THE WENCH IS DEAD

UK, 1998, 100 minutes, Colour.
John Thaw, Lisa Eichhorn, James Grout, Judy Loe, Philip Quast, Matthew Finney.
Directed by Robert Knights.

This is the penultimate Morse film, moving the series to close to an end after more than 10 years, as well as bringing Morse to the end of his career, giving him a peptic ulcer, hospitalisation, considering retirement but solving a case from 140 years earlier. Most significantly, for fans of the series, Inspector Lewis is absent.

When Morse collapses after a lecture on Victorian crimes, he is diagnosed as having an ulcer and Chief Superintendant Strange suggests that he think about retirement which is due in two years. The screenplay gives Morse of long time in hospital, a touch cantankerous with the staff, interacting with the doctor (Australia’s Phillip Quast), visited by Adele whom he had encountered in the previous episode, and had even revealed his name, Endeavour. Clearly, she is to be part of Morse’s future.

Lisa Eichhorn (so radiant in Yanks) is a visiting American expert on Victorian crime and visits Morse in hospital, giving him one her books. He begins to read a chapter and decides that the courts at the time got everything wrong. Strange, who has as his assistant an Oxford graduate who feels he is demeaned by serving Strange tea, is assigned to do research for Morse, which he does successfully.

The film has quite a number of flashbacks to life on the canals in the 1850s, from Coventry to Oxford to London. A woman is found floating in the river, the boatmen on the barge brought to court, except for a 15-year-old, found guilty of murder and hanged. Morse, investigates the behaviour of the murdered woman, as portrayed in the expert’s book. It soon emerges that the boatmen were blamed because they were considered heathen, working seven days a week and not having time for church on Sunday. Their behaviour was considered somewhat dissolute.

By looking at prices for travel in those days, in looking at the dead woman’s former husband, a magician, as well statistics about the height of women in those days, Morse comes to the conclusion that the dead woman is a victim of both husband and wife who contrived the whole scenario for life insurance payouts. Morse goes on a visit to Ireland, with Adele, and the opening of a grave indicates that the couple had used this manoeuvre twice.

By the end, Morse is ready to retire – but appeared in one more film, and dies, The Remorseful Day.

1. The popularity of the Inspector Morse novels, the television series? John Thaw impersonating Morse over a period of 11 years?

2. The character of Morse, the bachelor, the loner, the expert detective, his educational background, love of music and literature? His age, drinking, this being blamed for his ulcer and his being warned off drink – but, by the end of the film, his not obeying the injunctions? His getting older, the prospect of retirement, his being busy, solving the case, ready to finish?

3. Oxford, the city, lectures, universities? The canals? The contrast with the 19th century, life on the canals, the barges, the courts?

4. Morse, in hospital, the visiting Professor, his collapse after her lecture, coming to visit, the gift of the book, the friendship? His reading the chapter, suspicious? Arguing with the author?

5. The flashbacks, the barges, the boatmen, the woman on the barge, the woman in the river, the fog, the man seen walking away? The autopsy? The information in the transcripts? Her behaviour, wanting passage, her complaint about lewdness, yet her drinking and her own behaviour? The body in the water? The examination?

6. The court case, the witnesses against the accused? The young boy and his testimony? The judge and his behaviour? The prosecutor, the defence? Morse noting what was not considered, the dropping of the rape and theft charges, the missing bag, the prices for travel to London by train or barge, stage? The height of the woman? The altering of the dress? The cutting of the undergarments?

7. Kershaw, graduate, serving tea to Strange? His being assigned to Morse, research in the library, meeting the visiting lecturer, getting the information about prices, heights of women, the visit to the cemetery and finding that apartments had been built over the graves? Information about life insurance? Morse and Adele their visit to Ireland, opening the grave, the fact that the magician and his wife (and the scene of their performance) responsible for the deaths and twice for life insurance?

8. Adele, attraction to Morse, coming to visit him, bringing him books? Not liking the lecturer being present? The visit to Ireland, the future?

9. In hospital, the nurses, the treatment, the surgeon, the discussions with Morse, warning him?

10. Morse, getting out of hospital, enjoying the drink once again, deciding that he should retire, the trip to Ireland, a future with Adele?