Cadfael: The Complete Collection

Now that all 13 episodes of (Sir) Derek Jacobi's landmark mystery series "Cadfael" are now available in a single package, it's time to give this treasure a good look. The bound-leather look of the collection is nice, even if it's obviously not mediaeval. It has convenient double trays and a clever faux clasp to hold it shut."Cadfael" is based on the novels of Ellis Peters (pen name of Edith Pargeter). It's set in 1138-1144/5, during the spotty reign of Stephen of Blois - King of England 1135-1154 - and his civil war with his cousin "Empress" Maud (or Matilda). Stephen's claim to the throne was less compelling than that of Matilda (or Maud), as he was the son of William I's daughter Adela and had already sworn to support his cousin's claim. Maud's (or Matilda's) claim was better, since she was the daughter of William II. Her title "Empress" was only a courtesy because, although she had been wife to Holy Roman Emperor Henry V, she had never been crowned. Despite his oath Stephen quickly appeared to claim the throne when William II died. Matilda (or Maud) came to England in 1138 and a bitter civil war ensued. "Cadfael" begins in 1138, when Stephen seems to be gaining the upper hand. He has just captured the Shropshire area, subsequently executing a large number of his enemies - thus effecting the taming of Shrewsbury.I expect some really sincere groans after that....Brother Cadfael is the herbalist and, in consequence, as close to a doctor as Shrewsbury Abbey is likely to get. His medical practices are fairly advanced for the time - but then, any genuinely medical practices would be. Cadfael has come late to his monkish vocation, having spent 3 or 4 decades in Palestine on Crusade. He has an interesting past ... many details of which we learn as the series progresses. Learned for his time, and being clever and inquisitive, Cadfael's avocation is solving murder mysteries. Derek Jacobi invests the character with enormous humanity and compassion in brilliant and nuanced performances.In fact, "Cadfael" is an ensemble of excellent performances. Not least of these is the performance of the technical staff in reproducing the squalor and degradation of living in 12th-Century England. At the height of the Little Ice Age, England was a less pleasant and productive land than it is now - a situation exacerbated by the collapse of Romano-British civilization, the deep-rootedness of Christian superstition, and the triumph of Norman greed. Interestingly, this period is equally well portrayed in a comedy, the hilarious Brit series "Dark Ages".The mysteries that involve Cadfael are complex and interesting, lasting about 1 hour 15 minutes each. His task is made more difficult by the rampant sophomoric thinking of the times and the numerous uptight personalities who think they're better than anyone else.Speaking of personalities ... this series is full of them, all highly interesting and individualized, portrayed by accomplished actors. While the murders pose interesting puzzles - especially in the absence of modern forensics - it's the interactions of the characters that really make the stories. (As to forensics, Cadfael is surprisingly thorough and almost scientific. This is almost a century before the prime of Roger Bacon, an era of the triumph of religion and therefore the abasement of empiricism - and yet, here is Cadfael.)Most of the main characters are involved in the abbey. This is, initially, headed by Abbot Heribert (oddly [for the time] spelt "Herribert"). He is played with gentle gravitas by Peter Copley. By decision of a church council, Heribert is quickly replaced by, Radulphis, played with assertive gravitas by Terrence Hardiman. Whilst Heribert tended to give Cadfael his head, Radulphus began his tenure as more skeptical of Cadfael's abilities. However, he quickly came to depend on Cadfael in difficult situations involving murder.Cadfael's nemesis in most circumstances is Brother Robert, the abbey Prior, played with stuffy all-purpose disapproval by Michael Culver. In his grouchy skepticism, he's seconded by busybody Brother Jerome, played with prissy toadiness by Julian Firth. It's not always clear what this pair is up to, but they're always up to it together. Cadfael is assisted by young Brother Oswin, played with earnest immaturity by Mark Charnock. His clumsiness is a running joke for a time, but this is later wisely abandoned.Cadfael's main ally is the Under Sheriff, Hugh Beringar - originally a partisan of Matilda (or Maud) who ultimately swore loyalty to Stephen and was raised to his current post. He is played very authoritatively by Sean Pertwee - easily the best bit of eye candy in the series. Alas, Beringar is played by 3 actors. Pertwee has the rôle during Season 1, Eoin McCarthy in Seasons 2-3, and Anthony Green in Season 4. The latter two do well, but the viewer misses Pertwee's affable authority. Beringar is assisted by a Sergeant, Will Warden, a hulking berserker sort, prone to arrest first and ask no questions after, played with appropriate menace by Albie Woodington. He doesn't appear in the last season, alas."Sheriff", by the way, should more properly be spelt "sherrif". The Old English is scir gerefa, later rendered as "shir[e] reeve" once the "ge" syllable had been lost (nasty Teutonic thing). Conflating into a single word, we should have been left with a double R (and a single F). Such are the vagaries of English. Ask me about the abomination "dwarfs" some time.The generally top-notch actors give real life to some top-notch stories. But these are, of course, British films. It's amazing that this country, with a fine and sophisticated mystery tradition of its own, has produced little to rival the great British mystery series. The viewer should of course be aware that (as usual) the original novels have been tampered with whilst bringing them to the screen. Some of this tampering seems excessive and unnecessary and one would think that the Brits would give us greater fidelity to the originals than the tamper maniacs in Hollywood. Be that as it may, "Cafael" is one of those great series and this set is the most convenient and most economical way to get it.

