Father Brown TV Series

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Hello everyone. I’m not sure how many of you know about it already, but I wanted to make a thread here to tell everyone about a show which I absolutely love and which, despite being made by the BBC, is one of the most Catholic shows I’ve ever seen. It’s called Father Brown. It’s broadcast in the US by PBS, and is now on Netflix (woot!). It’s based on GK Chesterton’s mystery-solving priest, but using original stories, set twenty years after Chesterton’s death. I say I love it both because it’s exceptionally well-made, but also because it’s deeply Catholic. Father Brown is one of the most accurate and admirable portrayals of a Catholic I’ve ever seen. He is essentially a perfect role model for the faith. And, his cases always involve something spiritual. For example, he always says that his first concern is saving souls, and he always says he wants the criminal to confess their sins. It is critical of bad Catholics, but I believe this is appropriate, and is always in comparison with the true Catholicism of Father Brown.

I can’t recommend this show highly enough. While it obviously does have some graphic and mature qualities, as a crime show, I would even recommend it for families, as well as new Catholics, to learn what it means to be a true, good Catholic like Father Brown. And, it’s also an introduction to the genius of Chesterton, of whom Father Brown closely mirrors and whom he even at times directly quotes. If you haven’t seen it, please check it out! God bless!
 
Thanks! I also read that Chesterton was not a Catholic when he began writing the series, but became Catholic during it. Maybe Father Brown converted him!

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I’ve just starting watching Fr. Brown on Netflix, and I’m finding it enjoyable 👍. I never read the books, or at least I haven’t yet. If anyone has both seen the series and read the books, how true is the series to what Chesterton wrote?

I liked the TV version of Brother Cadfael so well that I wound up reading all of Ellis Peters’ books.
 
christofirst said:
I’ve just starting watching Fr. Brown on Netflix, and I’m finding it enjoyable 👍. I never read the books, or at least I haven’t yet. If anyone has both seen the series and read the books, how true is the series to what Chesterton wrote?

I liked the TV version of Brother Cadfael so well that I wound up reading all of Ellis Peters’ books.
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The stories were set around 1900; the TV episodes are moved up ca. 50 years.

Also, in the written originals, Fr. doesn’t incur nearly as much physical danger as on the show.

ICXC NIKA
 
GEddie said:
The stories were set around 1900; the TV episodes are moved up ca. 50 years.

Also, in the written originals, Fr. doesn’t incur nearly as much physical danger as on the show.

ICXC NIKA
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Thank you!
 
I have watched about 8 episodes of Season 1.

It has taken awhile to get used to Mark Williams. He is good as Father Brown, but something about him irritates me every now and then.

My favorite is the police inspector.

The parish secretary gets on my nerves too.

I love the insight into English life in a small English town after the war and the cottages and houses are so picturesque. The plots are a little simple.

I watched about two episodes a day for a few days in a row. I have not read any Father Brown mysteries. I might like the books better.

They are a nice distraction if you don’t have anything else to do.

I have tried watching other mysteries on BBC, but lose interest quickly.

The Father Brown mysteries definitely have some charm to them.
 
7_Sorrows said:
The movie The Detective was just on yesterday morning, but I missed it. I just saw a few minutes towards the end. Alec Guiness seemed to be a good Father Brown.

I wonder why the BBC stories are in the 1950’s and not the early 1900’s.
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Probably for simpler production. No need to recreate a much earlier time.

ICXC NIKA
 
Having read all the Fr.B mysteries and seen just about every filmed version ever made, I can say I like the BBC series with Mark Williams, but I do have some reservations and I’m not all that impressed with the plotlines nor always happy with the solutions the writers choose for the characters, etc.

Still, it’s great to see a Catholic priest portrayed in such a good light in Western society. And they do have a priest consultant, although from some of the storylines, I don’t think they always go by what he tells them. But, it’s fiction, after all, so that’s to be expected.

In the books GKC wasn’t as concerned with the mysteries, their plots or even the characters as much as in correcting public perception of Catholic priests as hidebound, bumbling idiots without brains or reason, dishing out superstition and religiosity instead of good sense and real faith. He based Fr.B on a real priest he knew who was a huge influence in his life, and was instrumental in his conversion to Catholicism.

