Welcome to a new post. I hope you enjoy my comprehensive review of The Wench is Dead. 

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SPOILERS AHEAD!

Where’s Colin?

Colin appears at 16 seconds.

Directed by Robert Knights. This is Robert’s only connection to the Morse Universe.

Written by Malcolm Bradbury. This is Malcolm’s only connection to the Morse Universe.

First broadcast in the UK, 11 November 1998.

SYNOPSIS

“The Wench Is Dead” episode is adapted from the twelfth book in the series, published in 1989. The storyline diverges from the typical contemporary murder mysteries that characterize most episodes of the series.

In “The Wench Is Dead,” Inspector Morse finds himself hospitalized due to a perforated ulcer. Bedridden and restless, Morse’s attention is captured by a book detailing a famous Victorian-era murder case. The case involved the death of a young woman named Joanna Franks, who was found drowned in the Oxford Canal in 1859. Two men were convicted and hanged for her murder, but Morse becomes increasingly convinced that there was a miscarriage of justice.

Meanwhile Lewis is on his inspector’s course.

With the help of his assigned assistant, Constable Adrian Kershaw , Morse delves into historical records, letters, and witness statements. Despite being confined to his hospital bed, Morse’s sharp intellect and investigative instincts lead him to uncover inconsistencies and overlooked evidence from the original investigation. He is determined to correct the historical wrong and exonerate the men who were executed.

The episode blends Morse’s signature methodical and intuitive detective work with a historical mystery, providing a rich and engaging narrative. It highlights Morse’s dedication to justice and truth, regardless of the era in which the crime occurred. The climax reveals a twist that challenges the accepted version of events, demonstrating Morse’s enduring commitment to uncovering the truth.

REVIEW.
(warning, this review will contain some spoilers)

Jags out of ten:

MUSIC.

At around 46 minutes Morse is back home and music is playing. It is Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto.

LITERARY REFERENCES.

At 24minutes Strange says, “Angel of Death fluttered its wings over his head.” This may be Strange paraphrasing Byron;

“For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast,
And breathed in the face of the foe as he passed;
And the eyes of the sleepers waxed deadly and chill,
And their hearts but once heaved, and for ever grew still!”

The Destruction of Sennacherib by Lord Byron.

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At 48 minutes when Morse is leaving the hospital he quotes Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “‘I think it frets the saints in heaven to see, How many desolate creatures on the earth, Have learned the simple dues of fellowship, And social comfort, in a hospital.’

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Near the end of the episode Morse says to the doctor, “To make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.”

“What we call the beginning is often the end
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
The end is where we start from…

We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
Through the unknown, remembered gate
When the last of earth left to discover
Is that which was the beginning…”

T.S. Eliot. From ‘Little Gidding’ the fourth and final poem of T. S. Eliot’s Four Quartets,

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The title of the episode is from Christopher Marlowe’s play, “The Jew of Malta.”

Thou hast committed, Fornication: but that was in another country, And besides, the wench is dead.”

ART

No art to speak of.

LOCATIONS. 

(For locations of colleges and pubs see the appropriate sections below).

At four minutes we see the ambulance leave with Morse inside.

The ambulance drives on to Parks Road. On the right is Weston Library and in the background is the Clarendon Building.

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Morse arrives at the hospital which is, St Peter’s Hospital, Chertsey.

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At four and a half minutes we see Adele at Oxford Railway Station.

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At 13 minutes we are taken to Victorian times as Morse begins to read Dr Van Buren’s book.

Many of the canal scenes were filmed at Braunston/Braunston Marina.

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At 14 minutes we see the boatmen carrying the body of Joanna Franks.

This is the Barge Inn, Honey Street, Pewsey, Wiltshire SN9 5PS. Modern elements of the In and the surrounding area were touched up to look Victorian. Later in the episode Morse and Kershaw visit the Barge Inn for a drink.

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At 15m14s we see police arrive to stop the canal boat.

This is near Braunston.

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At 22m29s we see the following scene.

This was filmed at the Black Country Living Museum.

The scenes where Joanna Franks meets the boatmen was also filmed at the Black Country Living Museum.

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Strange meets Adele.

This was filmed in the Randolph Hotel. The building in the background is the Ashmolean.

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At 37m20s we see Dr Van Buren walk toward and enter the Bodleian Library.

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At around 48 minutes we find Morse back at home.

This is 28 Castlebar Park in London.

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At 54 minutes Kershaw parks and visits the Oxford University Department of Criminology.

This is Wellington Square in Oxford.

Kershaw stands outside 32 Wellington Square.

This is number 32 today.

Above is known as, Barnett House, 32 Wellington Square and is home to the Department of Social Policy and Intervention.

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All the court scenes were filmed at St Albans Town Hall.

The old courtroom is now used as a cafe indoor seating area.

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At 1h and 2m we have the hanging scene.

This was filmed at Oxford castle and Prison.

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Kershaw and Morse meet Laura Hobson. Thank you to John who identified this location. John wrote, “This scene is outside the main entrance to Heinz Wolff building, Brunel University.”

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At 1 hour and 17 minutes, Morse, Kershaw and Van Buren visit a cemetery. I’m not sure of my deduction but I think it might be St Sepulchre’s Cemetery, Walton Street, Oxford.

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Morse sees off Dr Van Buren. Oxford railway station.

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Morse and Adele arrive in ‘Ireland.’ Ireland is actually Wales. The location is Aberdaron.

