Roxy Cinema Standard View
Olivie Inoue
Two of my website subscribers, John and Cheryl think they may have spotted a second reference to Colin Dexter in the Endeavour episode Cartouche. The scene is around the one hour and thirteen minute mark. Eddie Nero is in his boxing club speaking on the phone to DeVere. There is a portrait above and to the right of Eddie. What do you think?
A former detective sergeant is found dead in his flat from what appears to be at first natural causes. However, Dr. DeBryn discovers that he was poisoned and another poisoning soon follows. Meanwhile the local cinema is preparing to welcome some famous Hollywood actors and directors to promote their latest film.
It would seem that I am not alone in thinking this as the viewing figures for the episode dipped below five million as did the first episode. I believe this is the first series of Endeavour where the figures have been less than five million.
Of course they have not yet counted those who watch on catch up etc but it is worrying. We all know that shows are judged on their viewing figures. If the figures dipped to around the 4 million mark there will be the chance ITV will cancel the series.
Another problem is the writer Russell Lewis continuing to insult our intelligence by his over use of exposition and repeating information of events that had gone before. The meetings with Bright seem to be nothing more than exposition and over explanations of past events.
How many more times is Russell Lewis going to put Endeavour in a dangerous situation. The original series did not need to use such low level tactics of explosions, gunplay, multiple murders, etc etc. The original John Thaw was loved because of its intelligent story telling, slow pacing and plots and stroylines that grew organically. What the writers of the original series also never did was try to shoehorn in current world events in to the show to make political points. Russell Lewis continues to do this all to often.
As I wrote in my previous review, I write honestly. As much as I love the Morse universe I could not in all consciousness write dishonestly. I understand that my honesty may lose me some blog readers but I would rather that happened than me writing a fawning review. I dislike what I often read on Facebook and Twitter where many people would never write a negative word about the series no matter how bad it was. This is either done out of a loyalty to the show, a fear of upsetting other fans or the worst reason because they cannot see beyond their love for Shaun Evans.
My penultimate criticism is that old, lazy ploy used by soap operas of overhearing something important. Three times is was done in the episode; when Leslie Garnier overheard Ronald Beavis and Commissionaire Edmund Gordon from the rooftop; the usherette Betty Perksie overheard De Vere and Leslie Garnier talking and Endeavour overhears Eddie Nero talking to De Vere. Admittedly Endeavour followed Nero but just happens to hear relevant information relating to the case.
So, enough negative criticism. Let us get on to what was good about the episode. Of course the acting was excellent as always. The direction, cinematography and that under-rated talent editing were top notch. (These were all let down by the poor special effects at the end of the episode during the burning down of the cinema). However if the effects were being done to emulate the likes of the Hammer Horror films then well done the special effects team.
One of the reasons for that speculation is my belief that Fred will retire at the end of this series and that Jim Strange will be moved to another station. I wrote about this in my previous review and it may have been unsuspectingly verified by Shaun Evans in his interview with BBC Radio Oxford. (Click here to listen to that interview). In that interview he said that at the end of the series they all go there separate ways when the Thames Valley merger happens.
When Russell Lewis spends time writing about the characters and less about film references and the like he is an excellent scribe. As I said last review . Please Russell forget the film references etc and concentrate on the characters and storyline.
The first of music is near the beginning of the episode where we find Morse in his flat. The music is from La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi an Italian opera composer . The piece is Libiamo ne` lieti calici.
When Endeavour first visits The Roxy on the cinema screen is news of protests of the Immigration Bill 1968. The Commonwealth Immigrants Act amended the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962, further reducing rights of citizens of the Commonwealth of Nations countries (as of 2010, comprising approximately 1.9 billion people, including New Zealand, Australia, The Republic of India, Islamic Republic of Pakistan (which included East Pakistan province), some African nations including Nigeria and many Caribbean islands) to migrate to the UK.
During the above mentioned visit, Fred talks about what he watched when he was a kid going to the Saturday morning show at his local cinema. He mentions Maroon cartoons. Of course, Maroon Cartoons is a fictional animation feature production studio located in Los Angeles, California from the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
When Endeavour takes Carol to the cinema during the showing of the new horror film she mentions the actor Jason Curwin who has walked in. Endeavour of course has no idea who she is talking about. She replies, The blind violinist in Two Weeks In August. With Diana Day. We have of course met Diana Day in the Endeavour episode, Trove, series 2, episode 1.
I think you are correct regrading the beginning of the modern age of Egyptology. It probably does start in 1822 with Jean-Franois Champollion deciphered hieroglyphs. Have you read The Keys of Egypt: The Race to Read the Hieroglyphs by Lesley Adkins and Roy Adkins? Fascinating read.
Look at the classic Morse episode Second Time Around where you are almost subconsciously drawn into a debate on the rights and wrongs of capital punishment and then compare to the un-subtle preaching on display here.
To be honest I almost hope this is the last series of Endeavour as it appears Russell Lewis is completely out of ideas as is starting to tarnish the legacy of the previous two series. I now wish they had carried on with a Hathaway spin off instead.
Hi Chris
My hubby and i were chuffed to notice the other film poster on the Roxy walls (to the left of She ( is The Devil Rides out) from the book by Dennis Wheatley. It is one of our favs and we meet friends every year in Elstree for a Dennis Wheatley convention. We have the pleasure to stay at the hotel which featured in the film and also in Terry Thomas / Alistair Sims School for Scoundrels.
I am delighted so many have posted on point and insightful and thoughtful views. I agreet an earlier love interest (?Momica Hicks?} was too abruptly ended, THANKS for reviving my interrest in the series.
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Great review. Thanks.
Incidentally (or coincidentally) Valdemar and Curwen are also characters from stories by EA Poe ( The Strange Case Of Monsieur Valdemar) and HP Lovecraft (The Case Of Charles Dexter Ward).
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