BBC’s first series of Fr.B starring Kenneth More stayed much closer to GKC’s original stories, and are better mysteries. Those who love the small English village setting wouldn’t like it because they are not set in a small English parish. None of GKC’s stories feature sidekicks characters like Mrs. M. and Lady Felicia. GKC widely varied his settings and characters excepting Flambeau, who is featured more as his assistant in solving crimes than anyone else.
 
I love how the series shows the Catholic practices in a good light. Fr. Brown’s primary concern is people’s eternal soul.
 
Della said:
Having read all the Fr.B mysteries and seen just about every filmed version ever made, I can say I like the BBC series with Mark Williams, but I do have some reservations and I’m not all that impressed with the plotlines nor always happy with the solutions the writers choose for the characters, etc.

Still, it’s great to see a Catholic priest portrayed in such a good light in Western society. And they do have a priest consultant, although from some of the storylines, I don’t think they always go by what he tells them. But, it’s fiction, after all, so that’s to be expected.

In the books GKC wasn’t as concerned with the mysteries, their plots or even the characters as much as in correcting public perception of Catholic priests as hidebound, bumbling idiots without brains or reason, dishing out superstition and religiosity instead of good sense and real faith. He based Fr.B on a real priest he knew who was a huge influence in his life, and was instrumental in his conversion to Catholicism.

BBC’s first series of Fr.B starring Kenneth More stayed much closer to GKC’s original stories, and are better mysteries. Those who love the small English village setting wouldn’t like it because they are not set in a small English parish. None of GKC’s stories feature sidekicks characters like Mrs. M. and Lady Felicia. GKC widely varied his settings and characters excepting Flambeau, who is featured more as his assistant in solving crimes than anyone else.
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I think I would like the books. When was the first BBC series aired? I wish we could find those on Netflix. Lady Felicia bothers me too as some of the plotlines with the blonde Polish girl. It sounds like BBC has taken many liberties with this newer version of Father Brown. I am glad to know these sidekicks are not in the original stories.
 
The new series, while enjoyable, isn’t bent on strictly adhering to Chesterton’s stories. Only the first season is loosely based on Chesterton’s work, but subsequent seasons are original material by the writers, but of course influenced by Chesterton’s character.

I like the 2013 series; its portrayal of a compassionate and intelligent Catholic priest who knows his priorities is refreshing.

The filming location (with its Anglican church which stands for the fictional St. Mary’s Catholic) is a joy to view throughout the series. I’ve always loved the look of old English villages.
 
7_Sorrows said:
I think I would like the books. When was the first BBC series aired? I wish we could find those on Netflix. Lady Felicia bothers me too as some of the plotlines with the blonde Polish girl. It sounds like BBC has taken many liberties with this newer version of Father Brown. I am glad to know these sidekicks are not in the original stories.
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I highly recommend reading the books. They are filled with wit and wisdom as only GKC can provide them.

The original BBC series with Kenneth More was produced in 1974. The filmmaking isn’t as sharp as the new series, and some of the acting hammy (not by KM, who is excellent as Fr.B.). Still, if you want a series truer to GKC’s stories, this is the one.

You can get DVDs of the original series, as well as The Detective with Alec Guinness. Just be sure you get ones meant for your area. Some are coded strictly for Europe.
 
Della said:
I highly recommend reading the books. They are filled with wit and wisdom as only GKC can provide them.

The original BBC series with Kenneth More was produced in 1974. The filmmaking isn’t as sharp as the new series, and some of the acting hammy (not by KM, who is excellent as Fr.B.). Still, if you want a series truer to GKC’s stories, this is the one.

You can get DVDs of the original series, as well as The Detective with Alec Guinness. Just be sure you get ones meant for your area. Some are coded strictly for Europe.
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Thanks for the info!
 
I stand corrected. Thank you. :tiphat: I’d always assumed it was a BBC production or had been aired on the BBC, even though the credits say ITV. 😊

Anyhoo, yes, the ITV series is much closer to GKC’s stories, which I greatly appreciate being a Chesterton admirer. Still, the new series has much to recommend it, even if it’s too often too loosely “based” on GKC’s stories.
 
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