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Inspector Craddock

MacAulay 02 Jan 09 at 11:04 a.m. GMT

Can anyone explain why in the TV production of "A Murder is Announced", Inspector Craddock does NOT recognise Jane Marple (Joan Hickson) as his Aunt, whereas, in "The Body in the Library" she is?  It seems strange that Agatha Christie should make such an obvious mistake.  Am I missing something

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Tommy_A_Jones 02 Jan 09 at 3:50 p.m. GMT

I don't think you are McAulay, I have wondered that, I can only assume that it is because he isn't really related to Miss Marple but to Sir Henry Clithering and just calls Miss Marple Aunt Jane and the Producers for got that he does call her Aunt.

GKCfan 03 Jan 09 at 8:06 p.m. GMT

I need to check the books, but I don't know when in the actual novels that Inspector Craddock starts referring to her as "Aunt Jane," since he meets her for the first time in "A Murder is Announced." As I see it, there are two solutions: 1) The term "Aunt" is strictly a term of endearment and respect. 2) One of Craddock's relatives married one of Miss Marple's relatives, making them aunt and nephew by marriage!

SilverRose 23 Jan 09 at 11:07 p.m. GMT

According to the BBC Radio 4 adaptation, Inspector Craddock says that he calls her 'Aunt Jane' as "it's just my nickname for her - she's saved me from making a fool of myself many a time"...

aznm 12 Aug 09 at 10:29 a.m. GMT

In the Joan Hickson version, Miss Marple and Inspector Craddock meet first in A Murder Is Announced.  Then in the same TV movie series, in The Mirror Crack'd From Side To Side, he tells Inspector Slack, "She's my aunt", and calls her "Aunt Jane" throughout.  At the end of the feature, Raymond refers to Dermot Craddock as "Cousin Dermot".

In the book, A Murder Is Announced, it is mentioned very early that Dermot Craddock is actually the godson of Sir Henry Clithering.  Since Jane Marple has a habit of collecting unrelated nieces and nephews, and since she and Sir Henry had been such good friends for many years, I think the writers of the TV movies took a bit of liberty and let Dermot and Miss Marple, as well as Raymond, "adopt each other".    Miss Marple, as well as other characters in her many mysteries, seem to form bonds of relationship even when blood ties are absent or when they are quite distant.  Not having children or grandchildren of her own, she happily accepts others into her heart, thereby, having many non-blood-related nieces, nephews, godchildren, and cousins.

Tommy_A_Jones 14 Aug 09 at 1:19 p.m. GMT

But I thought Raymond was her Nephew

aznm 16 Aug 09 at 1:10 p.m. GMT

WINNEBAGO1901

But I thought Raymond was her Nephew

Don't worry, you're not losing your mind, Raymond IS Jane Marple's nephew.  It's assumed he must be her sister's son, since the only sibling of hers even mentioned in the books is her sister (unnamed).

When I said Dermot and Miss Marple, as well as Raymond "adopt each other", I meant Dermot and Jane "adopted" each other as nephew and aunt, and Dermot and Raymond probably "adopted" each other as cousins, considering the close relationship between Jane and Dermot and thereby, Raymond.

See?  Confusing, isn't it?  Anyway, it's been long understood that at least Raymond West was Jane Marple blood nephew.

Tommy_A_Jones 16 Aug 09 at 1:45 p.m. GMT

That would make sense as in the JH version of Carribeam Murder Raymond is talking to someone at the beginning and although that scene isn't in the book he could quite easily be talking to Dermot.

aznm 19 Aug 09 at 10:13 p.m. GMT

I did wonder who the conversation was between in that movie.  Of course, it could have been any one of Jane's "adopted" nephews, but it would make sense if it was Raymond and Dermot chatting.

I checked the novel, The Mirror Crack'd From Side to Side, and although Dermot never tells outside sources Jane is his aunt, he definitely calls her "Aunty" and "Aunt Jane" from beginning to end, including at least once calling her "Aunt Jane" in front of others.

In that same novel, we also get a bit of his background.  His mother died when he was "five or six" (in his words).

Tommy_A_Jones 02 Sep 09 at 11:14 a.m. GMT

Yes azm, I have just finished The Mirror Crack'd From Side To Side and started a Topic about it, I did at one point think Raymond could have been talking to Miss Marple's Companion on the Coach Tours in Nemesis but as he wasn't in the Book in that way the idea that Raymond is talking to Dermot is better

heartSrk 02 Jan 10 at 9:51 p.m. GMT

MacAuley (or anybody else),

When you say Inspector Craddock is in "The Body in the Library" do you mean the book or the tv episode?

