THE SECOND TIME AROUND (MORSE)

UK, 1991, 104 minutes, Colour.

John Thaw, Kevin Whately, Kenneth Colley, James Grout, Pat Heywood, Ann Bell, Oliver Ford Davies, Christopher Eccleston.

Directed by Adrian Shergold.

All the episodes of the television series, Inspector Morse, are enjoyable. Interestingly, comment on this one indicates fans think it is one of the best. John Thaw is the perfect Morse, Kevin Whately as Lewis.

There are all the familiar ingredients. We enjoy the Oxford settings and the glimpses of familiar buildings of this city. And there are the scenes in the surrounding countryside, country mansion is.

There is an introduction to the police force, some old colleagues who worked with Morse, especially chief Dawson (Kenneth Colley) and the celebration for a retiring officer-Detective. Who is found dead the next morning. An intruder glimpsed.

Morse and Lewis had been at the celebration, Morse having worked with both offices initially. When the developments indicate a previous case where Morse had found the body of a dead girl, it is the second time around. She strange (James Grout) is still in charge, ever-exasperated by Morse.

In fact, Moore seems grumpier than ever in this episode, being dogmatic, even sneering. And, as usual, he seems to take it out on Lewis. Lewis is his genial self, patient in putting up with Morse, even developing a theory which Morse dismisses.

With the introduction of one of the neighbours, a dyslexic young man who is talented in drawing birds (Christopher Eccleston), the antenna a of suspicion go up. And, when all is revealed, most audiences will be satisfied but definitely not surprised.

1. The popularity of the Inspector Morse series, from the 1980s into the 1990s, and for decades long after? This film coming in the middle of the series?
2. The popularity of the Oxford settings, the city, streets, homes, police precincts, the colleges, the surrounding countryside, mansions? The musical score? Morse’s love of classical music?
3. The establishing of Morse’s character, age, his past as policeman, his workers detective, over the decades? Described here as bad policeman, good detective? His interactions with Chief Strange? With other officers? Other experts, autopsies, photographic developments…?
4. Lewis and his character, ordinary, the contrast with Morse, the glimpse of his home life and family, his work as a detective, at Morse’s beck and call, defying him here, Morse angry with him, apologies?
5. Morse, angry, grumpy, assertive, arrogant, unapologetic?
6. The development of the murder mystery? The experienced detective, the celebration of his career, drinking, taken home by Dawson, the intruder, the struggle, hitting his head, his death? The intruder taking files?
7. Dawson, his career, personality, collaboration with the dead man, concern about the investigation? The past clashes with Morse? Morse and Lewis at the celebration? Morse and the steps for solving the case, the footprint outside the window, questions for the housekeeper, for Dawson, for Mrs Dawson (and Morse’s having the dinner with her at the restaurant)?
8. Morse and his tracking down the writer, his eccentric behaviour, mannerisms, the plan to write the book, the information about the missing chapter, the particular case?
9. Morse and his involvement in the past case, finding the body, detective work, Briers is the main suspect, his alibi with his sick daughter, briars changing his name to Redpath, his being present at the dead policeman’s house, the revelation of his motivation to keep his name clear, his arrest, interrogation, refusing to answer, Dawson interviewing him and declaring his innocence, his daughter and her outburst? His depression, attempting to kill himself? In hospital?
10. The issue of the diary, three different typewriters, confession? In the initial investigation? Strange urging further investigation? Morse unwilling, Lewis interested, Lewis developing a theory?
11. The background of the murder of the little girl, her mother and her illness and death, the mystery of the girl’s father? The issue of Briars’ knife and loss? Morse and his interview with the grandmother, the photo, the delegate’s badge, the enlargement of the photo? Providing the clue?
12. The Mitchells, neighbours, the grandmother and her friendship with Mrs Mitchell, the story of Mitchell, his work, bullying his son, disappearing? Disappearing at the time of the emergence of the diary? Terry Mitchell, art and sketches, dyslexic? He and his mother and their secret? His mother visiting the grandmother?
13. Morse investigating John Mitchell, the factory, his disappearance? The revelation of the truth, Mitchell protecting his son? And his death and disappearance?
14. The solution of the case, the confrontation between Dawson and Morse, in the presence of Dawson’s wife, the truth about his affair, fathering the girl, the annual meetings with her mother, the delegates badge? Dawson killing Mitchell in revenge?
15. Case solved, police methods, and further insights into Morse and Lewis?