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Inspector Morse
S6.E1
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IMDbPro

Dead on Time

  • Episode aired Feb 26, 1992
  • TV-14
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
977
YOUR RATING
John Thaw and Kevin Whately in Inspector Morse (1987)
CrimeDramaMystery

A respected, dying Oxford don, husband of Morse's former fiancée, apparently shoots himself, but his doctor asserts that he was not capable of firing a gun.A respected, dying Oxford don, husband of Morse's former fiancée, apparently shoots himself, but his doctor asserts that he was not capable of firing a gun.A respected, dying Oxford don, husband of Morse's former fiancée, apparently shoots himself, but his doctor asserts that he was not capable of firing a gun.

  • Director
    • John Madden
  • Writers
    • Daniel Boyle
    • Colin Dexter
    • Kenny McBain
  • Stars
    • John Thaw
    • Kevin Whately
    • Brendan O'Hea
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.3/10
    977
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Madden
    • Writers
      • Daniel Boyle
      • Colin Dexter
      • Kenny McBain
    • Stars
      • John Thaw
      • Kevin Whately
      • Brendan O'Hea
    • 20User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos6

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    Top cast25

    Edit
    John Thaw
    John Thaw
    • Chief Inspector Morse
    Kevin Whately
    Kevin Whately
    • Detective Sergeant Lewis
    Brendan O'Hea
    • Telecom Engineer
    David Haig
    David Haig
    • Peter Rhodes
    Susan Jane Tanner
    • Nurse Rogers
    • (as Susan-Jane Tanner)
    James Walker
    • Henry Fallon
    Martyn Waites
    • Duty Constable
    Thomas Craig
    Thomas Craig
    • Desk Sergeant
    Roger Frost
    Roger Frost
    • Photographer
    James Grant
    • McGregor
    Richard Pasco
    Richard Pasco
    • William Bryce-Morgan
    Joanna David
    Joanna David
    • Susan Fallon
    Lesley Vickerage
    Lesley Vickerage
    • WPC
    Christopher Owen
    • Solicitor
    Richard Hampton
    • Coroner
    Tony Mathews
    Tony Mathews
    • Pathologist
    Samantha Bond
    Samantha Bond
    • Helen Marriat
    Adrian Dunbar
    Adrian Dunbar
    • John Marriat
    • Director
      • John Madden
    • Writers
      • Daniel Boyle
      • Colin Dexter
      • Kenny McBain
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews20

    8.3977
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    Featured reviews

    9Hitchcoc

    Will Morse Ever Get the Girl?

    Certainly, this is one of the better episodes of this series. An Oxford Don is found dead at his desk, an apparent suicide. When Morse comes to investigate, he realizes this is the husband of a woman he was once engaged to. The cause of death becomes questionable because of the timing of some phone calls. Morse begins to come into conflict with Lewis after he seeks out the former lover and soon becomes blinded to some possibilities. Mixed in all of this is the death of a mother and her child and an apparent cover-up. Once again Morse starts to move into a romantic relationship but can't break through the shadows.
    9Sulla-2

    Lewis solves it.

    There is the apparent suicide of Henry Fallon who, suffering from a fatal disease, appears to have shot himself. The problem is that he is deemed to be incapable of performing the act. The victims wife was, at one time, engaged to be married to Morse - Susan Fallon.

    Suspicion falls on Peter Rhodes,who is thought to be responsible for the deaths of Henry and Susan Fallon's daughter and grandchild. Fallon had asked him at 3.pm to come to the house at 6.0pm but the evidence appears to be that his phone was out of order at the time.

    This episode fully explores the relationship between Morse and Lewis which has not, in my opinion, been given full credit. There are few partnerships that have the chemistry of these two characters.

    Morse eventually comes to the conclusion that it was an assisted suicide but never actually solves the mystery. Lewis does but keeps it to himself.

    My problem with this is that Morse just lets it go and does not appear to want to continue his enquiries. Totally out of character.
    10susanhudek53

    One of the Best

    I loved this episode. We definitely get more of an insight into the characters of Morse and Lewis. Lewis has a true love for Morse and Morse is so despairingly in need of someone's love. John Thaw is wonderful in this show..his character has so many facets to his personality. He's not just a grumpy guy..he's so much more. Lewis is truly a kind and very efficient partner..I just love his character more and more. I bought the box set from Amazon..money very well spent.
    9grantss

    Intriguing, emotional episode

    An ailing man is found dead from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound and all the evidence points to it being suicide. However, his doctor disputes this, saying that he was not physically able to pull the trigger. Morse and Lewis investigate.

    An interesting and emotional Morse episode. We have the intrigue of the death and the possibility that it is murder. We have Morse's personal involvement: the wife of the dead man was once his fiancee. This all leads to some interesting developments and an emotional ending.

    The Morse entanglement with a female person of interest in a case is beginning to wear thin though. Due to the conflict of interest you'd think either he'd have to remove himself from the case or his superiors would make that decision for him. At least in this case it's an old flame, rather than him taking a fancy to a woman that's potentially involved in the crime, but it is starting to be predictable.
    10Sleepin_Dragon

    Outstanding.

    Morse is one of the best shows ever made, when it's good it's good, when it's on top form very little comes close, this is one of the best.

    Dead on time is a fabulous murder mystery, but it is so much more, we get such an insight into the personal life of Morse, we meet the woman that he almost married, plus we see how much Lewis cares for his grumpy colleague.

    Such a smart plot, it will have you puzzled right the way through, you'll be intrigued, but you'll also be engrossed by Morse's behaviour as he is re acquainted with his former love.

    It's a wonderful episode for Lewis, possibly his best, he shows how clever he really is.

    An amazing cast, some truly brilliant talent pops up here, Joanna David is tremendous, she's fantastic throughout, mentions also for Samantha Bond and David Haig.

    One of the best of the best, 10/10.

    Related interests

    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)
    Mystery

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Joanna David who plays Susan in this episode is the aunt of Laurence Fox who plays DS James Hathaway in the Lewis series.
    • Goofs
      When Helen Marriat, played by Samantha Bond, phones Morse (around 52:58 minutes) there are scars on her right hand. On the next scene, when she meets Morse, the scars are on her left hand.
    • Quotes

      Chief Inspector Morse: It was Mrs. Fallon I knew before she became Mrs. Fallon, Lewis. We were engaged to be married.

    • Connections
      Edited into Inspector Morse: Rest in Peace (2000)
    • Soundtracks
      String Quintet in C major
      Op.163, D.956,

      Composed by Franz Schubert

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 26, 1992 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Carlton Television (United Kingdom)
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • The Turf Tavern, 4-5 Bath Place, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Zenith Entertainment
      • Central Independent Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 43m(103 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1
      • 1.37 : 1

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