The Standing Stones, an episode of Father Brown (Series 3, Episode 12), with some scenes filmed at the Rollright Stones.
A death at the stone circle of a polio-stricken village leads Father Brown to conclude that dark forces are at work and that another sacrifice may be imminent.
"Father Brown co-creator Rachel Flowerday, with The Standing Stones, provides fans with entertaining story which contains more than a hint of supernatural beliefs. This episode, taking us away from the village of Kembleford, introduces us to Standing residents. Standing, also in Inspector Sullivan’s (Tom Chambers) jurisdiction, is a village stricken with polio.
Ginnie Godden (Holly Lucas) and Sylvia Swann (Maya Grant), at The Standing Stones, perform a blood ritual. Miss Swann, even though we don’t see the person that grabs her, is attacked. The assailant’s black gloved hand is the only part of the attacker shown on screen.
This opening sequence, in many ways, can be compared to classic Hammer Films productions where witchcraft played a central component in the narrative.
Inspector Sullivan (Tom Chambers), ever since he showed up at the tail end of The Ghost in the Machine, has repeatedly warned Father Brown (Mark Williams) about his incessant meddling. Even though the police inspector clearly feels police investigations should be left to the professionals, recognising the priest’s established track record, there is no denying Father Brown’s success rate speaks for itself.
Miss Swann, a local barmaid, is discovered dead never The Standing Stones. She had been stabbed. Inspector Sullivan, Sergeant Daniel Goodfellow (John Burton), and Police Constable Walt Everett (Mark Benton) are at the crime scene when Father Brown arrives. The priest was on route to the cottage hospital when he happened to see the police inspector’s vehicle.
With accumulating evidence pointing to Miss Godden, given no choice, Inspector Sullivan arrests her on suspicion of murdering Miss Swann. The gloved figure, fearing Miss Godden would give them up to either the police or Father Brown, staged her attempted suicide. This assailant is revealed as PC Everett.
The episode narrative, reminiscent of The Wicker Man, also has an element of Murder on the Orient Express. It turns out all the villagers depicted in this episode, desperate to find a solution to the polio crisis, are responsible for Miss Swann’s death. Father Brown, solving the crime in this episode, seems accidental.
Bridgette McCarthy (Sorcha Cusack) berating the police over the telephone is a nice touch. Mrs McCarthy, not suffering fools gladly, unambiguously expresses her thoughts. This is only one of a few episodes where Mrs McCarthy isn’t heard expressing her overtly conservative views. Mrs McCarthy, as a character, is frequently the least likeable Kembleford resident.
PC Everett, Nurse Marjorie Shipton (Sandy McDade), pub owner Alf Gastrell (Richard Hawley) and several other villagers were involved in Miss Swann’s murder. Miss Godden, as we saw in the opening teaser, was ultimately not willing to kill Miss Swann.
These same villagers, needing another sacrifice, decide to kill Malcolm Driscoll (Nigel Cooke). Father Brown offers himself in Mr Driscoll’s place. Nurse Shipton, not willing to sacrifice Father Brown, uses her own blood in the ritual. Mr Gastrell, with Nurse Shipton having freed Father Brown, continues the ritual with the nurse as the sacrifice. Mr Driscoll prevents the pub owner from moving forwards with the sacrifice.
Mrs McCarthy, Sidney “Sid” Carter (Alex Price), Lady Felicia Montague (Nancy Carroll), Inspector Sullivan, and Sergeant Goodfellow show up as PC Everett looks for Father Brown. Whilst PC Everett feigns being the good guy, when Father Brown makes his presence felt, Inspector Sullivan learns the police constable is one of the killers."
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