A Summer Thaw

John Thaw didn't mind being called "the thinking man's cop," as some critics labeled him, but hated to be called what those same critics have also tagged him -- "the thinking women's crumpet." He made Inspector Morse his own, projecting in full the sad sensitivity, melancholy and vulnerability written into the character by his creator, novelist Colin Dexter. Inspector Morse was a sentimental detective who solved crimes intuitively, most often alone in his room while sipping his favorite ale and listening to classical music on his stereo. He remained unmarried even though he sought romance with various women. And he still refused to divulge his first name. "Just call me Morse," he told inquirers. Kevin Whately played Sergeant Lewis, Morse's second-in-command whose main job seems to be hauling the detective back to earth when he resorts to flights of fancy to unveil the murderer. Together they tackled two intriguing cases.

In The Infernal Serpent, Morse investigated the death of an imminent scientist who was attacked minutes to deliver a controversial speech about the environment. Morse suspected that Sylvie Maxton, a journalist, held the key to a closet full of skeletons the don and his family prefered to remain locked. Alma Cullen based her script on author Dexter's idea, which was produced by David Lascelles and directed by John Madden.

In Masonic Mysteries, Morse and his new love, Beryl Newsome (played by Whatley's real-life wife, Madelaine Newton) were singing in the chorus of a local production of The Magic Flute when she was killed. As the evidence against Morse built, even ever-loyal Sergeant Lewis began to believe his chief might be guilty. But then Morse was finally released to supervise the murder investigation.

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