MORSE: SERVICE OF ALL THE DEAD

UK, 1987, 100 minutes, Colour.
John Thaw, Kevin Whateley, Angela Morant, John Normington, Michael Hordern, Karl Francis.
Directed by Peter Hammond.

This is the third of 33 Inspector Morse telemovies. It was directed by Peter Hammond who also directed the episode, The Settling of the Sun.
This story is more in the vein of Murder on the Orient Express, a conspiracy in the death of one man. It has a church setting, the focus on the vicar, his wastrel brother, the woman who cleaned the church, the organist, the alleged dead man and his wife.

The film has a great deal of High Anglican ritual and imagery.

At this stage of the series, Morse is settling into his character, a loner, fond of his music, of his beer, and often impatient with Inspector Lewis (Kevin Whateley also settling into his role), especially his ignorance of music and literature. As with some other episodes early in the series, Morse has something of a romantic attachment – nothing permanent, but here important for helping the woman in her facing trial.

Interestingly, the film has overtones of paedophilia before this crime became so public.

There is a case of mistaken identity, action on the rooftop of the church with several people falling to their deaths – and Morse experiencing vertigo.

As always, the case is brought together effectively at the end.

1. 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?

2. 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?

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

4. 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?

5. 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?

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

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

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

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

10. The title, religious tone, the images, the church, the crucifix, candles and altar, the Sacred Heart? a sense of the sacred, joy – with a touch of morbidity? Ceremonies? The high mass, Communion, High Anglican tones? – And Morse having distaste and suspicion?

11. The church, the beggar, the cemetery, the wake, the disappearance? The death and the various theories?

12. The group in the church, Paul at the organ, Beth standing near him, her husband as the wardenr? Ruth, her look? The cleaning of the church? Lionel and his presiding as vicar? The body, the morphine, the knife?

13. Morse and his work, in the church, his dislike of the religious atmosphere? The puzzle, his style, morose, loner, beer, listening to the music, his personality, relationship with Lewis? Interest in Ruth, the kiss, suggesting the meal? Seeing her with the other man? His warning her, helping her in the final accusations and arrests?

14. Lewis, earnest, his ideas, ignorance of literature and music, comfortable on the roof, finding the cellar, at work with Morse?

15. The victim, the warden, gambling, the betting, his wife?

16. Assumptions about the case, discovering the inconsistencies?

17. The brother, his disrepute, relationship with Lionel? Behaviour? The little boy and the suspicions of abuse? Morse making the enquiries, the Anglican authorities, no case to answer? Lionel killing himself, jumping from the roof?

18. Ruth, the cleaning of the church, relationships, with the alleged dead man, the attraction to Morse? Her fears and cover-up?

19. Beth, leaving, the news of her death?

20. Paul, his relationship with Beth, his death, little boy and his being hidden in the basement?

21. The search, going to the roof, Morse and his vertigo, Liionel falling? The alleged victim, the final confrontation, his fall?

22. The complexity of the truth?