A local house became the police station.

This is St Hywyns Church, Aberdaron.

From the book, ‘Endeavouring to Crack the Morse Code’ by Paul and Jan Allen, “The (production team) wanted to dig a grave in the churchyard, but were unable to do so as it was full. They were able to dig one just over the wall and make it look like ab extension to the graveyard, with their own gravestones dressing the area.”

 

At 1h38m we get to see F.T. Donavan’s act.

This was filmed at Lyceum Theatre, Wellington Street, Covent Garden, London.

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PUB LOCATIONS.

Time – 1h08m44s

Pub – The Barge Inn, Honey Street, Pewsey, Wiltshire SN9 5PS.

 

Pub Today –

Location –

 

Info – The Barge Inn was built in 1810 to coincide with the opening of the Kennet and Avon Canal. Fire broke out on the 14th December, 1858 largely destroying the original building. However, due to its importance, the Barge Inn was rebuilt in just six months, an event commemorated by a plaque at the north gable end.

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Time – 1h19m54s

Morse, Kershaw and Dr Van Buren discuss the case.

The Crown Inn, High Street, Bray, Berkshire.

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OXFORD COLLEGES USED AS LOCATIONS.

First scene, where the conference is taking place is Wadham College.

2 minutes – Drinks after the conference.

This is Trinity College Dining Hall.

40 minutes – Dr. Van Buren walks and talks with PC Adrian Kershaw.

This is Trinity College.

59 minutes – Dr Van Buren receives a call from Morse.

This is Wadham College. In the background of the above picture we can see what we see in the photo below.

1h and 16 minutes. Van Buren and Morse walk and talk.

This is Wadham College.

Actors who appeared in Death is Now my Neighbour and/or Endeavour or Lewis.

Judy Loe, of course, appeared in the Morse episode, Death is Now my Neighbour.

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Clare Holman has of course appeared in almost all the episodes of the Lewis series. She appeared in the Morse episodes, The Way Through the Woods, Daughters of Cain, death is Now my Neighbour, The Wench is Dead and The Remorseful Day.

 

CONNECTIONS OTHER THAN ACTORS TO THE LEWIS, ORIGINAL MORSE SERIES AND PREVIOUS ENDEAVOUR EPISODES.

In this episode Strange mentions that Lewis is on an inspector’s course and that’s why we don’t see him in this episode. Interestingly, in the pilot episode of the Lewis series Lewis mentions to Laura Hobson that he was on an inspector’s course when Morse was looking into the juvenile case involving Danny Griffin.

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At around twelve minutes, Strange asks Kershaw to buy some grapes. Kershaw asks if he wants green or purple. Strange chooses purple. ?????

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The canals are a connection to the Endeavour canal murders in the episodes, Oracle, Raga and Zenana from the seventh series. There was also a death, the murder of Rose Anderson, beside a canal in the Lewis episode, Lions of Nemea.

Another canal death was in the Morse episode, The Last Enemy.

Miscellaneous.

Around the first minute mark Morse interrupts Dr. Millicent Van Buren naming the last man hanged in Oxford, Noah Austen in 1863. This is a true event.

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At 29m30s the surgeon is giving Morse the results of the biopsy. he says to Morse, “Prognosis: not bad. But only if you change your modus vivendi.” Modus vivendi (plural modi vivendi) is a Latin phrase that means “mode of living” or “way of life”.

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Joanna Franks husband was an Ostler: a man employed to look after the horses of people staying at an inn.

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Thank you to Benjamin who in the comments section wrote the following, “…the Victorian broadsheet projected on the screen around the 1 min 35 seconds mark (during Van Buren’s opening lecture) is real! It was produced for the execution of the boatmen at Stafford for the murder of Christina Collins in 1839. The production company licensed its use from the William Salt Library in Stafford, where Colin Dexter did his research for the original novel.”

IN MEMORIAM.

John Thaw (1942-2002).

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Malcolm Bradbury, Screenwriter. (1932-2000)

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James Grout (1927-2012)

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Alan Mason(1931-2015)

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Jeff Nuttal (1933-2004)

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Simeon Andrews (1956 – 20028).

THE MURDERED, THEIR MURDERER/S AND THEIR METHODS.

Unknown woman.

Killed by FT Donavan, also known as Donald Favant, also known as Charles Franks. Strangled.

CAST

John Thaw as Chief Inspector Morse.

 

James Grout as Chief Superintendent Strange

 

 

Clare Holman as Dr. Laura Hobson

 

 

Judy Loe as Adele Cecil

 

 

Lisa Eichhorn as Dr. Millicent ‘Millie’ Van Buren

 

Matthew Finney as PC Adrian Kershaw

 

Philip Quast as Mr. Benfield

 

Alan Mason as Mr. Greenaway

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Aline Mowat as Sister Nessie MacLean

 

Liam Barr as Thomas Wootton

 

Paul Mari as Rory Jack Oldfield

 

Kim Durham as Alfred Musson

 

David Keyes as Walter Towns

Michael Culkin as  Mr. Sergeant Williams, Prosecution

 

Jeff Nuttall as Mr. Justice Benham

 

Juliet Cowan as Joanna Franks

 

Sara Carver as Nurse Fiona

 

Kieran Aherne as Charles Franks

 

Nick Raggett as Stevens

 

Candida Rundle as Hannah McNeil

 

Sarah Lam as Susan Ho

 

Simeon Andrews as Mr. Sergeant Lyons, Defence