影片追求去戏剧化的艺术方向。现代技术让历史影像获得新生，全彩修复丰富视觉层次，画面技术提升观看体验。技术运用保持低调，整体色彩偏向沉静。整体处理注重思想深度。色彩管理十分审慎，声音创作追求质朴自然。Morseistakenseriouslyillatamuseumreceptionandishospitalized.Inthehospital,Supt.Strange,visitsMorsetopushhimtotakeearlyretirement,whileDr.Millicent'Millie'VanBurengiveshimherbookona140year-oldcourtcaseknownastheOxfordCanalMurders.Thecaseinvolvedthemurderandrapeofayoungwoman,MrsJoannaFranks,travelingbycanalboatfromCoventrytoLondon.Thecaseresultedinthreeboatmenbeingsentencedtodeathandtwoofthemhanged.MorsestartstoreadMillie'sbookanddreamsaboutit.Hesoonhasanumberofproblemswiththecase.　　Whyweren'tthethreemenalsochargedwiththeftWhydidMrsFrankstakeaboatinsteadofatrainthatwasmuchfasterandcomfortableandonlyslightlymoreexpensiveWhydidn'tsheabandontheboataftershecomplainedaboutlewdbehaviorofthecrewattheshippingofficeinBanburyWhydidshethendrinkand'socialise'withthecrewWhathappenedtoher'carpetbag'withwhichshearrivedontheboatbutwhichwasnotmentionedinthecourtcase,norwasitstoredinthearchiveswithher,almostempty,trunkThetrunkwasmarkedwithinitialsofherfirsthusbandwhohaddied.Howdidithappenthathershoeswerefoundontheboatbutnobodysawherreturntotheboatfromtheforest　　PCAdrianKershawdoessomebrilliantlegworkforMorse.Hestudiedhistoryandhasinvaluablebackgroundknowledge.Forinstance,hementionsthattheboatmenhadbadreputationbecausetheyworkedonSundaysanddidnotattendchurch.LaterachapelwasbuiltfortheminOxford.　　Thedeadwoman'sclothesandtheshoesfoundontheboataresubmittedtomodernforensicinvestigation.Theresultisthattheshoesdidnotbelongtothedeadwomanfoundinthewaterbecauseshewasmuchtaller.Theshoeswereneverusedintheforest.　　OnlyMrsFranks'husband,CharlesFranks,wascalledtoidentifythebodyofthedeadwoman.Heclaimedthat,whileherfacewasdarkenedanddisfigured,hefoundabirthmarkbehindherear.Theprosecutorwelcomedthatinformationthatonlyahusbandoraloverwouldknow.Theaccusedwerenotshownthebody.Thedefenseattorneymerelyclaimedthattheguiltofthethreemenwasnotproved.Allthreeaccusedclaimedtotheendthattheywereinnocent.OneofthemwasnotexecutedbecauseheembracedChristianityinprison.　　MorseinstructsKershawtoinvestigateifCharlesFranksbenefitedfromhiswife'sdeathand,indeed,hepocketed300poundsinsurancemoney.CaseclosedCharlesFranksmurderedatallwomenanddroppedherinthecanalaftermeetingJoannaintheforest.IfJoannaFranksjumpedofftheboatatthesametimeasthedeadbodyhitthewater,sheswamtothebankandjoinedherhusband.Thecouplechangedtheirnames,inthecaseof'CharlesFranks'asecondtimeafterhe'died'asJoanna'sfirsthusband.Thefourthboatman,ayoungsterwhowasnotcharged,wasprobablypaidbyJoannatogivefalsetestimony.　　MorsetravelstoIrelandandhasagraveofJoanna'sfirsthusbandexhumed.Thecoffincontainsbagsofsandandsomestones.