A tribute to the late Jim Goddard

Jim Goddard RIP

Hello again dear friends and Morse enthusiasts. Yes, it's been very quiet around here just lately in the absence of Endeavour, but while we wait for Russell Lewis to work his magic on four new scripts, I felt compelled to stop by briefly to raise a glass and pay tribute to the prolific television and film director Jim Goddard who sadly passed away recently.

While there are many directors who justifiably receive great acclaim and attention, there are just as many who are equally deserving of recognition but rarely find their fair share of the limelight. Indeed, many viewers outside of the film and television industry may struggle to name them but are intimately familiar with their work. It could be argued that dear Jim may fall into this latter category but I hope that the following might serve to either highlight or remind the reader of a remarkable career and an outstanding contribution to the art of film and television-making.

In a career that spanned over four decades, Jim's finest hour was perhaps the 1983 television mini-series Kennedy, although it was his 1989 Inspector Morse episode, The Secret of Bay 5B, that introduced me to his work and talent. Jim was a stylish and most versatile director who worked in many different genres from "arty" television plays to gritty and urban productions. He seemed equally comfortable with both contemporary and period-costume dramas as we shall see as we look back on some of his highlights and remember the late Jim Goddard...

Please note that the following dates reflect the years in which Jim worked on various productions and not necessarily those of entire series runs.

Born James Dudley Goddard on the second of February, 1936 in Battersea, South London, he first made an impression on the television industry as a production designer on shows such as The Avengers (1961-63) after which he undertook directorial duties on over two-hundred projects with equal style and distinction.

Dennis Waterman and John Thaw in 'The Sweeney'

Perhaps his most enduring contribution to the art of television, Jim excelled in and made an indelible mark on the TV crime genre, helping to shape a plethora of influential police-procedural-type dramas populated with an impressive array of detectives, private-eyes and secret agents, which in addition to Inspector Morse, include Public Eye (68-73), Special Branch (69-70), Callan (69-72), The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes (71), New Scotland Yard (73), Van der Valk (73 & 91), The Awful Mr. Goodall (74), The Sweeney (75), Target (77), Hazell, Out (both 78), Fox (80), Reilly: Ace of Spies (83), The Impossible Spy (87), Rumpole of the Bailey (91), Ruth Rendell Mysteries and Dangerfield (both 96).

Barry Foster as Van der Valk

Edward Woodward as Callan

Jim proved his versatility as a director of various styles and genres with contrasting work in first and second World War material including titles such as Wings (77-78) and the TV movie, Hitler's SS: Portrait of Evil (85), and two Charles Dickens adaptations, A Tale of Two Cities (80) and The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (82). He even had a go at science-fiction with The Guardians (71) and Space Precinct (94) but perhaps one of his most adventurous of career moves was his collaboration with Steven Berkoff in bringing Franz Kafka's challenging Metamorphosis to the screen in 1987. More recent credits include stints on The Bill (91-02), EastEnders (99) and Holby City (99-02).

Alan Lake and Sean Lynch in 'The Black Stuff'

However, were I foolish enough to highlight two productions that might showcase the great man's career, I would have to elect for the seminal The Black Stuff (80) written by Alan Bleasdale which provided much needed political and social commentary of the period and which still remains a powerful portrait of austerity and unemployment - my goodness, how frightening that these themes continue to haunt successive generations! My second choice is the aforementioned Kennedy (1983), a five-hour miniseries which was broadcast simultaneously in the UK, US and Germany to great critical acclaim and won Jim a much deserved BAFTA TV award for Best Drama Series.

Martin Sheen as John F. Kennedy

So, we have come to the end of this all too brief journey through the remarkable career of one of our most neglected of British directors. Of course, there are so many other shows that we haven't had time to mention, and I've deliberately not included a certain infamous and misconceived Hollywood production, but perhaps you might be encouraged to seek out and explore some of Jim's work that is readily available on DVD. Indeed, with the lack of fanfare that has accompanied his passing, it is difficult to assess his legacy and what impact his work has had on our current TV writers and directors - especially those working on police and crime dramas. Furthermore, who knows what debt we owe to the great Jim Goddard as we watch and savour shows like Inspector Morse, Lewis, and of course, Endeavour? Regardless, I'm the sort of chap who likes to err on the side of caution and so, with love and respect, I say simply... thank you Jim.

