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In Memoriam
Remembering John Thaw and Inspector Morse
Twenty-five Years of the most intelligent cop show ever to hit the small screen.
(Page 2 of 2)
The series — widely available for purchase, rent, or to be checked out from public libraries — with its timeless qualities, remains miles ahead of the general run found on today’s cable packages. If you haven’t had the pleasure….
And while you’re watching, for the first time or as a re-visit to a favorite episode, you might consider raising your glass to John Thaw, a fine actor, taken at the height of his dramatic powers.
RIP John Thaw. Long live Chief Inspector Morse.
About the Author
Larry Thornberry is a writer in Tampa.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (43) | Leave a comment
More Articles by Larry Thornberry
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Teaghan| 1.20.12 @ 8:04AM
I loved A Year in Provence. It was THE best!
Scott | 1.20.12 @ 8:06AM
What a wonderful remembrance of one of our favorite detective programs and a truly fine actor. Thank you, thank you, for such a heartwarming tribute to both!
ENOUGH ROPE| 1.20.12 @ 1:36PM
Mr. Thornberry, you are a kind man and a talented writer. Your tributes to John Thaw and Harry Morgan are gems. Thank you.
JWD| 1.20.12 @ 4:28PM
Ditto that- Feel the same.
albert constantine jr.| 1.20.12 @ 8:23AM
Hill Street Blues and Miami Vice were two very different series. While both were likely striving to be "hip", Mr. Thornberry's description of rock music, etc., applies much more to the latter than the former. Hill Street Blues was much more chaotic and complicated, like the urban milieu Steven Bochco was attempting to portray. Miami Vice would try to mimic this nuance, but was Michael Mann's version of the legendary "MTV cops".
Bob K.| 1.20.12 @ 9:15AM
Thank you Mr. Thornberry,
It was a great pleasure to read this before tackling the blogs herein. I may even wait a while longer now.
This series was, for a time, the only reason I tuned into my local PBS station. I still have not been able to bring myself to read Colin Dexter's last novel in the series nor did I see the final episode; "That Remorseful Day."
Gary| 1.20.12 @ 9:29AM
Well done Larry! My personal favorite episode (so many to choose from) was called "Masonic Mysteries" in which the clue to the killer's identity (Morse was framed for the crime and briefly incarerated) was in the libretto to the "The Magic Flute". It doesn't get much better than that in my book! Murder and Mozart opera!
KyMouse| 1.20.12 @ 9:50AM
I second that, Gary. An exceptional episode among many, many excellent ones.
I tried the "Inspector Lewis" mysteries a few years ago but missed the give-and-take between Morse and Lewis too much to get into them. Our city libray system has a lot of "IM" episodes available, fortunately for me.
Tina B| 1.21.12 @ 10:08AM
Well, well, KyMouse. I knew that you were a person of good taste by many previous posts.
And to all Morse-lovers, including you, Mr. T, jolly good!
I haven't had a friend I could bond with over Inspector Morse. . . ever, I think. Except me Mum, who introduced me to him back in the late 80s. before she passed. I knew I liked you guys 'n gals, now I like youse even more.
KyMouse| 1.31.12 @ 11:43AM
A belated "thanks, and right back at ya," Tina B!
Your Mum must have been quite a gal, too.
Stuart Koehl| 1.20.12 @ 9:38AM
I always thought Morse a pretentious git whose personal unhappiness was the result of the disparity between his realities and his pretensions. I much prefer the later "Inspector Lewis" mysteries, starring the underrated Kevin Whately, who portrays Lewis as a down-to-earth, working-class copper somewhat at sea in the midst of a city of snobbish dons. When I watch "Morse" reruns these days, it's mainly to see Whately, as Morse's assistant, Sergeant Robbie Lewis, and to see his character develop.
I should also mention that Whately is ably seconded in "Inspector Lewis" by Laurence Fox, portraying Lewis' sidekick, Sgt. Hathaway, who, unlike Morse, is the Real Thing--an Oxford scholar (studying divinity) who chucked it all to become a copper. He serves as Lewis' bridge into the intellectual and cultural world of Oxford, without at all being condescending to Lewis, nor seduced by the the glamor and pretense of the University set.
