"Inspector Morse" Happy Families (1992)

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Director:

Adrian Shergold

Writers:

Colin Dexter (characters)
Daniel Boyle (written by)

TV Series:

"Inspector Morse" (1987)

Original Air Date:

11 March 1992 (Season 6, Episode 2)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

Morse and Lewis investigate the murder of wealthy industrialist Sir John Balcombe. There is little love...

Plot Keywords:

Oxford | Police | Detective | Inspector | Police Detective

Cast

John Thaw	...	Chief Inspector Morse
Kevin Whately	...	Detective Sergeant Lewis
Sukie Smith	...	Lorraine
Gwen Taylor	...	Margaret Cliff
Martin Clunes	...	James Balcombe
George Raistrick	...	Sir John Balcombe
Jonathan Coy	...	Harry Balcombe
Andrew Ray	...	Alfred Rydale
Anna Massey	...	Lady Emily Balcombe
Mark Draper	...	Constable
Rupert Graves	...	Billy
Jamie Foreman	...	Chas
Liz Kettle	...	WPC (as Elizabeth Kettle)
Alun Armstrong	...	Superintendent Holdsby
Tony Guilfoyle	...	Journalist One

Filming Locations:

Oriel College, Oriel Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Trivia:

During the filming of Colin Dexter's cameo role as a tramp, filmed from the top of the Carfax tower, a real down-and-out approached him, grabbed his bottle of "meths" and ran off - only to find that it contained just water.

Quotes:

[the pathologist is examining a second body, found with a chisel embedded in it The first body was murdered with a stone mason's hammer]
Pathologist: Bring in any more and we'll soon have a full kit of tools.

One of the more complex Morse episodes, and a fine one it is too.

Happy Families is a wonderful entry of the much-loved detective series, and actually one of my favourites. John Thaw and Kevin Whately maintain their usual standard of acting, which is nothing short of perfection, particularly Thaw. I know Thaw wasn't the typical Hollywood looker, but his amazing acting ability was what touched people most, and when he died, Britain did lose a great actor, and even that word doesn't do justice to the talent the man had. The script and the plot are excellent, full of complex issues, like Morse's persecution with the press. The camera-work is very slick, and the final solution, while not the most ingenious of the Morse episodes was still clever and entirely unpredictable. I also liked the supporting actors, especially Martin Clunes, in definitely one of his better and more understated performances, but the performances of Anna Massey, Allun Armstrong and Gwen Taylor also impress, and Rupert Graves seems to be enjoying himself as the ruthless newspaper man. All in all, a very complex mystery, developed into a very well-done and intelligent episode. 10/10 Bethany Cox.