Review of Inspector Morse: The Last Enemy/Deceived By The Flight

Introduction

I`m not afraid to admit that I`m a Morse virgin. Until these discs popped through my letterbox, I had never taken the time to watch one of these mysteries featuring the popular detective. This isn`t to say that I`m not a fan of mysteries, far from it. However my tastes tend to the quirkier, gimmicky detectives. When it comes to Morse, Frost, anything with John Nettles in or Ruth Rendell in the title, I`m afflicted with an irrational prejudice. Although I`ve never seen one, I get the feeling that these detectives are more down to earth, human and that the dramas are one step up from soap operas. No, it`s the eccentric detectives for me, the oddball pairings, the likes of the dishevelled detective Columbo, eighties playboy Matt Houston, harmonica heralded Jim Rockford, constipated Jonathan Creek and Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels who excite the gumshoe in me. But perhaps I`m missing out on the carefully observed characters, the complex and human investigators, hence my belated interest in Inspector Morse.

This particular release contains discs 9 and 10 of the Morse collection. Disc 9 is The Last Enemy. When a dismembered body is recovered from a canal, attention turns to the university, where intense competition for a lucrative and esteemed position reveals the darker side of academia. Morse encounters an old acquaintance and suffers toothache in his quest to solve the mystery.

Disc 10 comprises Deceived By Flight. Morse`s friend, Anthony Donn visits to take part in a promotional cricket tournament and to catch up with old times. Before Donn can confide in Morse he is electrocuted, and there are 10 suspects. Lewis goes undercover to smoke out the culprit.

Video

These Morse discs are presented in the original 4:3 format. The transfer isn`t noteworthy, with the age of the programmes quite apparent. The picture is a little grainy and it feels as if one is watching through a fine mesh. Bright images are a little smeared, though that again may be due to the age of the source material. The image quality never detracts from the story however, and I`m sure that fans will find it acceptable.

Audio

Sound is presented in a DD 2.0 mono track. The dialogue is always clear, which is the important thing. Aside from the distinctive signature tune, the Morse shows are remarkably light in incidental music. This is quite refreshing, as the stories find their own pace, one that is never dictated by intrusive orchestration.

Features

Both discs come with a photo gallery, containing some twenty stills relevant to that particular production. Carlton has again produced well-presented discs, with nice animated menus, featuring the signature tune.

Conclusion

The Last Enemy was an enjoyable story, with the inevitable twists and turns. It is notable for a cameo from writer Colin Dexter, and guest star Barry Foster, himself noted for a previous role as a sleuth, here as the ambitious Sir Alexander Reece.

Deceived By Flight is equally compelling, keeping the audience guessing until the end and with some fascinating characters. This episode was notable for a screenplay by Anthony Minghella who went on to more lucrative things.

Both these stories were filmed in 1987, fifteen years ago now but they still remain relatively timeless, aged only by fashion and unfeasibly large mobile phones. I wrote the first paragraph prior to watching these episodes and boy, do I feel sheepish. I placed these Morse discs in my player, wholly expecting something hackneyed and predictable. To my surprise, I discovered a couple of refreshing mysteries solved by a singular detective. Morse as played by the late John Thaw is an exceptional character, with an incredibly dry wit and an arrogance and cantankerousness that borders on the irritating, but all this is balanced by a vulnerability and sensitivity that is almost childish in its innocence. It makes for a complex character whose charisma is pure magic on the television screen. He has the perfect foil in Kevin Whately`s Sgt Lewis, who displays the competency that is required in his position, but appears to be enough of an amiable nitwit to require Morse to explain his theories, in other words a classic detective sidekick. The shows themselves are distinctive in their lack of violence, other than the murders themselves the characters are eminently civilised and educated, which makes Morse a far more cerebral and thoughtful show. The setting of Oxford is notable for its beauty and personality and that comes through very well in these programmes. With it comes a sedate and deliberate pace that makes a change from fast paced and explosive thrillers. As the characters were allowed to develop and the plot inevitably thickened, I found myself lost in these carefully considered stories. These shows are the equivalent of putting your feet up next to a roaring fire, with a good book and a mug of coffee.

However, I do have a couple of reservations, and since they are from a sum total of two stories they may be irrelevant to the series as a whole. First, it doesn`t seem to pay to be an old friend or acquaintance of Morse of any kind, you may be a victim or criminal or potentially both. Second is Morse`s abortive excuse for a personal life. It seems his nascent and faltering affections tend towards the wrong kind of woman, which would surely leave grounds for charges of professional misconduct. Both these points stood out sufficiently for me to take note, and while they may be confined to these stories, should they be regular occurrences through the series, they could rapidly grow tedious. That gripe notwithstanding, these two Morse mysteries were quite enjoyable and are well worth watching.