Product Details

• Actors: John Thaw, Kevin Whately, Colin Dexter, James Grout, Peter Woodthorpe
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Bfs Entertainment
• VHS Release Date: November 11, 1998
• Run Time: 102 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302901693
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #314,649 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

In Infernal Serpent, Morse and Lewis have to tackle a particularly unsavory case involving child abuse. Their enquiries into the murder of and eminent environmentalist, killed minutes before he was due to give a controversial lecture, unearth skeletons in the cupboard of a respectable academic family. Cheryl Campbell, whose television credits include Pennies From Heaven, Malice Aforethought and Testament of Youth, plays an investigative journalist who has some shocking and disturbing childhood secrets. Geoffrey Palmer, Barbara Leigh-Hunt and Irene Richard also star.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars perversion in high places, June 4, 2004

By 

Pamela Williams (Saginaw, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Inspector Morse - Infernal Serpent (DVD)

This story covers a multitude of sins, as it deals with sexual abuse of children, corporate greed, blackmail, and homosexuality among other things. The plot involves an intersection of issues related to possible environmental hazards, corporate efforts to suppress information regarding those hazards, and the attempts of those who have been victimized by sexual abuse to take revenge against the perpetrator. All these issues surface only after Morse investigates the death of a professor, a death which
ironically is attributed to natural causes (a heart attack). Morse once more demonstrates the "thinking man" approach to detection, reaching conclusions based upon analysis of clues (childhood photographs) which might be overlooked by less sagacious investigators. The performances are first rate, and the manner in which the story unfolds maintains interest throughout.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "It's the intellectual muggers around here you have to watch out for, Morse.", August 9, 2007

By 

Mary Whipple (New England) - See all my reviews
(COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Inspector Morse - Infernal Serpent (DVD)

When a highly regarded environmentalist is mugged and then dies of a heart attack, just before he was to speak at Oxford, Morse and Sgt. Lewis enter the case. Morse, who graduated from Oxford, is comfortable dealing with the dons and, in this case, the Master of one of the colleges. Master Matthew Copley-Barnes had been on his way to the debate when he witnessed the mugging. Copley-Barnes is arrogant, cruel to his wife and daughter, and he elicits no sympathy as he runs the college with an iron fist.

Among the many (sometimes gratuitous) complications is the fact that Mick McGovern, the young man arrested for the mugging/murder has been having a gay relationship with one of the music conductors, who himself is behaving strangely, even with Morse, whom he knows. Copley-Barnes's daughter Imogen has had more than one breakdown, and she is having one during most of this episode. Imogen's childhood companion has returned for a visit, staying with the Copley-Barneses, though she heartily dislikes the Master. Now a journalist, she is doing an investigative story on the Master. If these complications are not enough to challenge the viewer, there are accusations of child abuse involving at least four people, and evidence that the college is covering up for the environmental disasters (and cancer) associated with a chemical company, a major donor to the college.

Beautifully acted, as always, by John Thaw (Inspector Morse) and Kevin Whately (Sgt. Lewis), the supporting cast is especially memorable for its eccentric mannerisms and odd behavior. With one exception, none of the characters are likable, and stereotypes abound. Only Pearce Quigley, playing Mick McGovern, manages to infuse his role with sympathy, becoming one of the few "round" characters in the episode. The music--in this case, primarily choral music--is gorgeous, providing "heavenly" contrasts to the tawdry activities of some of the characters, and the photography, as always is outstanding.

One of the more complex Morse mysteries, this one has so many red herrings that it is often difficult to see where the mystery is going and to identify the true villains. Late in the episode, another death takes place, and the writers play with the viewer here by suggesting that one person is a killer so they can set up a grand finale and a surprise twist. Fun to watch, like all the Morse mysteries, this one is less focused than some, filled with inflammatory subplots and a large number of characters so over-the-top that the viewer cares little about them. n Mary Whipple

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Murder with Mozart, June 15, 2007

By 

William J. Thor (Vero Beach) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Inspector Morse - Infernal Serpent [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Throughout this installment, Mozart piano sonatas, in particular the Turkish K 331, provide the background music. There is a large cast of characters and when we eliminate those who appear for color only, we are still left with several, who all participate in the tale one way or another. We have two murders, adultery, homosexuality, corporate irregularities and cover ups. Even Superintendent Rennie, filling in for Chief Superintendent Strange, who is on holiday, is gotten to as he unwittingly suggests Morse should withdraw and go on holiday. Lewis is obsessed with the first post-mortem, which annoys Morse but yields important results. It requires serious concentration to follow this intricate plot and you may wish to view it a second time to catch all the details. The entry is strengthened by the appearance of Geoffrey Palmer in a major role.