I am trying to find an episode in the Joan Hickson series where Inspector Craddock looks her up, and says something like "I was told to look up a little old woman" and Joan Hickson gives him this adorable look that says, 'who, me?'. I can't remember which episode it is from, and I know Craddock is in "A Murder is Announced" and "The Mirror Crack'd", but I haven't seen it in either of those.

Anyone have any ideas as to all the episodes with Inspector Craddock in them (of the Joan Hickson adaptation)?

Thanks in advance!

GKCfan 02 Jan 10 at 10:35 p.m. GMT

Inspector Craddock appears twice in the Joan Hickson series, in the two episodes you mentioned.  He is played by John Castle both times, in "A Murder is Announced" in 1985, and "The Mirror Crack'd" in 1992.  I'm sorry, but I can't remember the scene you mention.

AndThenThereWereToon 17 Feb 10 at 8:02 a.m. GMT

heartSrk: Just recently watched The Mirror Crack'd, and the scene you describe isn't in it.  However, she gives him the tip to ask Dolly Bantry about "the Lady of Shalott", and when he goes to interview her she does give him an adorable look.  Although that could just be my perception of Gwen Watford.

belgian_in_ireland 18 Feb 10 at 3:08 p.m. GMT

AndThenThereWereToon

heartSrk: Just recently watched The Mirror Crack'd, and the scene you describe isn't in it.  However, she gives him the tip to ask Dolly Bantry about "the Lady of Shalott", and when he goes to interview her she does give him an adorable look.  Although that could just be my perception of Gwen Watford.

 Actually this scene is in the Joan Hickson version.  Inspector Slack is telling Lane (? not sure of the name) that they had to call in someone senior and says Craddock is not a bad guy.  Slack later in the meeting suggests Craddock goes and visit an old lady in the village, not pressurising him but saying that she might be of some help. And he says her name is Miss Jane Marple.  To which Craddock replies : I intend to, she's my aunt.  This scene always cracks me up, just the look on Slack's face!

AndThenThereWereToon 19 Feb 10 at 6:24 a.m. GMT

Yes, but he doesn't then mention it to Miss Marple and get an "adorable look" from her, which is what heartSrk was looking for.  The look on Craddock's face when he reveals that Miss Marple is his aunt is certainly amusing, but I don't think I'd go so far as to call it adorable!

lakambini 24 Jun 11 at 3:52 p.m. GMT

Craddock calls her 'Aunt Jane' as to avoid suspicion on the Scotland Yard  man always visiting the old lady. It's practical that way. Just the same way Jane Marple was Lucy Eylesbarrow's 'aunt' in 4.50 from Paddington

NightRayDuck 26 Jun 11 at 12:58 a.m. GMT

Hello! Most of the Marple adaptations that I have watched starred Helen Hayes. That was a long time ago, and I cannot remember any details, But I think the scene that heartSrk mentioned could have been "A Murder Is Announced", Helen Hayes version, Craddock telling Miss Marple that he's going to look up little old woman who is Belle Goedler. Helen Hayes, I think, is far more likely than Joan Hickson to give an adorable look.

I do wish I have seen Slack's surprised face in the Joan Hickson version, though! :D

NightRayDuck 26 Jun 11 at 1:05 a.m. GMT

Craddock in the original novels: I haven't re-read The Mirror Crack'd in a long time, so I do not know if Craddock actually goes and tells the civilians that Miss Marple is his aunt. I do know, however, that Craddock starts using the term "Aunt Jane" in 4.50 from Paddington; when he goes to Miss Marple and admits that he has got entirely confused in the investigation, and so on and so forth and - please Miss Marple not to mind him complaining like this, it's only because he feels he can speak freely to Miss Marple, as though she were his own aunt.

GKCfan 26 Jun 11 at 6:06 a.m. GMT

Yes, when we first meet Craddock, he seems to not know Miss Marple.  Either "Aunt" is a term of endearment, or one of Craddock's siblings married one of Miss Marple's relatives and now they're in-laws.

NightRayDuck 26 Jun 11 at 6:28 a.m. GMT

Oh, and, of course, Craddock's first meeting with Miss Marple was because Miss Marple wrote a letter to his Chief Constable about the case that Craddock is working on (A Murder Is Announced), and Craddock's godfather Sir Henry Clithering happens to be in the neighborhood, and gives them a more personal introduction.