MORSE: THE SETTLING OF THE SUN

UK, 1988, 100 minutes, Colour.
John Thaw, Kevin Whateley, Anna Calder- Marshall, Robert Stephens, Derek Fowlds, Avis Bunnage.
Directed by Peter Hammond.

The Settling of the Sun is one of the earliest of the Inspector Morse telemovies. It has a very interesting subject, the death of a Japanese at an Oxford University, the discovery that he was the son of a torturer during world War two and that he was dealing in drugs.

The film opens with an Oxford minister who was tortured by the Japanese, is cared for by his daughter (Anna Calder Marshall). She works at the University and has an assistant who worked as a nurse during the fall of Singapore (Avis Bunnage). Robert Stephens appears as the head of the University, a military man, intent on the reputation and finances of his college, clashing with Inspector Morse.

The screenplay, as always, has a complex plot, is in the early stages of establishing Morse as a character, rather morose, interested in music, in his beer, and giving Inspector Lewis a hard time.

The theme of settling memories of Japanese torture and World War II makes this a particularly interesting film.


1. The title? It’s ambiguity? The setting of the sun? The Japanese references? War crimes? Vengeance?

2. The popularity of the long-running series? Television movies? With style? The popularity of Morse and his personality, enigmatic and mannered style? The personality of Lewis? Their relationship? The solving of the crimes? Intricacy of the plot? The psychological dimensions, the mystery and clues? Police work and solving the mysteries with their own abilities? The work of Colin Dexter?

3. The Oxford settings, the city and landscapes, the cityscapes, the buildings? Comments about Oxford and Oxford society? The ironies about Oxford and the dons? The university city? Ordinary people? Their interconnections? So much beauty – and so much crime?

4. The quality of the mysteries, character-driven? Sufficient information, sufficient clues? The exploration of character and clues?

5. John Thaw as Morse, his personality, the changes over the years, yet remaining the same? The mystery of his name? His crusty manner, the bachelor (but romantic at times)? His own authority – exercised over Lewis – and his reaction to authorities? Promotion or not? The changing of his attitudes towards Lewis, bossing him, patronising him about education and culture? The issue of music? Drinking ale? His car? Quietly at home, at work? With Lewis, understanding the situations and characters, the deductions? His being a good listener – but critical?

6. The contrast with Lewis, the family man, the ordinary policeman, education and lack of education, his being put down by Morse – but enjoying his comeuppance now and again? Music and his ignorance? The first reactions, Lewis being patient? His admiration for Morse, having to do so much leg work, to formulate hypotheses? Working under pressure? Collaborator and partner of Morse?

7. The police authorities in Oxford? The medical examiners – and Morse and his attitude towards the female authorities? Sexist and patronising? Changing?

8. The quality of the film as a crime thriller, a thriller with intelligence and demands on the audience?

9. The introduction to the crime, the credits, the background in Oxford, beyond?

10. The range of personalities, motives? Truth and concealment? Jealousies? Deceits and angers? The academic and religious backgrounds?


11. The students coming to the Oxford College, International, the crossword puzzle, the variety of nations, the Japanese member, out of the bus, the organisation, Miss Robson and her being in charge? Sir Wilfred and the University, regretting having to taking students? The meal? The exit of the Japanese not feeling well? The top table? Morse and the invitation for him to be present, to present the prize for the crossword? The introduction to him, as a person, interest in crosswords, music? Sir Wilfrid and his speech, the interruptions?

12. The discovery of the body, crucified, the words? Identification of the body? The later complications about the dead man? The frame up for his being a drug dealer? The irony that he actually was? The revelation that his father was the torturer of the Rev Robson? The plot, the substitute, the revelation that the Japanese overcame the substitute, and killed him?

13. The Rev Robson, the introduction to the story, his age, tortured by the Japanese, unable to speak, the wounds in his hands? The love of his daughter? His death?

14. The religious symbolism, the iconography, the images of the crucifixion? The religious dimension of some of the characters, Mrs Warbut and her praying in church? Issues of prayer and forgiveness?

15. Morse, witness at the dining room, the mystification about the death, the coroner and his information, the torture, the body being bound for 24 hours? The sardonic comments of the coroner? The taunts to Morse?

16. Lewis, his character, less presence in this film? His assisting Morse, Morse making life hard for him? His theories? His presence for the interrogations?

17. Miss Robson, the relationship with Morse, the attraction? At the dinner, her seemingly disturbed? Wondering about the course? Morse insisting that it go
on? The issues about the students, the registration, getting the documents?

18. The German, his winning the competition, the interviews, his surly manner, the student indicating that he was a phoney? The revelation that he was Miss Robson’s brother? His his being murdered? The young man being murdered? The fact that he was Robson’s son?

19. The woman in the office, the picture of her in Singapore in 1940, attitude towards the Japanese? Her assistant in showing him his room? Her knowledge of the Rev Robson, her turning a blind eye to the plan, her killer the sake is Robson? Going to the church, the interview with Morse? The memories of her past and her reaction to what she saw in Singapore?

20. The revelation of the plot, the substitute Japanese, his being overpowered and killed, the Robsons and their reaction to their father’s torture? The murders? Jane Robson almost killed?

21. Sir Wilfred, his role at the University, his military background, his knowledge of the Japanese, his hard stances, the discussions with Morse, his disdain,
the death of his son from drugs, his anti-drug action, pretending he did not love his son?

22. A satisfactory mystery, complexities, solutions – and, in the 1980s, the continued memories of Japanese torture during World War II?