MASONIC MYSTERIES

UK, 1988, 105 minutes, Colour.
John Thaw, Kevin Whately.
Directed by Danny Boyle.

Masonic Mysteries is another in the entertaining series of Inspector Morse telemovies. Once again John Thaw is excellent as Morse, more sympathetic in this film, a suspect in a murder. Kevin Whately is just the same as Lewis.

The setting is an Oxford one, a performance of Mozart's The Magic Flute - used throughout the film as a framework for the murder, the symbols, the ordeals and some observations on Freemasonry. The film also concerns a charity and its funds and the manipulation of computer entries.

The film is topical with its theme, interesting in its mystery - with the added bonus of the background of Mozart and excerpts from The Magic Flute.

1.The popularity of Inspector Morse? The quality of the mystery? The detection, police work, Morse as a suspect?

2.The film designed as a telemovie for a telemovie audience? Oxford and its environment? Police work? The musical score - and the use of The Magic Flute?

3.The title and its focus on Freemasonry, its reputation in the past, secret society and codes? Symbols? Dramatised in The Magic Flute?

4.The setting: Morse in the choir, giving Beryl a lift, the rehearsal? The murder? His grief, picking up the knife? His becoming a suspect? The case and Bottomley in charge? The superior officers? Lewis and his assistance?

5.Morse and his speculations, trying to find people who would victimise him? Investigating the suspects? Suspicions of de Vries? His background, Oxford? The link with Marion, the interviews with Marion?

6.Morse and Lewis and their working together? Morse more benign in this film? Lewis and his work - with the touch of the philistine, ignorant of Mozart? Their visit to McNutt?, the discussions, suspicions? McNutt's murder? The police stopping them in their car on the way home? The destruction of the car and the Masonic symbols?

7.The investigation of the finances? Beryl and her involvement? Suspicions of de Vries? The money in Morse's account? The information about de Vries and his sabotaging the computers?

8.Morse and his investigations, finding de Vries? The confrontation between the two - de Vries with the touch of magician and getting away? The final pursuit, his killing of himself? The interrogation of Marion and her hostility towards Morse? Devotion to de Vries?

9.The Masonic theme, Bottomley and his investigations, the superior officer? Morse and his anxiety - and his being in a state of shock, attacking Bottomley? Lewis and his finally going to see The Magic Flute - and not enjoying it?

10.Satisfying presentation of detection, crime and punishment, the Oxford setting?