Kevin James Movie:

		List Price: $19.98		Label: Bfs Entertainment Salesrank: 82409 Released: February 4, 2003
		Our Price: $11.44
		Used Price: $8.99
		MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated) Media: DVD

Inspector Morse - Masonic Mysteries Reviews:
"Life...that's what leaves the mess, Lewis. Mad people everywhere."
2007-09-26 - Always somewhat cynical regarding human nature, Inspector Morse (the brilliant John Thaw) has more reason than usual to be cynical in this episode. His most recent lady friend, who is participating with him in a local production of Mozart's The Magic Flute, is called from a rehearsal and murdered. When the police arrive, Morse is bent over her, a knife in his hand. Subsequent investigation incriminates Morse further, and he is arrested for the murder. The obnoxious, by-the-book Chief Inspector Bottomley (Richard Kane) is in charge of the investigation, and, to add insult to injury, Sgt. Lewis (Kevin Whately), Morse's trusty sidekick, is assigned to assist Bottomley.

A fascinating mystery for its links to Morse's past cases, this is also a particularly unusual one. Mozart was a Freemason, and his opera, The Magic Flute, is filled with the symbolism of Freemasonry. The action of this episode, with its references to Zoroaster (Sarastro) and trials representing earth, air, fire, and water continue the symbolism within this episode, providing modern parallels, some of which are not fully explained to the viewer. Bottomley is a Mason, as are some of the other characters, and Morse, who is not a Mason, begins to wonder if this is a setup involving the secret Masonic Order.

While it is certainly a setup, Morse and the police may be looking in the wrong place. The body of a clergyman who runs a homeless shelter, which is found inside Morse's house, adds to the case against Morse, as does a check of his bank accounts. Morse's involvement in a fire provides the turning point in the investigation. Not as unified or clear for the viewer as some of the other Morse mysteries, this episode is still fun to watch, and the emphasis on the music, and Morse's position as a victim here, make this one of the most unusual of the Morse episodes.

Sgt. Lewis's expertise with the "new" computer and its languages and operations dates the story (which was filmed in 1990) but shows the contrast between the old and new methods of police detection. The final confrontation between Morse and the murderer emphasizes the vulnerability of British police, who do not carry guns, while the involvement of an unsuspected accomplice adds to the excitement of the episode. Well acted, as always, beautifully photographed, and consistent with the characterizations that lovers of this series have come to expect, the Masonic Mysteries is an appealing episode which may carry more significance for Freemasons than for the rest of us. n Mary Whipple


The Magic Flute
2006-12-03 - The music and story of The Magic Flute are used liberally in this excellent episode. Just as Tamino and Papageno must endure their trials in the opera, Morse must also face an extensive number of trials before moving on to the resolution of this episode. Morse has two romantic interests in this entry; the first is Beryl Newsome who is appearing in the chorus of The Magic Flute along with Morse. But alas Beryl is murdered very early in our story. The second is Marion Brooke with whom Morse sets a tentative lunch date - which never occurs. Her role over the balance of the story is certainly not what Morse had envisioned. James Grout, as Chief Superintendent Strange, has a larger part then usual, while Lewis' computer expertise foreshadows an important line of inquiry.

Intricate. Involved. Unbelievable. Unusual.
2005-08-14 - "The Masonic Mysteries" begins with our lovable curmudgeon, Morse, and his new love interest, Beryl, on their way to a rehearsal of Mozart's Magic Flute. Unknown to Morse, this opera will become a blueprint for a plot against him over the next several weeks. Beryl rebukes Morse for driving like a lunatic and dumps him.

Minutes later, during rehearsal, Beryl is killed and, to the shock of the onlookers, her body is discovered....in Morse's arms, an accusing knife firmly in his grip. Ridiculously, the witless Inspector Bottomly and equally hapless Chief Inspector accuse Morse of the dastardly deed and lock him up.

The true assailant, wonderfully played by the Emperor of Star Wars fame, proceeds to roll out his elaborate frame-up of Morse causing no end of angst for our defenseless hero.

Of the Morse series, this is not one of the best. Even a child could discern that Morse could not commit the crime and the two hours become a tedious exploration of buffoonery by the worm-like Bottomly.

I would skip this episode and go on to the next.


suspended disbelief required
2005-02-12 - The plot of this story is the most unrealistic of the series. The bad guy has to have a God-like knowledge of every secret of Morse's life including his bank account numbers and advanced knowledge of where he will be at every second of the day.

This plot would work better on The Avengers than on this serious police program.

One of the best and most unusual of the Morse series.
2004-08-23 - Masonic Mysteries is one of the best Inspector Morse DVDs and this is high praise indeed. Also, it is unique in that Morse is the prime murder suspect. The tables are turned as Morse finds himself the target of an ingenious adversary who has studied Morse's habits and who has access to Morse's home and the police data base in Oxford.

The story begins at a rehearsal for Mozart's opera, The Magic Flute. Morse discovers that a lady friend has been stabbed to death in a cloak room at the opera house. As the police arrive they see Morse holding the dead woman with what appears to be the murder weapon in his hand. Morse is immediately relieved of his duties by the Chief Constable. Morse is replaced by Chief Inspector Bottomley, a man who dislikes Morse and his methods and would like nothing better than to see Morse charged with murder.

Fortunately for Morse, his faithful assistant Sgt. Lewis believes in Morse's innocence and begins to collect the evidence that will eventually clear his boss. From beginning to end Lewis shines in this installment of the Inspector Morse series. He is almost as capable as Morse himself and Morse recognizes the value of his aid. Also, for the first time in this series, Morse himself is less curmudgeonly than ususal. Julian Mitchell, the writer of this installment in a lengthy series of mysteries, portrays Morse as vulnerable and confused, which is perfectly appropriate given the fact that Morse is imprisoned for a short time and seemingly helpless.

The reason for Morse's predicament is his adversary, Hugo de Vries. In all the Morse mysteries, de Vries is, perhaps, the most sinister and resourceful criminal Morse has faced. He reminds us of Sherlock Holmes' arch enemy, Professor Moriarty. De Vries is a killer, a con man, a computer hacker, and a thief, even though he looks like an Oxford don. All of Morse's skill and ingenuity are needed to defend himself from de Vries. The ending of the story is one more twist in a plot that is full of twists and turns.

Everything about Masonic Mysteries is first-rate. The cast includes John Thaw as Inspector Morse. Thaw is a fine actor and he is at his best as Inspector Morse. Kevin Whately is equally good as Morse's patient and long suffering Sergeant Lewis. Of special note is Ian McDiarmid as the evil Hugo de Vries. McDiarmid exudes cunning and deviltry. He is more than a match for Morse. The rest of the cast supports the leads perfectly.

The music in Masonic Mysteries is not just window dressing. Mozart's opera The Magic Flute can be heard throughout the program and Morse uses the libretto for The Magic Flute to try and help him understand the various clues in the case. In one chilling scene de Vries has placed an incendiary device in a special music tape that lulls Morse to sleep on his couch and almost kills him with a fire that destroys a portion of his home.

From first to last Masonic Mysteries is filled with murder and mayhem, twists and turns, hope and despair, and in the end a climax fitting to all the elements which have come before it. Those Morse fans who have not seen this installment are almost sure to love it. Those viewers new to the Inspector Morse series are in for a treat.