I had watched all of the Inspector Morse episodes a few months ago, which was quite painful going back to the ones from the 80’s and early 90’s. Normally I hate watching tv that’s more than a few years old because it always seems so dated but I decided to check out Kavanagh QC and thought it was quite good. Of course most people here don’t seem to think much of my taste, but be that as it may, I’m pretty sure most do have some respect for JT as an actor, so I figured it was worth a thread to catch whatever comments people might have.
I think he’s a wonderful actor and at some point will try to overcome my loathing for old television once again and check out Monsignor Renard and A Year in Provence, assuming I can find both of those. I’ve been surprised at my luck so far. But I’d be interested in any comments about his filmography.
It’s ok deltasigma. I also appreciated his body of work as Inspector Morse and am glad that ‘Inspector Lewis’, with Kevin Watley, is on, also (however infrequently).
I’m not sure I approve of ‘Endevour’ portraying the younger Morse, but I don’t get to watch that very much.
Thanks. Kavanagh QC was a 90’s UK serial where he plays a barrister, a Queen’s Counsel barrister or ‘silk’ to be precise, which represents the senior ranks of the profession. In fact I think there is currently a show that airs here on PBS called Silkthat follows a very similar premise.
Well … he sort of improved as the years went by, imo. This was his breakthrough part, a hugely popular cops n robbers show from the 70s - with JT in his big (and final) scene:
It’s not much of a contribution, but for what it’s worth… I used to work with someone who was a neighbour of John Thaw in his later years, and apparently he was a very very nice man. Always polite, genteel and affable.
Inspector Morse is one of the few series from that era that I can still thoroughly enjoy. There are bits that are difficult to watch purely due to the passage of time (acting style, dialog, pace, etc.), but John Thaw’s acting (amongst a few others in the main cast) more than makes up for it. Of course he couldn’t shine without good writing, directing, etc.
Thanks for posting this. I’ve made a mental note to revisit the series soon.
I’ve seen favorable comments about The Sweeney a few times here and there over the years and should probably check it out, but I don’t know if I can handle 70’s television. That might be too depressing. I was trying to watch Doctor Who from the beginning last year and got a few seasons into the first doctor’s tenure. But that was the 60’s and black and white which I seem to find less objectionable for some reason. Anyway, that didn’t really bother me too much. So I might be able to do it at some point.
I don’t know why things so seemingly superficial should be such an issue for me. I think it’s probably just a matter of acclimating. Although now that I think about it, I didn’t really have a problem with either Life on Mars series, so I’m not sure that’s it either. Weird.
I’m a huge Inspector Morse fan of both the TV series and especially the books. I was stationed with the US Air Force at RAF Upper Heyford which is near Oxford between 1988 and 1992. I visited Oxford and the surrounding area often and recognize places shown and described.
I had the pleasure of meeting Colin Dexter at a book signing in St. Louis in the mid-90s. When I mentioned that I recently lived near Oxford, he talked to me for a couple of minutes. Very nice gentleman and a great writer. I like his cameos in the TV shows.
Certainly he nailed the hard drinking-blokey cop in charge of the flying squad (or sweeny tod) at scotland yard.
His sidekick Denis Waterman went on to make something of a career here, and now appears on Sunday nights as a member of some super-annuated police outfit.
Thaw though was born to play Morse and will like remain best remembered for his part in the clever detective series based in Oxford,
They should have let it die with him IMO and not kept milking it with KW
Avoid A Year in Provence like the plague. I am a John Thaw fan, and the books are a pleasant if light read - but the TV series was utterly dire!
To see him showing how versatile he was, do get hold of Goodnight, Mr Tom. Be prepared for a very different performance.
I’ll probably take a look at Provence anyway, but I’ll keep that in mind - thanks. And it looks like I’ll be able to get my hands on that movie as well so thanks there too. Seems to have a pretty high fan rating.
