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: 50 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: 6304041934
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #361,442 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

What has made the character of Inspector Morse so successful? Seen by more than 750 million people in 50 countries, John Thaw has brought Colin Dexter's character to life. The lonely and morose man has become a national institution and international celebrity. This documentary special goes on location to Oxford during the filming of the series. It is a tribute to those involved in the Morse phenomenon, both behind and in front of the camera. In addition to looking back over many of the classic moments, some of Morse's greatest fans, including Chief Constable John Stalker and ex-convict John McVicar, describe what has made the series so special to them. During the course of the programme, you also follow a free tourist trip around Oxford, the city made to famous by Morse, Lewis and a host of murderers.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A "must" for fans of Inspector Morse., December 1, 2006

By 

Mary Whipple (New England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Inspector Morse - Mystery of Morse [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Don't miss this 50-minute special on the "Making of Inspector Morse" if you are a serious fan of the TV series based on the characters by Colin Dexter. Interviews with the actors playing major characters, along with others involved in the series, give a "human touch" to the series, providing the viewer with an inside look at how all these people regard their work. John Thaw, who plays Morse, believes that he would have been "frightened" by Morse in real life--because Morse is so clever and knows it. Kevin Whatley, who plays Sgt. Lewis, comments on the father-son relationship with Inspector Morse, and a real police inspector and a former convict give their take on the action and how realistic Morse may be.

Running through the video are scenes from a "Morse tour," a bus tour of the Oxford locations used in many of the Morse shows, including a visit to the home used for the action in the first Morse episode, "The Dead of Jericho." The woman who narrates the tour and her clients, all of whom are "just folks," reflect the impact of this series, which was reportedly seen by 750 million viewers in fifty countries. Of particular interest here is the (too short) interview with the music director, Barrington Pheloung, who uses the Morse code rhythm for the word "Morse" in the main theme song. Pheloung also admits that he sometimes buried the Morse-coded names of killers within the music of the episodes.

Lots of fun for fans of the series, this video draws connections and answers questions, and when Colin Dexter, author of the books, comments on the fact that most of the dialogue from his books had to be cut or changed for the TV series, his good humor is contagious. A bonus which comes with the episodes of the #5 collection, this video gives warmth and a personal touch to the series. n Mary Whipple