Intriguing but short lived drama series Judge Dee took us to China in the seventh century where the judge of the title was a mix of detective, judge and jury. His investigations took in strange goings on in a monastery and at a religious festival. Dee was assisted on his cases by Ma Joong, Tao Gan and Hoong.
Dee had three wives, played by Penny Castagli, Susan Lefton and Pamela Roland. The wives, as was the norm in ancient china were seen but not heard and none of the wives had a single line of dialogue in the series. Body movement teacher Litz Pisk provided special coaching on how they should behave.
The series was based on novels written by Dutch author Robert van Gulik but Dee himself was a real life figure who lived from AD 630-700 and became a minister of state in the T’ang Empire. The books, which were first began to appear in the 1950’s were popular not least in Asia. Gulik based his stories on an 18th century Chinese original called Dee Goong An.
production details
UK / ITV – Granada / 6×50 minute episodes / Broadcast 8 April – 13 May 1969
Writer: John Wiles / Novels: Robert van Gulik / Music: Derek Hilton / Producer: Howard Baker
cast
Michael Goodliffe as Judge Dee
Arne Gordon as Ma Joong
Garfield Morgan as Tao Gan
Norman Scace as Hoong
THE EPISODES
1. TRAITORS IN HIGH PLACES (8 Apr 69)
2. A PLACE OF GREAT EVIL (15 Apr 69)
3. THE HAUNTED PAVILION (22 Apr 69)
4. A FESTIVAL OF DEATH (29 Apr 69)
5. THE DAY OF THE SCAVENGERS (6 May 69)
6. THE CURSE OF THE LACQUER SCREEN (13 May 69)
