The Castle Rock Players - Episode 3

The Castle Rock Players

Episode 3: David Morse

David Morse is a powerful force on the screen, but his delivery is smooth and reserved in a “whiskey” voice that captures the attention of every audience member.  His towering stature at six feet-four inches makes him a perfect candidate for a role that demands a larger-than-life performance.  Morse’s trademark blue eyes combined with his extraordinary acting skills allow the viewer to feel his emotions whether he speaks or not.  These traits make him a memorable person in any work, but he has brought flesh-and-blood life to characters that King created in words.  David Morse has starred in three adaptations of Stephen King’s work.  

 

Mark Lindsay Chapman and
David Morse in The Langoliers



In 1995, Morse played the role of Captain Brian Engle in the television miniseries adaptation of The Langoliers, based on the short story of the same name that was originally published in Four Past Midnight (1990). As Capt. Engle, Morse plays the role of an airline pilot that is catching a ride on the jet where the characters find themselves caught between the worlds of today and yesterday.  Morse is easily able to sell the character of a typical guy who finds himself thrust into a position of leadership due to his work and circumstances.  Morse delivers valiantly as a character struggling between a necessity to lead and a skeptic who is puzzled by his newfound surroundings.



Tom Hanks and Morse
in The Green Mile



Morse’s next King role would be in one of the most critically acclaimed films of the author’s work, The Green Mile (1999).  Morse was the second person to sign on to the production, according to IMDB.com’s profile of the actor.  He would portray prison guard Brutus “Brutal” Howell, who is the second in command to Tom Hanks’ character. Morse described the script as “very emotional” and that it left “everyone that read it weeping.”  His tall height and commanding appearance made this role an ideal fit for the popular actor, though he would be miniaturized on screen by co-star Michael Clarke Duncan, who played John Coffey (“Like the drink, but not spelled the same”).  The cast was nominated for a Screen Actor Guild Award for “outstanding performance” by an ensemble cast in a motion picture. 



Morse as Adult Bobby Garfield



Just two years later, Morse would once again take on the role of a Stephen King character in Hearts in Atlantis, based on the novella in the collection of the same name.  Morse would portray Bobby Garfield as an adult, a central character in the story.  The novella tells the story of a boy and the friendship that he forges with a mysterious stranger (portrayed by Sir Anthony Hopkins) who stays a few months in the boarding house that Garfield’s mother operates.  Though Morse’s role is significant to the plot, his on-air time was minimal in the film, since much of it occurs when his character is a child, portrayed by Anton Yelchin.  His performance is incredible, and the film builds upon that performance.

There is no doubt that David Morse has earned his spot among those listed in “The Castle Rock Players.”  Since Morse is a popular choice for King, it is possible that we have not seen the last of this fine actor in future films and television adaptations.