The Making of "Morse" - getting lost in "Endeavour"

From 1987 to 2000, reams of British Heritage readers joined global audiences reveling in the exploits of Inspector Morse. John Thaw’s portrayal of the Oxford and Oxford-educated detective of Colin Dexter’s novels stands as a classic of the English murder mystery genre. Single, laconic, fond of opera and ale, Morse was a loveable, vulnerable friend. Ironically, it wasn’t until the last of almost three dozen episodes that faithful fans ever learned Just-call-me-Morse’s given name.

A dozen years on, we have Endeavour. This engaging series takes us back to the mid-1960s, when a young Endeavour Morse is earning his spurs as a detective constable. Roger Allam costars as Morse’s boss DI Thursday, who takes the young, sometimes awkward detective under his wing with genuine caring—and justly gets rave reviews from viewers for his sensitive portrayal.

Series Two begins with Endeavour returning to duty following four months of recuperating from a gunshot. Unlike the confident, semi-cynical veteran Morse we’ve known, the brilliant young detective is diffident, skittish and almost wistful. Shaun Evans as Morse gives a deer-in-the-headlights impression, but always comes through in the end.

The story lines themselves are well written, but be forewarned: These are complex dramas. If you’re not paying full attention, it’s easy to get lost. The videography is superb, with the musical score and stylized filming reminiscent of the 1930s and ’40s; think Sam Spade and the Thin Man.

While our mature Morse was always impatiently schooling the young constable and detectives around him, the young Endeavour schools his seniors—to the amusement of DC Thursday and the annoyance of everyone else. Whether or not you are a Morse devotee, Endeavour is fun. We rarely get this kind of “Dorian Gray” look at old friends. Following the series’ popular run this summer on Masterpiece, PBS is offering the four-episode set on DVD and BlueRay. For those with Morse collections, or those who missed its PBS run, this is a great addition.

DVD

Endeavour: Series Two, starring Shaun Evans, 2-disc boxed set, PBS Distribution, Arlington, Va., 4 episodes, approx. 360 minutes, $39.99

Fine English Bistro Food with Style and in the Budget

“There’s more to life than a Steak, Guinness and Mushroom Pie. Hang on a second, no there isn’t.”
—Richard, Earl of Bradford

NO ONE HAD HEARD of the term gastropub when Porters opened its doors in Covent Garden back in 1979. Its mission remains the same today, however, as it was then: to serve up top-quality renditions of the classics of English plain cooking. It’s the English version of bistro bistro food—ultimately satisfying and not too expensive. On top of that, eating at Porters is fun; the décor is funky English eclectic, the staff smiling and the establishment determined not to take itself too seriously.

RESTAURANT

Porters English Restaurant
Henrietta Street, Covent Garden
www.porters.uk.com.

Porters is famous for pies. Think gamekeepers pie in a port and redcurrant sauce or fishermen’s pie of cod, prawns and salmon. Steak and kidney pudding, salmon and prawn fish cakes and toad-in-the-hole all reliably make an appearance, too. This is English comfort food, done with attention to detail and a comfortable style. No, this really isn’t “gastropub” in its fussiness and fashion, but to call Porter’s simply “pub food” is to damn with faint praise. Here’s opportunity to eat in one of London’s classic Old English restaurants without breaking the budget.

Brush Up Your Shakespeare!

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DANA HUNTELY

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ON SHAKESPEARE’S BIRTHDAY, or any other clement time of year, you can catch the Bard in his natural environment at the Globe Theatre in London. On Shakespeare’s 450th birthday, while the revels filled streets of Stratford-upon-Avon, a new production of Hamlet premiered at the Globe. Cast and crew will tour the world over the next two years, performing Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy in more than 150 countries. Meanwhile, experience Shakespeare at the Globe the next time you’re in London. www.shakespearesglobe.com

Porter’s Recipes to Go—to Your Table

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While you are visiting Porters, or adding to your collection of cookbooks and great foodie reads, do take a look at Porters English Cookery Bible. Here is a compact, clearly written treasure trove of classic English recipes—the recipes gleaned over the years for Porters menu: from Sally Lunns to beef Wellington, Eccles cake to Yorkshire pudding. Find your favorites here.
There are brief introductions to English comestible classics, such as the story of Wensleydale cheese, and great regional recipes such as Shropshire’s fidgett pie and Lancashire hot pot. There are also some easy, unexpected culinary gems: Earl Grey ice cream, for instance.
Richard, Earl of Bradford, who began Porters a generation ago, brings both humor and theatricality to the book, as to the restaurant. There’s a sense of fun here with English food. The recipes are clear, relatively unfussy and, best of all, helpfully converted to American weights and measures.

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