To see Whately and Fox together is to see a much more believable--and enjoyable--combination than were Thaw and Whately in "Morse". Moreover, for those who actually watch for such things, the mystery plots remain as subtle and challenging as they were in "Morse".
KyMouse| 1.20.12 @ 12:05PM
Mr. Koehl, Kevin Whately did the voice narration for a documentary about the Lindisfarne Gospels a while back. I have a copy on VHS, but it may also be on DVD. Very nice.
Tina B| 1.21.12 @ 10:16AM
And I thank you, also, Stuart. You remind me why I so loved the show. And I am going to rent reruns from the library.
The reparte (on Morse's part) with everyone but Lewis, to whom he definitely condescended, was so fascinating, because he could not and would not banter with him. He ridiculed him and his declasse attitudes. And Lewis, so honest, so decent, so humble, could get soooo frustrated. And yet he deferred to the great expert, no matter how rude he got to him.
I hated and loved Morse, but I always loved Lewis. Midsommer Murders had a detective and his assistant and they got along famously. Another fine Brit program.
But Morse just could not let Lewis be.
What a great show!
aldona beall| 1.20.12 @ 11:24AM
Great article! My husband Robert and I absolutely love John Thaw/Inspector Morse. Many tears were
shed during that last episode. We have watched all of the episodes many times...there is nothing better!
Brian Ferguson| 1.20.12 @ 1:36PM
Thx for rekindling the great memories of this series .... what a great actor John Thaw was.
george| 1.20.12 @ 4:30PM
by sheer coincidence, I received an Inspector Morse music soundtrack yesterday, and today this memoriam.
twice blessed.
TycheSD| 1.20.12 @ 4:34PM
I loved Inspector Morse. Sometimes I cringed at the disparaging way he treated Lewis. But he really did love Lewis. Morse was so human.
Stuart Koehl| 1.20.12 @ 7:42PM
I'm thinking it was really the other way around: Lewis really loved Morse--you can tell by references to Morse in "Inspector Lewis". Morse, I think, just loved Morse, which means he loved being miserable most of the time.
Laurey Boyd| 1.20.12 @ 7:40PM
My husband and I have been fans since they first starting showing this in "the states". Now we see it through Netflix. Love the man, the jag and the music (notice the Morse code beeps in the theme). I guess this means I'm a "thinking woman".
Gretta| 1.20.12 @ 7:54PM
My absolute favorite detective ever (see email address!). Have all the books and the DVD's. I was so angry when Morse died; even more upset when John Thaw did as well. Thanks for the moving tribute.
POST American| 1.20.12 @ 9:53PM
----Great piece!
Now, anyone ready to take note of the FACT
Hollywood and media have BALKED and BURIED
both the 60th Anniversary of the stageeringly
relevant
--------------------KOREAN WAR-----------------------
---and!
-the 200th Anniversary of the DEFEAT of
Napoleonic Globalism in Russia 1812.
Trifling issues we know -------but still. . .
Tina B| 1.21.12 @ 10:28AM
PA
That's because they are still, madly truly deeply, working on that Napoleonic Globalism, and it's going quite well, thank you very much for asking.
The public schools, and yes, I was one of THEM (but I swear that I gave the students truth hand in hand with the math), have taught just enough truth to get by with the remainder being total lies. Globalism, New World Order? Why we have a Communist POTUS, and the sheeple that voted him in may just vote him in again.
A lifetime of compulsory public schooling'll do that for ya. SHHHHHHHHHHHH! Don't wake them, they're napping. They'll get up in a trance, one November morning, and do just what they are programmed to do. His O-hole's early supporters having already voted, unbeknownst to them a second vote in their name will soon be "re"-cast, and down the slippery slope we go.
So hush now, no talk of Global Village, certainly not in the MSM and not even a mention in the "Conservative" media. The wheels are turning Slowly but surely. And not so slowly anymore.
Spaeter| 1.22.12 @ 10:13AM
Ms. Tina, please see my post below. Perhaps a TV series that you can locate for free at a library near you. If not, it is indeed on Amazon for very reasonable prices. Based on just your comments alone (above) on your concerns for government, citizens, voters, the lies of the media, and the wishes of the governmental elite, you will love the "Yes, Minister" series.
Give it a go!
