DECEIVED BY FLIGHT

UK, 1989, 105 minutes, Colour.
John Thaw, Kevin Whately, Norman Rodway, Daniel Massey, Bryan Pringle, Nicky Henson.
Directed by Anthony Simmons.

Deceived by Flight is a very entertaining Inspector. Morse mystery. It maintains the standard of the series. The screenplay was written by Anthony Minghella (writer/ director of Truly, Madly, Deeply). The setting is Oxford, there are murders, cricket matches and drug smuggling. The atmosphere is particularly civilised, even where the crimes are concerned.

John Thaw is the incarnation of Inspector Morse. Kevin Whalley as Lewis gives the required support - even to playing cricket. However, there is a strong supporting cast including Daniel Massey as the victim and Norman Rodway and Nicky Henson as villains. Quality murder mysteries and detection.

1. The popularity of Inspector Morse? The mysteries and crime? Police work and detection?

2. The quality of the telemovie, Oxford and its environment? Location work? Authentic atmosphere? Musical Score, including classics?

3. The title, and its focus?

4. The setting: Anthony Donn and his arrival, Oxford, the college, the cricket matches? His wife and her radio program, people calling in on controversial topics? His moroseness? His contacting Morse, their meal together in the park? His not being willing to tell the truth about his life? His hint with the Zen quotation? The suddenness of his death? Reactions? The news for Kate - coming out of her radio program? Her grief? Her working with Morse - and the phone calls and the attraction? Sufficient information for audiences to understand the crime, the possible suspects?

5. Kate, her relationship with her husband? The revelation of her affair with Cranston? Her family, contacts with Morse? the outings? The Clash with Philippa at the cricket match? Cranston; suspicions, his boisterous and rude manner? The cricket team? His play, getting Louis out? Bombastic? Roland and his support of the cricket match, his friendship with Donn, memories of Morse? In his wheel chair? His affable nature, concern, the promotion of the cricket match? the tour and its going ahead? Jamie and his coming in from Hong Kong, contacts? The cricket match? Peter Forster and the suspicions, Philippa, Peter Forster and his cover, going into Dorm's room? His murder? Philippa and the interrogation with Morse? Barker and his serving the former students, the Oxford tradition? Members of the cricket team?

6. Morse and his character, morose, his past, dedication to his work? Interactions with Louis, clashes? Louis and his single minded devotedness to duty? His family? His time off - painting, coming back to work? Playing in the cricket team? Undercover work? Contacts with Morse - in the toilet? The quality of the investigation and suspicions?

7. Suspects, interrogations? the truth about Peter Forster and the undercover work of customs? Philippa and the truth? Morse at the cricket match? The murder in the clubroom?

8. Morse and his following the clues, working out the truth? Kate and her relationship with Cranston? The studio, the studio staff? Her answering machine? The discovery of the truth about her action, the murder? The arrest of Kate and Cranston?

9. The focus on the drug investigation, Roland and his wheelchair, Jamie and his contacts? Morse allowing the team to go on their tour? The raid on the boat? the truth? Roland and his self assertion about the drug smuggling?

10. A satisfactory resolution, Morse's personal involvement, judging and misjudging characters? Louis and his assistance?