Tonight's Movie: Father Brown, Detective (1934) - A Kino Lorber Blu-ray Review

FATHER BROWN, DETECTIVE (1934) is one of the newest Blu-ray releases from Kino Lorber -- so new that it's not quite out yet!

It will be released on September 16th, 2025.

This is an engaging short mystery romance which I believe many classic film fans will enjoy, as I definitely did.

It's interesting to note that this seems to be the summer for short Kino Lorber releases, as I've recently reviewed SMOOTH AS SILK (1946), which runs 64 minutes, and THE FARMER'S DAUGHTER (1940), which clocks in at 60 minutes.

FATHER BROWN, DETECTIVE, is a 68-minute film, and like THE FARMER'S DAUGHTER, it costars Gertrude Michael. Michael plays a completely different type of character here, and it was a treat to see her in two such disparate roles this weekend.

Walter Connolly stars in the title role, a character based on novels by G.K. Chesterton. The script was written by Henry Myers and C. Gardner Sullivan.

Father Brown receives a letter from a thief, Flambeau (Paul Lukas), warning him, in the nicest possible way, that he intends to steal the church's crucifix with precious gems. Instead of being alarmed, Father Brown is intrigued by the letter, and he hopes that he can hold on to the crucifix while saving Flambeau's soul.

Flambeau also plans to steal gems from Sir Leopold Fischer (Halliwell Hobbes). Flambeau is in love with Fischer's niece Evelyn (Michael) and wishes to give her all of the diamonds as proof of his adoration. Evelyn, though, doesn't want the diamonds -- she only wants the man, Flambeau, she's come to love.

This was a charming little movie which I quite enjoyed. I was completely unfamiliar with it prior to watching, and by the end I wished Connolly had done a series as the religious detective. Alas, this film -- one of 11 Connolly was in in 1934! -- was the only one.

The romantic aspect is quite well conveyed. Flambeau and Evelyn's eyes meet across a crowded room, and it's all over. Michael played a temperamental, bossy leading lady in THE FARMER'S DAUGHTER and I wasn't initially sure about her character here, given that she's first seen in an illegal (albeit high-class) gambling establishment. Her character proves to be a quiet, lovely woman who's soon enmeshed in a very...complicated...love affair.

Una O'Connor provides comic relief as Father Brown's housekeeper, and the cast is rounded out by Robert Loraine and E.E. Clive.

The movie was directed by Edward Sedgwick and filmed by Theodor Sparkuhl.

Kino Lorber's Blu-ray print is lovely, especially for a film of this vintage, with a strong soundtrack.

Disc extras consist of a commentary track by Jason A. Ney and a gallery of five trailers for other films available from Kino Lorber.

I quite liked this film and will watch it again. I'm very appreciative of Kino Lorber releasing lesser-known titles such as the titles I've watched within the last few days, and I hope we'll see more such releases in the future.

Thanks to Kino Lorber for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray.

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