Judge Dee and the Monastery Murders

Another person here said that, having read all of the Dee mysteries, he thought this was a bad adaptation.

I very strongly disagree. I have also read them all, and love them all. The film is different because it is a film. But the warmth, the humor, and the clever detecting is the same. I give the books a 10 and I give this film a 10.

This film bears the same resemblance to it's originating books as the Charley Chan film series did to Earl Derr Biggers novels. It's nearly if not actually impossible to get everything into a movie that is in a novel, and when it's a series of novels and short stories, as here, one gets a collective sense of the central characters that no single film can possibly produce. It is true that Judge Dee written doesn't match Judge Dee filmed entirely, but then, neither did Charley Chan. The only thing I ask of a film is that it be well done, and either or both informative or entertaining.

I think this film more than satisfies on all counts.

This is an excellent movie. I only wish they had done a series of these and that they were available on DVD. If you like murder mysteries, the BBC Mystery Theater, or especially movies like "The Name of the Rose", you will enjoy this movie. This takes place in China and the cast, sets, music, and story are all first rate. A Chinese Judge must solve a murder mystery at a Monastery. Cast includes Khigh Dhiegh and Mako. Don't miss this one!

Unbelievably faithful adaption of the. Robert van Gulik novel- something as rare in the seventies as it is today. Many of the lines of dialogue taken directly from the novel. The tone and the pacing completely authentic, and Khigh Dhiegh, playing Judge Dee, exactly mimics the exacting nature that character exhibits in the novels, down to side glances and puzzled looks, which often led to eventual brilliant insights into crimes. It would be nice to have been a fly on the wall during production meetings , because there was definitely someone in control who was a real enthusiast of the Dee books. Even with the patchy quality of the video it was a pleasure watching.

All the signs were there that this would have been a series, and I am sure I would have watched and enjoyed it, just as I watched and enjoyed the "Ellery Queen" series of about the same vintage, and the later (and better) "Nero Wolfe" on A&E. This one shares their format of an interesting setting used to lay out the facts of a classical-style mystery story, and you get the chance to solve it yourself. But, for some sad reason, even though mysteries are an enduringly popular genre in print, this type of TV just never quite catches on.

The decision to set the story in old China was clever, but maybe the audience in 1974 expected a kung fu movie (which, much as I like that genre too, I was glad to see they had the courage to almost completely set aside in favor of another type of story). No idea where you might get to see this one today, but if it shows up on late-night TV, set your VCR.

There have been a number of fine films made for television over the decades since public-network TV was rushed into being. "Judge Dee and the Monastery Murders" is one of them, on just about every count. It has that rare quality, style, a literate script by Nicholas Meyer, based on Robert Van Gulik's novel, and interesting performances, lighting and sound. Leonard Rosenman supplied above-average music; and director Jeremy Kagan kept the action going non- stop even though the structure of the investigational mystery required him to deal with many scenes of questioning, discovery and reaction. The story takes place in the 7th Century. On his way to a provincial capital, Judge Dee and his three wives are forced by a heavy rainstorm to ask for shelter at a rural Taoist monastery. The Judge, China's greatest detective, discovers that the late abbot of the institution, very recently deceased, had been murdered, that he had not died of natural causes. The monastery is host to a group of guests of various sorts, as was usual in those days; and many secrets, lies, evasions and suspicions have to be dealt with before the Judge solves not only one murder but several more attempts and deaths. This rare and intelligent production starred Khigh Dhiegh as the Judge, Mako as Tao Gan, his assistant, Miiko Taka as his First Wife, Keye Luke as Lord Sun Ming, and such luminaries of the Oriental acting fraternity as Irene Tsu, Soon-tek Oh, Frances Fong, James Hong, Beverky Kushida, Yuki Shimoda and others appearing in the talented cast. Do not miss a chance to see Judge Dee at work in this popular classic; the East's Nero Wolfe is as fascinating as Charlie Chan and as cool as Inspector Morse. It is to be regretted that no other films about this fabulous character of Van Gulik's have been made to date. This example of the Judge's work was extremely well- done for a television achievement. Jan Scott's production design and the acting alone rendered it worth worth seeking, and viewing more than once.