Robert-Wise Movie Reviews

This is a curious perspective on Morse. At the church he seems smitten by Ruth at first glance and in a way the episode is about Morse persuing Ruth until he apparently succeeds only to be thwarted.

Service of all the Dead has all of the trappings of Colin Dexter's Oxford - the central role of ritual, social class, and the little details which make these shows so good - in this case the idea that there could be tramps in Oxford ( a recurring theme), the cycle riding middle classes, volunteerrism and carers. All good ingredients.

This particular drama is one of the most gruesome with six deaths all together. Also novel is the fact that the opening scene is found to be a set up. A lot of the death's seem to be red herrings too, to throw us off the scent.

There is a particulary sensitive scene which has some relevance to contemporary events in a different church where Morse perceives the vicar as a paedophile. Later on the child in question is found murdered although the exhumation of the body is not filmed.

Service of all the Dead is a gripping thriller replete with issues of blackmail, infidelity, revenge etc. Throughout it all Morse holds true to his feelings for Ruth and, despite the revelation that she loved someone else, he offers her a helping hand which, if discovered, could cost him his livelihood and his liberty.

As one of the characters puts it, an alpha.

Volume two covers:

Episode 3. "Rumpole and the Sporting Life" Watch closely especially everyone's expression as the clues start from the first. A man (who everyone knows is obnoxious) is found dead. His wife is standing over him with a shot gun and says it was an accident. Rumpole has to defend her with a known hanging judge. Everyone has their own agenda including Mrs. Rumpole who wants to move to the country.

Episode 4. "Rumpole and the Blind Tasting" Once again watch expressions for unsaid clues. Rumpole delves into the world of wine tasting and collecting which assists him in a case of insurance fraud. In the process he gains an understudy (24 years old and female) which Mrs. Rumpole's friend suspects that Rumpole is studying.

Volume Three covers:

Episode 4. "Rumpole's Last Case" As usual several overlapping stories interacts as Rumpole may even over react. Mr. Rumpole has parlayed a two pound bet into 100 pounds. Strange his wife also spends that amount on a new rug. Well anyway he gets a tip from his client that is in for burglary and possible carrying a gun. Why not 100 to 30000 and hence his last Case. Going out in stile he lets everyone know what he thinks including the judge.

Episode 5. "Rumpole and the Judge's Elbow" A judge has a bit of tennis elbow. Doctor's advice does not seem to be working so on other advice he visits and alternative clinic (massage parlor). Some one paid with a credit card. And guess who gets to defend a massage parlor owner and rummage through credit card receipts? Yep Rumpole for some reason is offered the Deputy Circuit Judge.

A note on the side you will recognize many of the actors from both Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers movies.

From the box:

Episode 9. Rumpole and the Female of the Species - Rumpole finds himself playing two roles at the same time: defending a small time thief charged with armed robbery in court while orchestrating a promotion behind the scenes for a young female barrister who thinks she's being discriminated against.

Episode 10. Rumpole and the Official Secret - Rumpole discovers that things aren't always what they seem as he defends an eccentric Defense Ministry clerk accused of leaking secrets to the press and confronts his own wife about a visitor who may or may not be part of a terrorist organization.

During high school, his rough style at playing ice hockey, caught the eye of actor Douglas Fairbanks. On that day, Wellman made a resounding impact on Fairbanks, and that changed the course of Wellman's life. Wellman got the nickname "Wild Bill" in France, during World War I. The French gave him that name for extremely aggressive actions as a bomber pilot.

After the war, he contacted Douglas Fairbanks, asking about employment in films. After being given a role in a film, he became disgusted with himself on screen. He then asked if he could become a movie director. While working as an assistant director for director Bernard Durning on a film, he shot some footage for 2 weeks. Wellman filled in for Durning, who went on a drinking binge and could not go on with his job. The studio was more impressed with the footage Wellman shot than Durning's footage. Durning told the studio, you should make Wellman a director.

Films about the war were popular at the time. A film called "Wings" came along, and because of Wellman's experience as a war pilot, he was given the job of director. The film had a cameo appearance by Gary Cooper, which boosted his career for the future. The movie, Wings (1927), won the first ever Academy Award for best picture.

Wellman was a director for 35 years. He directed more than 70 movies. His films include Public Enemy (1931), A Star Is Born (1937), Beau Geste (1939), The Ox-Bow Incident (1943), The Story Of G.I. Joe (1945), Yellow Sky (1948), Battleground (1949) and The High and the Mighty (1954). His work received 32 Academy Award nominations, 4 were for best picture and 3 for best director. His only Oscar would be for "A Star Is Born". The Directors Guild gave him their award of the highest honor, the D.W. Griffith Award For Lifetime Achievement. Right before he died, he told his son not to feel sorry for him because he had lived the life of a 100 men. I was deeply touched by this great documentary of a man who lived his life to the fullest, with incredible style. James Garner said about Wellman, he gave better than he got, he was a very strong personality.