Inspector Morse – The
Infernal Serpent (BFS/6 telefilm
set)
Picture: C
Sound: C+ Extras: C Telefilms: B
In the late 1980s, early 1990s, Inspector Morse was
the detective show to beat. Remarkably,
only 33 telefilms were produced, but even revivals of Hercule Poirot and
Sherlock Holmes could not match what was the end of the line for a long
tradition of such shows on British TV going back to the 1960s. BFS has issued a terrific six-DVD package of
the telefilms dubbed The Infernal Serpent, named after one of the six
shows contained within, among several sets now available on the market.
John Thaw became an international TV star as the famous
Chief Inspector, riding around in his Jaguar XK-120 (a car previously
associated with gangsters and highly collectible by fans in its long
out-of-production Dinky Toys diecast edition) solving case after case. The shows are as follows from the beginning
of 4th season as follows and its known guest stars:
1) The
Infernal Serpent – Geoffrey Palmer, Barbara Leigh-Hunt and Tom
Wilkinson
2) The Sins
Of The Father – Lionel Jeffreys
3) Driven
To Distraction – Patrick Malahide
4) Masonic
Mysteries – Iain Cuthbertson
5) Second
Time Around – Ann Bell
6) Fat
Chance – Zoe Wanamaker
Colin Dexter also appears uncredited in some shows.
These shows avoided formula more often than their
counterparts or imitators and that Thaw could carry the show among so much
talent is amazing. There is something
better rounded and better paced about these shows. The fact that they were hits makes total sense after you watch
just a couple of them. There is real
thinking and detective work involved that is palpable and best of all, it is
not as talky (like the better Columbo shows) in a way that demands that
viewers have more of an attention span than usual for recent Detective Fiction
on TV. That is a great reason to catch Inspector
Morse on DVD, especially if you never have seen it before.
The 1.33 x 1 image was shot in 16mm film with Panaflex 16
camera on Kodak film. These are PAL
video masters converted to NTSC and the results are mixed. These have the older BFS logo on them, so we
can chalk up part of the slight haziness to transfer age in this case. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has no Pro
Logic surrounds, but sounds very good.
All DVDs have text extras on Thaw, the cast (bio/filmographies) and even
trivia. This is one of several mega
sets BFS has issued, something fans will be happy to hear. Thaw went on to another hit in the genre
with Kavanagh Q.C. (also out on DVD from BFS) and exceptional TV movies
like Goodnight Mister Tom (all reviewed on this site). Thaw is no longer with us, but what a great
legacy to leave.
- Nicholas Sheffo
