Judge Dee and the Monastery Murders (1974)

Oct 4, 2023

by Ted Davis

Directed by: Jeremy Kagan

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: Made for TV movie based on the book The Haunted Monastery by Robert van Gulik. In 7th century China, Judge Dee (Khigh Dhiegh) and his entourage, which includes three painted wives and loyal servant Tao Gan (Mako), are stranded by inclement weather and forced to shelter at a nearbyTaoist monastery run by disconcertingly smooth and ingratiating Lord Sun Ming (Keye Luke). During the course of the evening, shrewd magistrate Dee discovers that the monastery is being used for unholy purposes, which include abduction, rape and murder, and risks his life to bring the guilty party to a richly deserved rough justice.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): During a flashback sequence, saintly Abbott True Wisdom (Tommy Lee) makes a painted study of his treasured long haired white cat, which he pets while it’s perched on a nearby table.

Judge Dee and the Monastery Murders - longhair white cat sitting on table with Abbott True Wisdom Tommy Lee
Judge Dee and the Monastery Murders - longhair white cat sitting on table with Abbott True Wisdom Tommy Lee
Judge Dee and the Monastery Murders - longhair white cat sitting on table with Abbott True Wisdom Tommy Lee

The Abbott becomes delirious and suddenly dies while rambling incoherently.

Judge Dee and the Monastery Murders - longhair white cat sitting on table with Abbott True Wisdom Tommy Lee
Judge Dee and the Monastery Murders - longhair white cat sitting on table with Abbott True Wisdom Tommy Lee
Judge Dee and the Monastery Murders - longhair white cat sitting on table as Abbott True Wisdom Tommy Lee dies animated gif

The cat appears unmoved, but we learn later that he too died soon after, refusing to eat after his master passed.

Judge Dee and the Monastery Murders - longhair white cat sitting on table with Abbott True Wisdom Tommy Lee
Judge Dee and the Monastery Murders - longhair white cat sitting on table with Abbott True Wisdom Tommy Lee

The Abbott’s last painting of his cat is shown. Later in the movie, the perceptive Dee regards a separate scroll painting of the Abbott’s cat, which, combined with the first painting, provides a solution to a portion of the mystery.

Judge Dee and the Monastery Murders - sketch of longhair cat on wall

Final Mewsings: Who said cats don’t have feelings?

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