THE REMORSEFUL DAY

UK, 2000, 90 minutes, Colour.
John Thaw, Kevin Whately, Meg Davies, Eddie Webber, Anna Wilson- Jones, Paul Freeman, Clare Holman, James Grout, T.P.McKenna, Jesse Birdsall.
Directed by Jack Gold.

This is the final episode in the Inspector Morse series, based on novels by Colin Dexter, popular television from the late 1980s, into the 1990s and some later episodes, including this one in 2000. Actor John Thaw was to die soon after.

In some of the previous episodes, Morse was beginning to show signs of age and ill-health. This comes to a head, with Morse in hospital, but able to contribute to the solving of a case. Lewis had been missing from the previous film, but comes to be with Morse, help in the detection, farewell Morse very touchingly and with Morse finally expressing his appreciation for Lewis.

The case is complicated, the murder of a rather promiscuous woman, with her husband as the main suspect. It is in the context of academia in Oxford as well as some ordinary suburban liaisons.

Some killings follow, with the revelation of blackmail and the accidental death of the blackmailer.

As in the whole series, 33 episodes altogether, the atmosphere of Oxford is strong and the murder mystery complex.


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

9. Morse, his increasing ill-health, hospital, his heart? taking on the case? The details of the investigation? The collaboration with Lewis? The solving of the case?

10. Lewis, his personality, his working with Morse for so many years? His absence in the previous film, his return? Interactions with Morse? His role? The nature of the investigation? Visits to hospital, the farewell?

11. The victim, the nature of her murder, suspicions on her husband, other dubious characters? The prisoner released from prison? The workman? The academic?

12. The prisoner, his release, the possibility of his being the murderer, his death?

13. The builder, his relationship with the dead woman, at work, his death?

14. The academic, his implications?

15. The blackmail, its effect? The grieving husband, his organising a conspiracy?

16. The boy, his bicycle, revealing the accidental death of the builder?

17. The revelation of the blackmailing, the plot against suspects, his hold over the husband?

18. The film as a farewell to Morse, a fine career, an interesting character, his characteristics, his collaboration with Lewis? A fine television series?