There are lots of Amazon customer comments that will inform you about it. And, just view 2 or 3, there are You Tube clips from the episodes. They will usher in your interest.
And that of any other like-minded readers here.
My discovery just two years ago: "Yes, Minister."
Nemo| 1.21.12 @ 4:21AM
"The most intelligent cop-shopw ever?" Sorry, not even close. The Oxford setting gave it a veneer of intellectualism and the writing and acting were professionl. That's all.
henry| 1.21.12 @ 6:48AM
I got the whole series from Amazon. Did anyone notice Morse's footdrop?
What today is comparably intelligent?
A small suggestion: try the BBC's Cranson series.
Moe Blotz| 1.21.12 @ 9:37AM
Aye, henry, I often wondered if Mr. Thaw's ambulatory flaw was attributable to a back problem, pinched nerve or whatever. The series also hit the little screen during Britain's real ale revolution and Inspector Morse was an enthusiast of the firkin. Unfortunately the local family owned brewery in Oxford was sold off and demolished not long after Inspector Morse sipped his last pint. A little irony there, what?
Tina B| 1.21.12 @ 10:36AM
So. . . Henry, how do I find this Cranson series? I am trying and no luck. . .
KyMouse| 1.31.12 @ 11:47AM
Tina, I wonder if he meant "Cranford." Wonderful series, but all too brief.
POST American| 1.21.12 @ 9:23PM
---------------------FINAL WORD-----------------------
---AGAIN, putting this '80's Show'
DIS-traction aside----
AS those Siberian winds whip down across
Tibet, Mongolia, Manchuria and North Korea
----and all the 'camps' ---Hollywood BURIES
all consciousness of the awesomely relevant
-----------60th Anniversary of the---------------
-----------------KOREAN WAR--------------------
Globalist intrigue--USURY--Mind control
-------Betrayal--Treason--EUGENICS------
---------the RED Chinese Halocaust---------
-one and all make their 21st century
relevant debut ---in KOREA.
Remember kiddies, in the 1920's, 30's
and 40's people could, legitmately, claim
ignorance.
----------------------------WE CAN NOT.
----------HUAC-Nuremberg 2012-----------
Paul| 1.22.12 @ 9:39AM
Mr Thornberry, thank you for a timely and eloquent tribute!
Loved 'Inspector Morse', but I was a John Thaw fan from the days of his hard-hitting, hard-drinking role as Inspector Regan in 'The Sweeney'. It's a testament to John's versatility that he could play both roles so credibly. Sadly, I don't think 'The Sweeney' could work in the US; it is dated (mid 70s), but most American viewers would need sub-titles because of the thick 'cockney' accents.
My favorite Morse episode is 'Second Time Around', but 'Last Seen Wearing' is also up there.
Overall, I do find 'Inspector Lewis' a worthy successor to the Morse series, but I have to say that it's not quite as consistent as Morse was.
And I have a sneaky feeling that perhaps 25 years from now, we'll see Lawrence Fox as 'Inspector Hathaway'...
Incidentally, did anyone read about a week ago that there was a real-life murder at an Oxford University? A don was killed, and another don is a suspect in the case. Details available from various sources if you google 'Oxford don murder'.
Interesting timing...
Spaeter| 1.22.12 @ 10:07AM
Thank you for this mention of this series. I was until now unaware of it. I shall give it a look.
Let me suggest to all a TV series that never produced (I don't believe) more than 30 total episodes. No, not a police or law and order series, rather one about governing: "Yes, Minister." Which became "Yes, Prime Minister."
My all time favorite. How did I discover it? On chance picking through available DVDs at the library.
Done in the early 1980's, this was superb. And it is as real today -- and as funny today -- as it was then.
If I were a political science teacher or one trying to make many of the points ASO writers and reader make, I'd string together edited clips of "Yes, Minister" to illustrate all the follies of government.
Please, please, please, give this series a try if you are unfamiliar with it. Sadly there is now only one of the main actors still living.
Mr. Thornberry, surely you know of the "Yes, Minister" series. And its remarkable fame throughout Britain at the time. Please consider an article on it to whet the appetites of readers. It is a series that entertains, makes your ribs laugh, and subtley educates and makes one think - think hard.
