Monday, September 3, 2012

Father Brown hits the BBC - again

Chesterton
G.K. Chesterton is most likely my overall favorite author. Yes, I love Tolkien, and I'm sorry, but he only wrote epic fantasy, he didn't also write amazing stuff on theology, politics, apologetics, travel, cheese, humor and detective fiction. Chesterton wrote about everything. And not only that, but he wrote about everything well. He was charming, funny, and brilliantly clear. He, like C.S. Lewis (who, like Tolkien and Gandhi, was a Chesterton fan), was extremely smart, but so down-to-Earth that anybody can understand what he wrote.

So now, that's my little ode to Chesterton. I could really go on, but if I did, I probably wouldn't stop.

Hearing that his detective, Father Brown, will once again be brought to life on the screen ought to have me dancing in the streets (though I'd have to run half a mile to find one). All the same, I'm rather worried. I'm an enormous fan of the sleuth, but I have a hard time seeing him portrayed in a way that is more interesting than the books.
Kenneth More as Father Brown

I've watched a few of the Kenneth More episodes and found them rather boring (Alec Guinness - yes, he who, to his chagrin, would always be known as Obi-Wan - was slightly more interesting). However, I must say, seeing that there will be some regulars on the show (to serve the purpose of a Watson or a Hastings) predicts a more entertaining run. Also, Hugo Speer will be one of them, and he was wonderful in Bleak House. It would be very cool if they were set in the modern day - and I really hope they're true to their very religious themes. Chesterton used Father Brown all the time to showcase his love for paradox and the beauty of God's creation. We can only hope the BBC does the same.

Another mystery show to add to the 2013 list - along with Poirot, Foyle's War, and Sherlock.

Tip of the day: NEVER phone the detective to provide vital evidence in an empty room with your back to the door and no gun.

Longish
Neo-Mayberry, Middle of Nowhere, America

2 comments:

  1. I didn't know they were going to start up the Father Brown show again. I loved that series! Of course, I've never read Father Brown because my library doesn't have them so I can't compare the series to the books. :(
    I hope they keep the new Father Brown the same way Kenneth More was.
    By the way, I've found a book of Lord Peter Wimsey. I have yet to read it, but I'm sure its going to be an excellent read.

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    Replies
    1. I'll have to watch a few more of the Father Brown episodes...maybe it's just that I already knew whodunnit every time, but they didn't manage to capture my interest.

      Dorothy Sayers was awfully good, but fond of some rather heavy prose, especially in the later books. Whose Body? was easy to read, as was Clouds of Witness, to a lesser extent, but after, perhaps Murder Must Advertise (one of my personal favorites), they required a great deal of concentration. However, Lord Peter is hilarious - Peter and his man, Bunter, are like what would happen if Wooster and Jeeves took to crime-solving.

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