.......2001-09-10

The Pilgrim of Hate

Your prayers are enough

Once again many things are not what they seem and it is up to Brother Cadfael to bring then to light. If you do not compare to the book it is a good film and well balanced. (Do not forget that the first two chapters of the book are revealed in detail in "A Morbid Taste for Bones" and "One Corpse Too Many")This story takes place years later.
From the back cover:
Cripples Day at Shrewsbury brings a hoard of disabled pilgrims to the abbey. Within a short while, a body is found in a leather sack amongst the visitors. Cadfael boils down the man's body to inspect the bones and uncovers two possible explanations for his death.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Potter's Field
Guilt is something we have to live with,

So much mystery, so many solutions, and you guest wrong. Yet Brother Cadfael stays with it until all is revealed. In the process we all must think and learn something of our selves.
From the back cover:
A woman's skeleton is discovered in a local potter's field, since the potter Ruald, left his family to answer a calling form God, everyone concludes that the body belongs to his wife, and that Ruald murdered her when she tried to prevent him from taking the tonsure.
This may not be the book but the film has depth in its own right.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Holy Thief
Everyone belongs in the house of God

This Cadfael story are said to be darker in character and not as much as lighter earlier mysteries. This is not my favorite Hugh Beringar (Anthony Green.) I prefer Eoin McCarthy. However he works well in this Cadfael. In The Holy Thief while most people were using trial by water to catch the guilty, Cadfael (Derek Jacobi) uses forensics to track down the murder.

The abbey in Ramsey is bunt down by rebel soldiers. You may recall the time of the civil war between King Stephen and Queen Maude. As is the custom they clam the loan of St. Winifred's holy relics, to help build their monastery. You may also recall in "A Morbid Taste for Bones" the trouble Shrewsbury had obtaining St. Winifred. So in stead Brother Cadfael and Abbot Radulfus offer precious gems.

A stormy night comes up and in the disarray Winifred is pinched. In the process there is a murder. Only the balance and counter balance of Cadfael and Beringar can solve this, if any one can.

Brutalized!.......2001-04-30

If I'm remembering correctly, this is the set that includes "The Pilgrim of Hate." This was my all-time favorite of the books, so I was looking forward to seeing the show, since in general I've liked the series. But they destroyed it. The storyline bore only the slightest resemblance to the original, making the pious child into a charlatan, and generally destroying the whole thing. I was so disappointed that I never watched any of the rest of series IV. It was a shame; I really had enjoyed Derek Jacobi's Cadfael, and in general the series. But I don't know why they felt they had to destroy the storyline to put it on TV.

Brother Cadfael, Set 4 (The Pilgrim of Hate / The Holy Thief / The Potter's Field)

Average customer rating:

Sir Derek and the Chronicles of a Truly Rare Benedictine.
I love these stories!
Not for Brother Cadfael fans
Brother Cadfael, Set 4
Brutalized!

Brother Cadfael, Set 4 (The Pilgrim of Hate / The Holy Thief / The Potter's Field)
Starring: Eoin McCarthy , and Anthony Green (II)
Director: Sebastian Graham Jones , and Graham Theakston
Manufacturer: Acorn Media
ProductGroup: Video
Binding: VHS Tape

Theakston, Graham | ( T ) | Directors | VHS | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | VHS | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | VHS | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | VHS | Video

Mystery & Suspense | Boxed Sets | Formats | VHS | Video

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General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video
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ASIN: 1569382751
Release Date: 1999-09-11

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Customer Reviews:

Sir Derek and the Chronicles of a Truly Rare Benedictine........2006-09-08

I love these stories!.......2006-02-04

Not for Brother Cadfael fans.......2003-09-16

Brother Cadfael, Set 4.......2001-09-10

Brutalized!.......2001-04-30

Average customer rating:

Brother Cadfael- "Pilgrim of Hate" DVD
Your prayers are enough
Every bit as good as the others
Ellis Peters would turn in her grave!
What did I just watch?

