Saturdays, Jan. 11 - Feb. 22 & March 29 - April 12, 2014 at 8 p.m. on KPBS TV
Based on the short stories by G. K. Chesterton, FATHER BROWN follows the kindly cleric as he solves crimes in his community. It is a quintessentially English world: drawing rooms in large country houses, miles of countryside, village halls and secret gardens, as well as country fairs, railway stations and rural parish churches.
Each episode sees the enigmatic priest investigate a crime in his own particular way, using intuition and psychology. Father Brown discovers the truth of a crime by looking into the truth of the soul – the passions, dark secrets, hidden desires.
Many years spent hearing his parishioners’ confessions have given him an uncanny insight into the origins of evil and the workings of the criminal mind. But the stories are not concerned with judgement – Father Brown is more interested in saving souls than in bringing the guilty to justice.
Full of humor and compassion, but with a big dramatic twist each time, this series remains true to the period charm of the original character and setting while bringing a sharp contemporary edge to the storytelling.
EPISODE GUIDE:
Episode 1: "The Hammer of God" airs Saturday, January 11, 2014 at 8 p.m. - When an ungodly man is killed with a hammer, Father Brown must find a killer before an innocent woman is sent to the gallows.
Episode 2: "The Flying Stars" airs Saturday, January 18, 2014 at 8 p.m. - The Flying Stars are a valuable necklace belonging to the theatrical Adams family someone is prepared to murder for.
Episode 3: "The Wrong Shape" airs Saturday, January 25, 2014 at 8 p.m. - Foretold of his death by his Indian manservant, Leonard Quinton asks Father Brown to look after his estranged wife after his death. Suspected murder and a tragic tale of a baby of the wrong shape unfolds.
Episode 4: "The Man In The Tree" airs Saturday, February 1, 2014 at 8 p.m. - A man stripped and pushed from a train on a viaduct is found by Lady Felicia injured and stuck up a tree. Father Brown meets a visiting German priest, arousing hostility amongst the villagers with recent war memories. Father Brown sees, not the law, but justice is done.
Episode 5: "The Eye Of Apollo" airs Saturday, February 8, 2014 at 8 p.m. - The Church of Apollo comes to Kembleford and Susie falls under the spell of their charismatic leader, Kalon. Jealousy among the followers leads to the murder, in a locked room, of Kalon's wife. Father Brown must solve the murder and break Kalon's spell over Susie before she leaves with him following baptism into his church.
Episode 6: "The Bride Of Christ" airs Saturday, February 15, 2014 at 8 p.m. - Two nuns die of cyanide poisoning, the first in front of Father Brown and the second while Inspector Valentine is investigating the first death. Ill feeling between the nuns, and the bottles of cyanide held at the convent, lead to many a suspect. Sister Boniface, a fan of Agatha Christie, lends a helping hand to Father Brown.
Episode 7: "The Devil's Dust" airs Saturday, February 22, 2014 at 8 p.m. - In this episode, 14-year-old Ruth Bennett goes missing. Ostracized by the village because of a skin complaint the villagers believe is caused by radiation at her father's place of work. When her blood-stained pajamas are found, suspects include Ruth's family doctor she had a crush on, her mother who had hit her and a plumber with a similar skin complaint dying of cancer.
Episode 8: "The Face Of Death" airs Saturday, March 29, 2014 at 8 p.m. - After a murder at the Kembleford charity treasure hunt, general suspicion falls upon a bereaved man who wants revenge. However Father Brown is determined to prove that he's innocent.
Episode 9: "The Mayor And The Magician" airs Saturday, April 5, 2014 at 8 p.m. - When the Mayor drops dead during his speech at the Kembleford village fete, Father Brown deduces that he was deliberately electrocuted. Meanwhile Mrs McCarthy's past comes back to haunt her.
Episode 10: "The Blue Cross" airs Saturday, April 12, 2014 at 8 p.m. - When his priceless Blue Cross is targeted by the infamous criminal Flambeau, Father Brown takes the initiative to try and save his soul. But is he walking into a trap?
Episode previews are available for online viewing.
A BBC production
