Death Is Now My Neighbour 

When the next-door neighbor of a murdered woman is also killed, Morse suspects the first shooting may have been an error.

Director:

Charles Beeson

Writers:

Colin Dexter (novel), Julian Mitchell

Stars:

John Thaw, Kevin Whately, Mark McGann

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
John Thaw	...	Chief Inspector Morse
Kevin Whately	...	Detective Sergeant Lewis
Mark McGann	...	Geoffrey Owens
Julia Dalkin	...	Rachel James
Judy Loe	...	Adele Cecil
Susan Field	...	Mrs. Adams
James Grout	...	Chief Superintendent Strange
Clare Holman	...	Dr. Laura Hobson
Roger Allam	...	Denis Cornford
Holley Chant	...	Shelly Cornford
Richard Briers	...	Sir Clixby Bream
Susan Engel	...	Dora Hammersby
John Shrapnel	...	Dr. Julian Storrs
Lloyd Hutchinson	...	DC Jackson
Maggie Steed	...	Angela Storrs

Storyline

Rachel James is shot through her kitchen window while having breakfast early one morning. She was having an affair with Dr. Julian Storrs, an Oxford professor who is a candidate for Master of Lonsdale College. When her next door neighbor is also killed however, Morse determines that the shooting of James may have been in error. Morse also suspects that he may have been a blackmailer. Both Storrs and his rival for the Master's position, Denis Cornford, had secrets that would make them suspects. Morse determines that several others also had things to hide and any one of them could have committed the murders.

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Plot Keywords:

neighbor | breakfast | professor | female pathologist | reference to william shakespeare | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Has Three actors with leading or supporting roles in both Morse spinoffs. Roger Allam from Endeavor, Kevin Whatley and Claire Holm from inspector Lewis

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Goofs

When Miss James' neighbour says she saw a man out back while she was putting the ashes out, none of the houses shown in the long shots have a chimney so would not have any ashes to put out.

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Quotes

[to Morse]
Adele Cecil: People who like crosswords have blanks in their lives, and they haven't a clue how to fill them in, don't you think.
[She hands him a drink]

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Connections

Edited into Inspector Morse: Rest in Peace (2000)

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Soundtracks

Non so più
(from "Le nozze di Figaro")
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (as W.A. Mozart)
Sung by Nina Tilbury

User Reviews

This is tough to watch, due to the brilliance of Briers

A more traditional story for Morse you couldn't dream of, Morse called in to investigate a killing at an Oxford College. The College is going through change, a new Master is taking over from Sir Clixby Bream, and the candidates will do anything for the prestigious role.

A fantastic story, very complex and twisted, beautifully performed by all concerned. An incredibly tight script, and notable for being the episode where his name is finally revealed.

One of the latter episodes, and for my money possibly John Thaw's finest performance in the much loved role. I mention I find it a tough watch, not through the story or quality of the episode, just because of the venomous and abhorrent character that Richard Briers created with Sir Clixby Bream, even that black hair is repugnant. The scene where he confesses his misdemeanour to Shelly Cornford is shocking, but well executed.

All the cast shine through, Maggie Steed and Judy Loe are particularly good.

So good, I wondered if there was a consideration for it to have rounded of the series. 9/10

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 November 1997 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Royal Crescent, Bath, Somerset, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carlton UK Productions, WGBH

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1