Judge Dee and the Monastery Murders (1974 TV Movie) User Reviews

Very pleasant period-piece mystery

[pro_crustes · 8/10 · 9 June 2003]

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.

China's Nero Wolfe; Baffling Murder; Stylish TV Color Mystery

[silverscreen888 · 8/10 · 3 July 2005]

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.

Watchable but flawed

[runar-4 · 7/10 · 9 June 2006]

Not only have I read all 16 of van Gulik's Judge Dee books, but also his translation of "Dee Goong An", which was the Chinese literary source for the Judge, and also a number of van Gulik's other works and source materials (including a very tedious novel in a contemporary setting). Khigh Dhiegh made an acceptable Judge, but I felt that Mako as Tao Gan was a bad piece of casting - he played the character as too fawning and not quite clever enough. Motai (Mo Mo-te in the book) was a bit overplayed. Probably the best bit of casting was Keye Luke as the arrogant Sun Ming.

On the other hand, it was refreshing to see and not a complete disappointment. I have a fairly decent tape I made from a rebroadcast of the movie in the mid-'80s with fairly good picture and sound quality.

The A&E Nero Wolfe series set a gold standard for faithfulness to sources that the '70s just weren't up to. I can only hope that someone will turn up to be for Robert H. van Gulik what Timothy Hutton was to Rex Stout.

Wonderful to relive Van Gulik's creation in reel life

[chandrabhargava · 2 November 2011]

Watching this movie with my family was pure enjoyment. The movie does full justice to van Gulik's masterful creation: fidelity to the original story, good casting, perfect dialog, taut pacing, authentic atmosphere, etc.

Lord Sun Ming was particularly interesting: flawless acting and an arrogance to match his reputed past power. Judge Dee has a voice so like David Jason of Inspector Frost fame that at times, I thought I was listening to Jason!

It was sheer enjoyment by immersion into another world. Urbane, entertaining, cerebral, and riveting.

Modestly enjoyable...but sure an unusual made for TV film.

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 23 March 2017]

In the 1960s and 70s, actor Khigh Dhiegh repeatedly guest starred as the evil Red Chinese agent, Wo Fat. Here, Dhiegh stars in a film about ancient China. While he was quite good and looked right to be playing a Chinese detective, Dhiegh is actually NOT Asian at all!! As for the rest of the cast, they are a variety of Asian-Americans of Chinese, Japanese and Korean heritage.

The fact that there was ever a made for TV movie based on the world's first detective story is unusual because so often films are based on western stories....and this one is from 7th century China. It's the story of a Chinese judge who must unravel a murder and find a missing woman...and as the story progresses, bodies keep piling up! The story is interesting and enjoyable...especially the ending that involves a bear!

This is an enjoyable film and the only real deficit is that it's a bit talky and occasionally slow. Still, worth seeing and available on YouTube.

Chinese Murder and Mayhem

[The_Rook · 10/10 · 16 December 2002]

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!

Avid Judge Dee Reader, Loved this Movie

[jknoppow-1 · 10/10 · 8 March 2006]

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.

An Excellent Movie and should be on DVD

[Spiritptc · 10/10 · 5 January 2007]

Dear All, This is an excellent movie that was part of an excellent series of books before that.

I hope it will be on DVD at some point, as I would like to own it. I always look for it on TV and never see it any more.

It has an excellent cast. One of the best Oriental casts I have seen for any movie. They all play there roles well, and are believable.

The plot is very interesting. With all the CSI stuff, isn't it nice to see how they may have done it with out equipment, beyond a brain.

Also I love the monastery spookiness, atmosphere. It is a wonderful period piece as well.

Bill

Faithful adaptation

[boohoolu-237-500082 · 10/10 · 27 January 2023]

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.

Bad adaptation of an excellent novel

[writtenbymac-1 · 3/10 · 20 February 2005]

Your reaction to this movie will probably depend on how many Judge Dee novels you've read, and whether you really liked them or not. I've read every single one of them, several times each, and love them. This TV movie does them no justice at all. In the movie, Judge Dee doesn't look or act like Judge Dee. His lieutenant, Tao Gan, doesn't look or act like Tao Gan. The movie is slow and plodding, the acting is mundane, the pace is tedious; the actors speak about one word a minute, maybe to give the illusion of a foreign language. I got none of the flavor of ancient China which is so delightful in the novels. The movie's Judge Dee comes across as a fat, bald, slow-moving, slow-thinking guy -- in the novels he's big, tough, an accomplished boxer, and extremely smart and perceptive. That said, the actual plot of the movie is mostly true to the novel. But it could have been so much better. If you liked this movie even a tiny bit, do yourself a favor and read one of the wonderful Judge Dee novels by Robert van Gulik.