In Loving Memory

James Dudley Goddard

Born 2 February 1936

Died 17 June 2013

A bottle of poetry!

Ah, the first Sunday without a new episode of Endeavour to look forward to and what a wearisome, soulless afternoon it is - even the weather is rather melancholy!

Still, I have just the thing to drown your sorrows! How about a lovely blend of alcohol and poetry? I'm sure our friend Morse would approve of such a fusion.

Wood's Shropshire Lad Spring Bitter was produced to mark the centenary of Morse's favourite collection of poems, A. E. Housman's A Shropshire Lad.

The drink has a copper/bronze complexion, the smell of pear drops and wild berries with a gentle fruity-toffee taste.

You can find more information on a Shropshire Lad naturally brewed bitter and other beers from the Wood's brewery by clicking on the following link http://www.woodbrewery.co.uk/ or you can follow them on twitter here: https://twitter.com/WoodsBrewCrew

However, I found the product in my local supermarket so you shouldn't have much difficulty in obtaining a bottle (or two!) for yourself.

Already tried it or know of another Morse-related beverage? Do get in touch and tell us what you think - would love to hear from you!

Cheers,

D

Vote for your favourite 'Endeavour' film!

First we had the stunning "pilot" which no one - not even the most ardent of Morse and Lewis admirers - could have predicted would be such a hit with both critics and audiences alike. Then we were likewise blessed with an equally impressive quartet of films which have consistently been television highlights of the week.

Sunday nights shall be dreary indeed without our weekly fix of Oxford, opera and an opulent odyssey of ostentatious offenders. Morse is mean, moody and melancholy but we love him all the same and he is missed already!

Girl

We want, nay demand more Morse endeavours but until then, let us give thanks and be grateful for what we already have. There has been a doomed opera star, a beautiful girl, a serial killer, a royal visit and a blackguard from the past directed with such cinematic sheen and shine by Colm McCarthy, Ed Bazalgette, Tom Vaughan, Craig Viveiros and erm, Colm McCarthy again who couldn't resist a second bite of the sumptuous cherry that is Endeavour.

Fugue

Astonishingly, Russell Lewis has penned every single film delivering episodes that not only honour the original Inspector Morse series with such reverence and beauty but also blessed with  captivating characterizations of friends both old and new. Indeed, Shaun Evans, Roger Allam, Anton Lesser, James Bradshaw and Sean Rigby (to name but a few) have all been a revelation in bringing Russell's uniquely intricate vision to the screen and conjuring such beguiling dialogue as "You'd find something suspicious in a saint's sock drawer", not to mention the occasional and profound meditation on the humble sandwich. Drink up Lewis and get to work on more episodes please!

Rocket

However, I must put an end to this literary diarrhoea and steer the Jaguar Mark I-38 firmly towards the purpose of these shenanigans and ask you, my dear friends, loyal readers of this humble blog (hello to both of you!) and the odd drifter who has wandered here out of morbid curiosity for your vote.

Home

Yes, forget those local elections you smoky kippers, I'm asking for your vote and I'm as honest as the day is long - never fiddled with anything or anyone - excluding a brief flirtation with a tribute artist who possessed the uncanny ability to alternate between Katherine Jenkins and Tom Jones with disturbing rapidity during a very wet weekend in Wales.

So, which Endeavour film will be the most popular? Quite a three-pint-problem I know, but how about the operatic original pilot, perhaps the Girl takes your fancy, maybe the vertigo-inducing thrills of Fugue, the right royally regal Rocket or the grand finale in which E. M. phoned Home?

