The Holy Thief (23 Jun. 1998)
"Cadfael" The Holy Thief (original title)

Ramsey Abbey in Cambridgeshire puts in a claim for the remains of St. Winifred, whose reliquary is the object of prayer and lucrative donations to Shrewsbury Abbey.

Director:

Ken Grieve

Writers:

Ben Rostul (screenplay), Edith Pargeter (based upon: The Holy Thief)

Stars:

Derek Jacobi, Terrence Hardiman, Michael Culver

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Derek Jacobi	...	Brother Cadfael
Terrence Hardiman	...	Abbot Radulfus
Michael Culver	...	Prior Robert
Julian Firth	...	Brother Jerome
Anthony Green	...	Hugh Beringar
George Irving	...	Herluin
Richard Lintern	...	Lord Beaumont
Benedict Sandiford	...	Tutilo
Louise Delamere	...	Daalny
Frank Baker	...	Remy
Natasha Pyne	...	Lady Donata
Neil Caple	...	Alfred
Jonathan Tafler	...	Money Lender

Storyline

Prior Herluin arrives in Shrewsbury demanding that Prior Radulhus hand over the reliquary containing the bones of the holy virgin St. Winifred. Pilgrims to Shrewsbury have always been generous to the Abbey because of the Holy relic and its loss may result in an economic downturn for the Benedictines. Hurliun bases his claim on the reported visions of his novice monk Tutilo and the burning of his abbey in the current civil war. When a dying wealthy old woman takes a liking to the handsome Tutilo and doubts his vocation, she bequeaths a priceless jeweled necklace to him. It is soon obvious that the necklace is more than enough to rebuild the abbey, Winifred's bones now seem safe at Shrewsbury, but the theft of the gems and a resultant murder throw the issue in doubt again. Among the red herrings facing Cadfael are a minstrel, his slave - a beautiful singer, an arrogant nobleman, and Tutilo himself.

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Plot Keywords:

abbey | prior | pilgrim | minstrel | murder | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 June 1998 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carlton Productions, WGBH Boston, Carlton UK Productions

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Lady Donata Blount: [Smelling Cadfael's medicine] Ooh... snails again!
Brother Cadfael: It'll help with the pain.

User Reviews

it warms up, but not the best episode

It starts slow, with a bit about the civil war (Empress Matilda versus Stephen) and a determined Prior. The area is in danger of flooding, the roof abbey roof is leaking. Then we get to the murder. Also a singing slave girl is stolen and nearly killed, her owner also sings as part of their act. The remains of a saint that brings pilgrims to the Abbey are also taken, as are jewels given by a dying patroness to rebuild a distant Abbey. There is a trial by water where the innocent sink, the guilty float and get their hand chopped off if they are liars, hung if murderers. Then a trial to see who gets to keep the saints remains by opening the bible at random and reading the passage and judging its relevance. Cadfael does the business as usual, solving mysteries with medieval forensic science and psychology. Its lots of fun.