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: 2
• Studio: Bfs Entertainment
• VHS Release Date: February 3, 2001
• Run Time: 150 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000056T4Y
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #130,048 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Relish the Well-done Remorseful Day, May 25, 2001

By 

Matthew Gladney (Champaign-Urbana, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inspector Morse - The Remorseful Day [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is probably one of the best (if not *the* best) Inspector Morse television episode. I admit to alot of that bias *not* going toward it for being the final installment of the series, but more for it being such a WELL-DONE final installment of the series.

The obligatory murder plot/premise has to do with the re-opening of a case involving the death of a middle-aged temptress/nurse named Yvonne Harrison. Lewis and Morse tackle the case, with the latter acting particularly strange concerning many aspects of the matter. There are a plethora of suspects, one of whom is Morse's own doctor, which conveniently leads to scenes showing how the great Chief Inspector's health is deteriorating rapidly. The Harrison case, while definitely being worked-through carefully, isn't the real focus of the story.

Morse's plight is the prime meaning behind "The Remorseful Day". Never before has the character been rendered so human, and so pathetic. His lady-friend (appearing in recent TV adaptations) has apparently left him, and so Morse is utterly alone. There are poignant scenes between he and Lewis, of him making final preparations, and of him sitting alone in his home listening to profoundly sad classical music. John Thaw as Morse gives a veritable tour-de-force, in the most subtle and gracious way possible, of the great detective in his declining days.

Special note should be given to all involved in the television adaptation, for they have, in my opinion, surpassed the novel. Colin Dexter's book was fine, but it dealt more heavily with the actual murder case, and the illness of Morse was left for small parts, usually at the end of each day. Here, with the version made for the small screen, we have the situation of Morse's closing life brought to the forefront. It is done well, and an experience to watch.

The last scene is terribly moving. I always make it a point to realize that when I sit down to watch a movie or television show, NOT to get too emotional, because there are only actors upon the screen - nothing is real. I thought I would be able to hold forth with said beliefs while watching "The Remorseful Day". But the very last scene, involving just Lewis and Morse, brought tears to my eyes. The swelling music and the starkness of the scene was a wonderful way to end the series.

The impression left is one not easily forgotten.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The video also includes..., February 3, 2001

By 

"johnnyrogue" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inspector Morse - The Remorseful Day [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Here's my little addition to my previous review. THE REMORSEFUL DAY video also includes another tape, a 55min. little documentary called THE LAST MORSE. We get interviews of John Thaw and Kevin Whatley, Colin Dexter as well as from some interesting ones of Daniel Boyle and others. Like the other Morse documentary THE MAKING OF INSPECTOR MORSE, THE LAST MORSE retraces the popularity of the Morse series by examining Morse as a character and seeing what aspects of the series make the films so compelling. Although this documentary makes no attempt at being different in form from THE MAKING OF INSPECTOR MORSE, it is nonetheless a worthwhile 55 minutes. I only wished that they had included an interview with JAMES GROUT, or even perhaps JACK GOLD (director of THE REMORSEFUL DAY) or others involved in the making of the last Morse film. Even with those criticisms, THE LAST MORSE is a nice surprise in the REMORSEFUL DAY video package, and it is a nice to watch right after THE REMORSEFUL DAY so as to help one fully digest what he/she has just viewed--that is, the last Morse film. A nice touch. And very appropriate.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Morse's End Predates John Thaw's by Only a Few Years, February 22, 2002

By 

Scott FS (Sacramento, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Inspector Morse - The Remorseful Day [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Sad to see that the great actor, John Thaw has passed away from esophageal cancer.

This episode is on par with all of the other great episodes of this outstanding series. Thaw's portrayal of an intellectual, world-weary British detective who confronts often complex and involved cases of murder and other crimes.

Now episode to this point really brought home to me how much I loved Inspector Morse. I was actually quite angry to see the great Inspector face such health problems (an understatement), but in light of John Thaw's actual illness, I guess it is to be expected.

My only regret is that there are not 100 more episodes hidden away somewhere. Inspector Morse and John Thaw will be sorely missed.