This was used set,but was in excellent condition.

Very Good series from the UK. Good to sit back in the winter and watch.

Interesting characters and story lines. Very enjoyable.

I bought this series for my wife as a gift at a very good price. She is a huge Cadfael fan and I must admit that I am, too after she dragged me kicking and screaming into watching one of them with her. We had been streaming some of them over Netflixs, and I noticed another reviewer talking about the DVD transfer - to me, the DVD's are far and away superior to streaming them over Netflixs. And it is TV, after all. The purchase arrived promptly and in good order.Like most of the reviewers, I agree that the episodes with the actor who played the first Hugh Beringer are better as far as that character goes, although Derek Jacobi never disappoints. I also agree with the reviewers who liked the earlier episodes better in general. They were more like Agatha Christie, and as time went on they became less detailed and more artsy. It (almost) makes me want to buy the books, although I have little time for recreational reading.Having spent some time around clergy in an orthodox church I can tell you that secular priests have as many different kinds of personalities as the monks in Cadfael, but the parts I liked best about these stories is the references to things like "Lauds" and "Compline", which, if you know when they were historically recited, add a great deal to the stories. Also, the altar settings appear to be accurate for both the hourly offices and things like funeral scenes. I was, however, amused at Cadfael's workbench, which appears to be a 19th century woodworker's bench.My wife is quite an Anglophile and was very interested in how the civil war affected the lives of the population at the time.In any case, it's great entertainment and you will find reasons to watch them again and again, just in case you missed something.

For older person who loves thinking man's mysteries. Was a great series was so glad that I could share with this older relative.

I loved Ellis Peters' Cadfael book series and read them all. When I originally saw this tv series, although I didn't think it was perfectly done, my image of Cadfael was altered forever --- he became a less battered, more handsome --- he became the Derek Jacobi version, and that was just fine. Re-watching now with this DVD collection, I have to admit that the stories often have a certain clumsiness in this telling. (I went back and read part of one of the books, and the grace and subtle beauty of Ellis Peters' writing just isn't matched; this is just utilitarian, get-the-story-done). Still, it is Cadfael, and especially in these trying times of pandemic, I find it involving and strangely comforting to go to another time --- civil war and all --- where there is at least one deeply good man doing his best.

This is one of the best books to film series ever made. A truly marvelous adaption of Ellis Peter's medieval murder mystery series. The casting in this series could not be better. Derek Jacobi *IS* Brother Cadfael. Whatever you imagined the characters looking like when you read the books, these actors faces instantly replace what you have pictured. Jacobi is outstanding as the Crusader turned Monk, herbalist and master sleuth. He is perfect in this role. One can only wish that the BBC had made all 21 (?) of the books in this excellent series. Wonderfully filmed, it gives a great picture of medieval life as it follows Brother Cadfael through his double duties to God as a monk and to man as a detective. The scenery is amazing, you feel as if you've gone back in time. It is so good I wish there was a BluRay version of it as I'd gladly spend the extra for it. If you enjoyed the books, this series makes them come to life. Regardless if you've read the books or not, this series stands on its own as a great mystery series. Give it a go, you won't be disappointed.

Ottimo

Serie ben costruita, non banale, con ottimi interpreti.

E' un telefilm molto bello. Mi piace per l'attenzione nei particolari dell'epoca e la recitazione di Jacobi è perfetta. L'ho già conigliato a due amiche che amano come me questo genere perché è imperdibile.

Qualità video e audio ottima. Mi spiace solo che non vi siano altre lingue disponibili oltre all'inglese, dal momento che uso i film per tenermi in esercizio. Non essendo specificato nella descrizione ho comprato a scatola chiusa, sperando di trovare una seconda lingua tra quelle che conosco... è andata male.

SERIE TRATTA DAI ROMANZI DI ELLIS PETERS.OTTIMA PER IMPARARE L'INGLESE.PACCO ARRIVATO PRIMA DEL PREVISTO