Mystery!: Cadfael (TV Series) One Corpse Too Many (1994) User Reviews

An intriguing, intelligent mystery.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 24 January 2020]

I'm watching The Cadfael series for the very first time, it's never appealed to me, but I was wrong, if this first episode is anything to go by, it's going to be a very good watch.

It's a clever mystery, the description of needle in a haystack fits perfectly, why on Earth would someone look for a murder victim during a time of battle? Cadfael is clearly a man of great intuition and intelligence.

Terrific production values, amazing sets, clearly the pudding basin has done the rounds with the haircuts.

I loved Maggie O'Neill is excellent as Aline, her costumes, and many others are fantastic. Jacobi is terrific as expected, but it is the performance of Sean Pertwee that I enjoyed most of all.

It's not a casual watch, you need to commit to it, or you may lose it. Ultimately it's a rewarding watch. 8/10

A bit cerebral but worth your time.

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 31 October 2013]

My uncle was recently talking about how much he enjoyed the Cadfael films. Well, other than knowing that Derek Jacobi starred in the shows, I know nothing about them and decided to give them a try. And, logically the first, "One Corpse Too Many", seems like a good place to start.

The show begins with some usurper, Stephen, seizing the crown. However, a castle refuses to submit to his rule and they send a couple squires out to find the Empress in order to bring her treasure to finance a new army. But, the garrison falls and Stephen has the folks in the garrison put to death. When the bodies are ready for burial, Cadfael is given the task of arranging for this. But, he notices there is one extra body. And, when he examines the dead carefully, he notices one was NOT hung like the rest but was murdered. So, he decides to investigate.

While I do think that "One Corpse Too Many" was a quality production, I doubt that it really is something that would appeal to everyone. While the acting is very good, the plot involving and the finale rousing, most people probably have little interest in the Middle Ages and might find the film a bit too cerebral. This is NOT a complaint--just an observation about the audience for the film. I liked it but I did think the whole girl dressing like a boy angle was ridiculous--as I knew immediately (and you will too) that it was a she.

The son of Doctor Who rules!

[janeofthewakinguniverse · 29 June 2007]

I just wanted to say that I think Sean Pertwee, son of the late Jon Pertwee who played the third Doctor, is absolutely the best as Sheriff Hugh Beringar. He matches the description given in Ellis Peters' wonderful books to a tee and I simply adore his voice. :-) I did not care for the ginger-haired man who took over the role in the second season at all. In fact, it really ruined my enjoyment of the show after that. However, Derek Jacobi is awesome (as per usual) as Brother Cadfael, the former Crusader turned monk and worth the price of admission alone. The supporting cast is also excellent with another of my longtime faves Michael Culver (Capt. Needa of "Star Wars" fame) playing the part of the nasty Prior Robert.

"We deal with what is"

[Bernie4444 · 10/10 · 15 October 2023]

As complex as any of the Cadfael series, this one tells the story of how Master Hugh Beringar becomes sheriff. Also, as Cadfael states, "By my reckoning, there is one corps too many."

During the time of the civil war between King Stephen and Empress Maud, the abbey takes a neutral stance. However, Brother Cadfael has been given a new assistant. The young lad is anything but as he is a she. Naturally, Cadfael being a man of the world detects this and must find out why she is hiding.

Meanwhile back to the war, Shrewsbury Castle is under siege by Stephens's men for being a Maud holdout. When Stephen finally gets to the castle, he orders the rebel soldiers executed. Cadfael is preparing them for a Christian burial when he counts 95. It is trivial to the king, but Cadfael presses that it would not bode well for a king to dismiss a murder under his very nose. It looks like it may have been the work of Hugh Beringar, a man who has appeared to have conveniently changed sides in the war. King Stephen is not unaware of this.

This time will be Cadfael's tuition, forensics, and logic. Prove the case?

Is Hue a villain or will he turn out to be a friend?

One Corpse Too Many

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 4 February 2020]

I once read an Ellis Peters non Cadfael mystery. I actually found it enjoyable and she also managed to add something about Czechoslovakia, a country she had a great interest in

I watched 'One Corpse Too Many' when it was originally broadcast on ITV. I noted the relationship between Cadfael and Hugh Beringar (Sean Pertwee) were an highlight.

This was the launch episode of the series. It is set in a time of anarchy. England is in a civil war with rival factions. King Stephen's army has overtaken rebels loyal to Empress Maud.

The king has ruthlessly ordered for 94 rebel soldiers to be hanged. Cadfael and his monks have the bleak task of getting the bodies ready for a Christian burial. Cadfael finds one extra body and he was not hanged.

Cadfael is determined to investigate further. He knows this corpse was placed there deliberately hoping no one would notice. Cadfael also has a young boy Godric bought into help him but he turns out to be a girl. He also has a newcomer, Hugh Beringar following him around and asking a lot of questions.

Derek Jacobi establishes Cadfael as a rebel himself. A warrior turned monk and herbalist. He is wise, cunning and knowledgeable of the ways of the world. More than some of the other monks who know little of the outside world.

The series was shot in Budapest standing in for Shrewsbury. I think that worked very well. What worked less well was Godric, she looked too obviously a girl. The mystery was good but not great. There were several suspects with the motive of the murder being treasure.

Pertwee as Beringar

[spottedbackson · 22 August 2007]

Sean Pertwee was a good Hugh Beringar, but he doesn't look anything thing like the book character. The book Hugh Beringar is small and dark, not tall and blond. Even so, it's too bad he could play the role for one the one season. I would have liked to see him in all of the episodes. The rest of the casting was marvelous. Sir Derek Jacobi is perfect as Cadfael. It's a shame they had to tinker with the story and change so many things. I really missed the romance between Hugh and Aline. I also missed the beggar that provided Cadfael with crucial clues to discover the murderer. Why did they have to change him to a soldier?

Mass, not Vespers

[tedg · 26 July 2008]

I watched the first four episodes of the first season in reverse order, taking this one last. As the first in the series, I should have done it first. Clearly four times the effort went into it and it has twice the runtime. This allows them to follow something of the structure of the better written versions. In that form, one discovery leads to another and another. It isn't a matter of one mystery and a side story as we have in the following episodes (and 99% of all TeeVee).

So I think I will recommend this. Its still pretty thin on the detective side, but good enough to give an excuse for the costumes and slightly different culture. The gimmick is to provide some historical context. Mainstream TeeVee mystery has evolved in a manner that does not allow the primary mechanism of the detective novel — where you try and outwit the writer. Instead, our minds have to be captured other ways, more simple because the attention has to span those cursed commercials.

The girls in their costumers are lovely.

Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching.