THE SINS OF THE FATHER
UK, 1990, 102 minutes, Colour.
John Thaw, Kevin Whatley.
Directed by Peter Hammond.
This is one of the later episodes in the long-running Morse series on British television, 33 episodes in all. This one is from 1990.
The familiar ingredients are there: the Oxford setting though not so much emphasised this time, Morse and his moods, reflective music, interrogations, always leaning on Lewis, but a variation in his attraction towards the doctor working on the autopsies, a date, some dancing, meeting again, music… The more humane face of Morse.
Focuses on a wealthy family, owners of a brewery, with 150 years tradition. However, one of the managers is found dead leading to problems with the finances of the family, the uncovering of relationships and passion, and a solution which takes the investigation back into the past generations of the family.
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 initial murder, the brewery, the difficulties, the letter from three years earlier, burnt? The takeover offer? The range of suspects?
7. The brewery, the death of Trevor, the revelations about his borrowing and deals, fraud? Stephen, technology, suspicions? George and the offer from the rival firm? Involvement? Weeks, his position in the brewery, continuing on, the board meeting and his willing see do it as directed to save the brewery? Victor, his work in the bureau, his relationship with Gail? The dramatisation of the characters, their suspicions, alibis?
- The family, aristocratic, Charles, his age, hearing, wheel chair? Yet alert, pride in his ancestors? Knowledge of the deals, his attitude? Relationship with his wife, her strong character, aristocratic, snobbish? The death of her children? Her liking Helen, her dislike of Lorraine? Wanting grandchildren? Her knowledge of the frauds/not?
- Victor, his mother, strong personality, his trains, the outings with Gail? His work?
- Morse and Lewis, working together, respected jobs, the interrogations, the family and the reactions, the people at the plant? Lewis and the discovery of all the historical documents, the explanation of the brewery, the partnership, the scandal, the blackmail?
- The revelation of the Crease connection, the solicitor, his death?
- The board meeting, the decisions about selling the brewery or not, the various stances, the boat?
- Stephen, his womanising, the relationship with Helen? The rendezvous, her finding his body? His wife, the swimming, the opera, strong-minded, her back story, the children?
- The revelation that Victor was the killer, the suspicions of his mother having kill the solicitor? The arrest?
- The drive home, the choice of vocabulary on the phone, Lewis and his observations, Morse turning round, the confrontation with the wife, her guilt, farewelling her husband?
- The title and the moral issues?
