Monk's Hood (19 Jun. 1994)
"Cadfael" Monk's Hood (original title)

When an unpleasant and cruel nobleman spites his stepson by ceding his estate to the abbey, he ends up being poisoned by one of Brother Cadfael's medications.

Director:

Graham Theakston

Writers:

Russell Lewis (screenplay), Edith Pargeter (novel)

Stars:

Derek Jacobi, Sean Pertwee, Peter Copley

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Derek Jacobi	...	Brother Cadfael
Sean Pertwee	...	Hugh Beringar
Peter Copley	...	Abbot Heribert
Michael Culver	...	Prior Robert
Julian Firth	...	Brother Jerome
Bernard Gallagher	...	Gervase Bonel
Mary Miller	...	Richildis
Huw Garmon	...	Meurig
Sophie Lawrence	...	Aldith
Thomas Craig	...	Aelfric
Mark Charnock	...	Brother Oswin
Albie Woodington	...	Sergeant Warden
Jonny Lee Miller	...	Edwin Gurney
Terrence Hardiman	...	Abbot Radulfus
Freddie Boardley	...	Brother Petrus

Storyline

A man, dissatisfied with his step-sons life choices, decides to leave his manor to Shrewsbury Abbey. When the man ends up poisoned after eating food sent from the abbey, the step-son becomes the prime suspect in the murder. Cadfael doubts the quick assumption, sets out to find the actions and motives behind the crime, and in the process may help to redeem himself for a promise long unfulfilled.

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Plot Keywords:

abbot | poison | jealousy | carpenter | wales | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Release Date:

19 June 1994 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carlton Television, Central Films

Did You Know?

Goofs

A character is sent to fetch basil, which was introduced to England in the 1600s.

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Quotes

Brother Cadfael: [after Meurig has begged that Cadfael deliver him up to the authorities] What benefit to the world would your death bring?
Meurig: What must I do, brother?
Brother Cadfael: Give your love freely and look for nothing in return.

User Reviews

Dark Age

TeeVee mysteries captivate me, because there I such a wide variety. Some are very clever and understand what works. Some are amazingly daft about the charms of mystery, or even engaging narrative. Often, they try to get by with simple scenery.

That's how the book series is set up: the mysteries are thin, and the description of the medieval context is rich. It obviously worked for the readers. It works less well in the TeeVee version. I think its because we are so used to seeing sets and costumes like these. They give us absolutely nothing from the era that is not delivered by sets. But in any case, to have an effective film, you need the richest narrative you can deliver.

And they just do not here. Having a sometime great actor is a waste unless you give him something to do.

The episode I viewed was this one. According to the scriptwriter's playbook, you need one main driving story, here the murder. You need a second story that complicates the first. Here it is about a temporary petty tyrant at the monastery, and his corresponding inept substitute in the sheriff's office. And you need a backstory. In this case, the new widow is the detective's lost fiancé from the past.

Its all so mechanical, almost cathecatical. This episode was a waste and the whole series looks bankrupt.

Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.