And the irony is that the script writers were not, I don't believe, conservatives or small government thinkers. Not at all; they were BBC employees. Yet their "Yes, Minister" product is one of the best at making the necessary case for limited government.
And all done in a jovial, entertaining way by usually nothing more than three or four middle aged men in every episode.
Paul| 1.22.12 @ 10:24AM
Spaeter, I remember it, and liked it. It was one of Margaret Thatcher's favorite shows.
AVCurmudgeon| 1.22.12 @ 1:08PM
John Thaw was a treasure. He was born to play Morse just as Leo McKern was born to play Rumpole. Both brought not only their innate connection to the part but both inhabited the part and made the character their own, in the process showing us what television can be. And let us not forget his portrayal of Jonathan Small in "A Study in Scarlet", or "A Year in Provence." He was the kind of actor who compelled me to watch a production merely because he was in it.
Moe Blotz| 1.23.12 @ 7:12PM
Jonathan Small was the featured criminal in the Sherlock Holmes epitome of "The Sign of Four."
Tina B| 1.22.12 @ 4:38PM
Ok, "Yes, Minister" it is, and thanks guys.
POST American| 1.22.12 @ 9:52PM
------------------BOTTOMLESS LINE------------------
"WHILE the 60th Anniversary of the
------------KOREAN WAR-------------
---and the 200th Anniversary of----
--------NAPOLEON'S DEFEAT------
--------------in RUSSIA-----------------
---------------are BOTH-----------------
-------------'overlooked'----------------.
And ALLLLL without a single
question or comment.
YOU WERE WARNED
juandos| 1.22.12 @ 11:14PM
Spot on with both Thaw and Morse...
Great actor in a well done series...
Glad you wrote something so well about it...
Petronius| 1.23.12 @ 11:35AM
This is wonderful to come home to after a week in Sin City where CSI's laboratory science mixes with pure evil and perversions ala carte, which makes Morse and Lewis gems among the miles of cinesewage sent to our flat screens lately. My flight also cost me an evening at Downton. The Masterpiece Mysteries give us the Whodunnit on the hoof unlike any others could offer. The series is orthodox and faithful to those books. And Morse is of the type that is too true to be good. While there is no shark jumping or hint thereof in the Morse series, such an officer would never gain promotion to full Inspector given modern political correctness and institutional slavishness inherent in it. Critical thinking and speaking just is not done in this day and age if a man like Morse wants to reach retirement with a patina of social acceptability. Taking that into consideration, watch New Tricks. In the wake of Cold Case, we get an assemblage of politically incorrect hard core burnout detectives with too much seniority to get sacked and too ornery to knuckle under to the diktat of Liberalism which has no place in the who's who and what's what of the streets, the knowledge of which keeps these guys on the force. While Morse puts puzzle pieces together, the old "takes one to know one" theory gets the street cred it rightly deserves with the bark on. What I'd like to see is a show that can never be; Morse, Lewis, and Hathaway sitting in the same pub with the UCOS squad comparing notes over a few pints with each and all getting happily nackered when last orders is called.
YISJTINSC| 1.23.12 @ 5:05PM
A FITTING TRIBUTE.
MORSE WAS EVERYMAN, AS LEWIS WAS EVERY YOUNG MAN.
I NEVER TIRE OF WATCHING JOHN THAW, FROM HIS APPEARANCE IN SHERLOCK HOLMES AS THE ONE LEGGED MAN IN THE SIGN OF FOUR, WITH JEREMEY BRETT, AND THE GOODNIGHT MISTER TOM
Moe Blotz| 1.23.12 @ 7:09PM
Jonathan Small was the character who signed on with the sign of four to steal Indian jewels with the murderous Singhs.
Tina B| 1.23.12 @ 7:39PM
Many years ago I read "Goodnight, Mr. Tom." What a wonderful story, causing me to shed many tears as I read it. I can just see John Thaw as Tom, oh my breaking heart. I must look for it on DVD.
William Brewer| 4.3.12 @ 5:39PM
THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bruce whitsitt| 4.7.12 @ 1:04AM
Many, many thanks for this article, because it introduced me to the Inspector Morse television series, Colin Dexter's wonderfully-written Morse novels and short stories, and finally, the sublime Inspector Lewis series.