Scroll down to the bottom of this page and cast your vote now!

Your matey,

D

Remembering A. E. Housman

Our friend Morse had many passions but arguably his greatest literary hero was Alfred Edward Housman, the troubled poet who died on this day 1936.

Most famous for his collection of poems, A Shropshire Lad originally published in 1896, many scholars of Colin Dexter's work will no doubt be familiar with the similarities shared by Morse and Housman (both studied Greats at St John's College of Oxford and ultimately failed their finals for example) and also the lines of his poetry that appear as chapter epigraphs in many of the novels.

However, perhaps the most poignant reference was used for the title of Morse's final adventure...

March 26, 1859 - April 30, 1936

XVI

How clear, how lovely bright,
How beautiful to sight
  Those beams of morning play;
How heaven laughs out with glee
Where, like a bird set free,
Up from the eastern sea
  Soars the delightful day.

To-day I shall be strong,
No more shall yield to wrong,
  Shall squander life no more;
Days lost, I know not how,
I shall retrieve them now;
Now I shall keep the vow
  I never kept before.

Ensanguining the skies
How heavily it dies
  Into the west away;
Past touch and sight and sound
Not further to be found,
How hopeless under ground
  Falls the remorseful day.

In the quiet picturesque market town of Ludlow in Shropshire, there is a plaque on the side of the church wall where his ashes are buried and the cherry tree planted in his memory on the right.

II

Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough,
And stands about the woodland ride
Wearing white for Eastertide.
 
Now, of my three score years and ten,
Twenty will not come again,
And take from seventy springs a score,
It only leaves me fifty more.
 
And since to look at things in bloom
Fifty springs are little room,
About the woodlands I will go
To see the cherry hung with snow.

St Lawrence's Church in Ludlow, Shropshire

The Jewel That Was Mine!

More precious than the Wolvercote Tongue! - my signed shooting script of 'Endeavour - Film One: Girl'.

My sincere thanks to Shaun Evans (DC Endeavour Morse), James Bradshaw (Dr Max DeBryn), Sean Rigby (PC Jim Strange), Maimie McCoy (Alice Vexin - Film 3), Ed Bazalgette (Director), Dan McCulloch (Producer) and especially Russell Lewis (Writer/Deviser).

A true treasure indeed!

Stunning Endeavour images by Jonathan Ford

Photographs (C) ITV Plc/Jonathan Ford

Email: jonathan@jonathanfordphotography.com

Phone: +44 7970 665039

Twitter: @Ford_Photo

An invitation to the friends of Colin Dexter...

Dear friends,

If you've found me here I suspect that we share a passion for crime fiction, particularly the works of Colin Dexter and their screen adaptations Inspector Morse, Lewis and most recently Endeavour.

The proposal of this endeavour is to simply provide a forum in which to promote an appreciation and greater understanding of the cherished stories and characters within a larger cultural context.

Therefore, in addition to regular updates concerning news and events relating to literary and media representations of Colin Dexter's creations (including the releases of new merchandise together with vintage collectables), I will also attempt to explore the historical, social and cultural references to be found in print and on screen.

Although I hope to provide a comprehensively up-to-date and continually evolving one-stop resource, you will never find the celebrity gossip or "spoilers" that undermine the integrity of so many other "fan sites" associated with different characters and franchises.

Therefore this blog is designed to be far more academic in nature while hopefully still managing to entertain both the seasoned connoisseur and newcomers alike. Indeed, in this respect, I hope you'll find I'm a quite different kettle of fish!

.

However, perhaps my greatest hope for this blog is to unite enthusiasts who would otherwise never have the chance to meet, discuss and share their enjoyment of that most exquisite English gentleman, our friend - Mr Norman Colin Dexter, OBE.

Please feel free to get in touch either to comment on my posts or to share your own opinions and experiences. Indeed, this blog is as much yours as it is my own, it is a gift from one dedicated aficionado to another where you will find there's always time for one more pint!

Your friend,

D