Brother Cadfael - The Pilgrim of Hate
Starring: Eoin McCarthy , and Anthony Green (II)
Director: Sebastian Graham Jones , and Graham Theakston
Manufacturer: Acorn Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000065AYH
Release Date: 2002-06-04

Amazon.com

Brother Cadfael, the Sherlock Holmes of the medieval world, discovers a corpse among the parade of the infirm and diseased taking refuge in the abbey on "Cripples Day." Thieves and con men ply their trades among the pilgrims so there is no shortage of suspects, but a few personalities leap from the crowd, namely a bitter young man accompanied by his pickpocket sister, and a dying pilgrim making the trek barefoot while his pious brother pushes him along. The struggle between faith and dogma that rings through all of the Cadfael mysteries takes center stage in this story. The piety of the more judgmental Brothers of the Order comes across as hypocritical in their dealings with the unwashed peasants (who are, much to the monks' dismay, detained within the abbey walls during the investigation), but even their intolerance pales next to Cadfael's terrible discovery in the murder.

The DVD features a brief audio interview with Derek Jacobi, production notes, stills, filmographies, and an Ellis Peters biography and booklist. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

Brother Cadfael- "Pilgrim of Hate" DVD.......2006-02-19

Excellent work. This whole Series by the BBC was Superior. Sir Derek under plays this role so beautifully.

Your prayers are enough.......2004-12-25

It is Cripples Day at Shrewsbury and this brings a mass of disabled pilgrims to the Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, in the hopes that St. Winifred can cure them. We learn about St. Winifred's presents in "A Morbid Taste for Bones." Cadfael welcomes them while some of the other Brothers find it a nuisance.

Within a short while, a body is found in a leather sack amongst the visitors. No body is to leave. In an attempt to discover the culprit Cadfael boils down the man's body to inspect the bones and uncovers two possible explanations for his death. And yes they did leave.

Once again many things are not what they seem and it is up to Brother Cadfael to bring then to light. There are also parallel stories that may or may not have a bearing on the murder. One is of a seller of bogus relics. The other two brothers that are on a pilgrimage.

If you do not compare to the book it is a good film and well balanced. The movie has to tighten the story so some good guys in the book may have to go bad. (Do not forget that the first two chapters of the book are revealed in detail in "A Morbid Taste for Bones" and "One Corpse Too Many")This story takes place years later.

Every bit as good as the others.......2003-10-03

This Cadfael is every bit as good as the others. If you like the other Cadfael DVDs you will like this one.

Ellis Peters would turn in her grave!.......2003-03-24

For those of us who love the Ellis Peters books, this was an insult and an affront. Quite simply, the story was mutilated beyond all recognition. In fact, only the character names were consistent. Changing a few details for dramatisation is one thing, changing good characters into bad ones, and changing the whole crime is quite another. If the directors had wished to write a NEW sinister story, then they could have done exactly that. There was no need to ruin one of Peters' wonderful stories in the process.

Frankly, the delightful and gentle quality of the Peters' stories provides their unique charm. This engineered dark, brutal atmosphere is totally alien to the original works, and as such has no place in this series.

If you love the original books, do not buy this DVD. It will leave you irritated and annoyed.

What did I just watch?.......2003-02-10

Hm... I have been reading the (absolutely excellent) books, and then watching these episodes as I finish each respective book, and I sit here rather puzzled. There was only a tiny fraction of resemblance between this episode and the book on which it is supposedly based - the tiniest of fractions. And in fact, that's what I both enjoyed and lamented about it. Enjoyed, because I had no idea what was going on, and that's always fun with a mystery, but lamented because my expectations were not met in one very important regard.

This is, as the previous reviewer noted, much darker than the book, which is fine, it works well. The atmosphere was well sustained, and the characters (although NONE of them were what I expected) were all played well. The book took on powerful political significance, thrusting you right into the warring factions of Stephen and Maud and the delicate balance of the country, but it also had a lightness and joy and humor. In fact the plot of the book was so wide and multifaceted that I am not surprised that they did not attempt it within a 75-minute time frame. So, it appears, they wrote their own plot, with a twinge of inspiration from Ellis Peters. And a very intriguing plot it was.

But the disappointment was profound when I had expected to see Olivier de Bretagne - easily the highlight of the book - make an appearance, and realized somewhere in the middle that he was not going to. The plot did not allow for him, and for that I heave a great sigh of regret. Yes, it was good as it was, but if they had done the book instead of their own creation, it would have been much better. How can you write Olivier out of the plot? It is an affront to Cadfael, who very much deserves him.

Sir Derek Jacobi, as always, was nothing short of perfect. He alone makes any of this series worth watching, and I find myself now seeking his other works just to watch such a masterful actor. He has quite possibly surpassed Anthony Hopkins as my favorite actor of all time, and that is saying much. Very much.

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