Search - Inspector Morse: The Making of Morse on DVD

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 3/1/2023...

High Amazon ratings but dragged like a snail. Watch at your own peril.

A "must" for fans of Inspector Morse.

Mary Whipple | New England | 02/16/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Don't miss this 50-minute special on the "Making of Inspector Morse" if you are a serious fan of the TV series based on the characters by Colin Dexter. Interviews with the actors playing major characters, along with others involved in the series, give a "human touch" to the series, providing the viewer with an inside look at how all these people regard their work. John Thaw, who plays Morse, believes that he would have been "frightened" by Morse in real life--because Morse is so clever and knows it. Kevin Whatley, who plays Sgt. Lewis, comments on the father-son relationship with Inspector Morse, and a real police inspector and a former convict give their take on the action and how realistic Morse may be.

Running through the video are scenes from a "Morse tour," a bus tour of the Oxford locations used in many of the Morse shows, including a visit to the home used for the action in the first Morse episode, "The Dead of Jericho." The woman who narrates the tour and her clients, all of whom are "just folks," reflect the impact of this series, which was reportedly seen by 750 million viewers in fifty countries. Of particular interest here is the (too short) interview with the music director, Barrington Pheloung, who uses the Morse code rhythm for the word "Morse" in the main theme song. Pheloung also admits that he sometimes buried the Morse-coded names of killers within the music of the episodes.

Lots of fun for fans of the series, this video draws connections and answers questions, and when Colin Dexter, author of the books, comments on the fact that most of the dialogue from his books had to be cut or changed for the TV series, his good humor is contagious. A delightful inside look at a favorite series, this DVD gives warmth and a personal touch to the characters and settings. n Mary Whipple

Inspector Morse - The Dead of Jericho - Collection Set, from 1987-88
Inspector Morse: The Last Enemy - Collection Set, from 1989
Inspector Morse: The Infernal Serpent Collection Set, from 1990-91
Inspector Morse: Dead on Time - Collection Set, from 1991-92
Inspector Morse: Absolute Conviction - Collection Set, from 1992, 1993, 1995
Inspector Morse: Remorseful Day - Collection Set, from 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000

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