Acorn Media's two-disc set, Father Brown: Set 1, features the 1974 ATV series adaptations of the famous G. K. Chesterton detective, Father Brown. Starring Kenneth More as the taciturn, watchful, crime-solving Catholic priest, Father Brown: Set 1 is a solid offering of British mysteries, as well as an entertaining look back at 1970s British TV.

Chesterton, the early 20th century British poet, biographer, mystery writer, fantasist, literary critic, lecturer (and numerous other labels) has always intrigued me. I would imagine that his Father Brown stories are still widely read, but he had an incredibly prodigious and varied output of literary work. The contemporary of Shaw, Russell, and Wells, Chesterton's personal beliefs in the spiritual world and the hereafter took him on a journey that was unusual for a man of letters at the time: he went from a life of secular concerns to a more spiritual, more orthodox one, until he rejected the Church of England (to which he had been a casual supporter) to convert to Catholicism. But his wasn't a rigid faith that relegated science and the arts to subservient roles in a spiritual life. And through the character of Father Brown, Chesterton was able to give his readers a glimpse into his own methodology into reconciling faith and the material world.

What's fascinating about the Father Brown short stories is that Brown, a devoutly religious priest, doesn't shy away from the evil that men do. In fact, he feels that since he's intimately connected with sin on a daily basis (through the confessional), he's uniquely qualified to not only comment on it, but to put himself in the shoes, so to speak, of the sinner. And that's often how Father Brown solves his cases. Working like a modern day psychological profiler, Father Brown is able to think out the crimes as a murderer would, because Father Brown has deep knowledge of evil. Of course, this fascinating duality of his character never manifests itself in any untoward action by Father Brown, but that edge is always lurking between Chesterton's lines, giving the Father Brown stories a surprisingly modern slant.

Unfortunately, that kind of interior philosophizing is difficult at best to translate into cinematic terms, so with the Father Brown: Set 1 stories, we have less of Father Brown's internal convolutions, and more plot mechanics and pithy, sharp dialogue. Moving quickly, the Father Brown: Set 1 stories jump right into the mystery plots with little set-up (Father Brown is often "just there" at the scene), and proceed to cram as much of the short story plots as possible into the spare 51 minute episodes. Father Brown, engagingly brought to life by Kenneth More, functions rather like a "Catholic Columbo" here; the crime solver appears inconsequential to the police, victims and the criminal, but manages to surprise everyone by solving the crime, all the while throwing out very funny rejoinders to the faithless.

Father Brown: Set 1 is very much of its time, so if you're expecting the slick, overproduced kind of mysteries you may see from the BBC today, forget it. This is vintage early 1970s British TV, and as such, is fairly creaky by today's standards. Probably most distracting for modern viewers was the British TV production reliance on shooting video for interiors, and 16mm film for exterior shots. The change in film image takes some getting used to for the uninitiated (most people have seen a Monty Python show, so you should know what I'm talking about), but for me, it's a welcome return back to early days, sitting at home on a rainy Sunday afternoon, watching whatever British shows that popped up on our local PBS station. Owing to the smaller budgets that were employed on British TV shows, some of Father Brown: Set 1 stories can seem on the chintzy side, as well. Sets can be austere, lighting overgenerous or undernourished from scene to scene, editing a little rough, as well as some almost-missed camera cues and some dodgy blocking. But that does, at least for me, add to the nostalgic charm of the Father Brown: Set 1 stories. As with most fans of British mysteries, these idiosyncracies of British TV production only increase our fondness for their unique stylistic look.

DISC ONE:

The Hammer of God
Colonel Bohun fancies himself a feudal lord, regularly exercising his right to bed his subjects' wives. But the brutal manner of his murder seems to eliminate all likely suspects -- until Father Brown looks to the heavens.

The Oracle of the Dog
When Colonel Druce decides to change his will, a lot of people begin to worry and someone decides to kill him. A guest in the house at the time, Father Brown gets an assist from the family dog in identifying the murderer.

The Curse of the Golden Cross
When an eminent archaeologist's life is threatened, is it a murder plot or the past catching up? Father Brown uses his knowledge of mediaeval history to unravel the mystery.

The Eye of Apollo
Pauline Stacey, co-founder of a secretarial agency one floor above Flambeau's offices, suffers "spiritual sunstroke" under the influence of Kalon, the leader of a pagan cult -- arousing the suspicions of Father Brown.

DISC TWO:

The Three Tools of Death
A renowned philanthropist is murdered but, curiously, not with any of the three weapons at hand. When his daughter's fiancé confesses to the crime, Father Brown must divine whether this is the truth.

The Mirror of the Magistrate
After making big news by exposing German spies in London, Sir Humphrey Gwynne winds up shot in his garden. Although evidence points to a writer and Irish patriot with apparent ties to Germany, Father Brown aims to exonerate him.

The Dagger with Wings
The strange deaths of a father and his sons bring Father Brown face to face with a spiritual as well as criminal foe: a Satanist who has sown the seeds of fear in the troubled family.

The DVD:

The Video:
The full screen video image for Father Brown: Set 1 is a little rough, with colors that can wash out at times, along with numerous scratches and dirt specks. But this is from the original source elements, which, on the DVD box, Acorn Media acknowledges they could not correct.

The Audio:
The Dolby Digital mono soundtrack accurately reflects the original TV presentation, and is entirely suitable for this kind of film. However, the programs are not close-captioned, which can be an enormous aid for not only hearing impaired viewers obviously, but also anyone who may have trouble with some of the thick English accents.

The Extras:
There are text biographies on G. K. Chesterton and selected members of the cast.

Final Thoughts:
If you're a fan of British mystery programmes, then the Father Brown: Set 1 stories are just for you. Fast-moving, well-written, professionally acted, and distinctly "British" in tone, the Father Brown: Set 1 are a perfect accompaniment for an afternoon in your comfy chair, with tea, scones, and murder on the telly.