A Study in Dates
What is it all about?
Inspired by the amazing @pchronology 's Agatha Christie Poirot TV series timeline, I felt something like that could be done with ITV's Marple show as well. Unlike BBC version starring Joan Hickson, which is set in indeterminable "past", in the "space of British heritage" without particular information about the actual setting, the McEwan/McKenzie series provides us with calendars, newspapers, days of week corresponding to dates and months and even books published in the period, thus creating a probable and plausible landscape of early 50's. (Though there are some woeful mistakes with objects such as the loudspeaker in "Bertram's", which couldn't be found in actual Fifties!) Still, these are production problems and not the screenwriters'; as we will see, there are no problems with the actual scripting. Even more, though the separate writers tended to arbitrary settings, the whole storyline makes enough sense to be a plausible life of an actual person (unfortunately, performed by two not even remotely similar actresses over the years); we shall determine the birthdate, lifespan and highlights of Miss Marple's career using just the information from the TV series. (I wonder was it the decision of Stephen Churchett to control the whole production and settings of the stories to avoid the pitiful "1936 black hole" of "Poirot"?)
I shall first of all warn everybody that being a big fan of McEwan series I don't approve the recast of McKenzie at all; so the "new" series will be studied less closely and thus I might miss some even vital information from it; so feel free to inform me about these! Still, the "old" series will be studied quite extensively, I shall produce not just the years, but the months and sequence of the episodes!
Another disclaimer: some dates can well be debated; this chronology study represents just my personal feeling of "rightness"; other interpretations are possible!
And now let's finally go and talk about the actual dates. First we shall observe the sequence of episodes in air order; then rearrange them in the order of events. And there will be no episode overviews; at least, for now.
Series One (2004-05)
The Body in the Library
Conway Jefferson's family died in London during WWII, in an explosion caused by a V2 rocket; more, it is stated that in happened in autumn. V2's actually reached London only in Sept. 1944 through March 1945 with most severe devastations in Sept.-Nov. 1944; thus, the event is well dated in 1944. So, the caption "Seven Years Later" (oh, how many more of these captions we'll see over the series!) obviously sets the story in mid-1951. It is convenient for me to set it around July, before the following one, and the weather seems to be summer.
The Murder at the Vicarage
The setting is obvious: right at the beginning, on Miss Marple's table, we are clearly shown a calendar for August 1951 (want a production error? Check the actual August '51 calendar and compare it with the shown!) and a copy of Raymond Chandler's "The Simple Art of Murder", released a year before (not sure about this actual cover art; it's from the second edition and I couldn't trace the exact year and a possibility of its appearance in rural England). Still, the setting is obviously August 1951, and the continued theme of Captain Ainsworth's photo seems to set it as a sequel to TBITL.
More on Captain Ainsworth: we meet young Jane Marple in December 1915 (on-screen caption!) — a note to remember, because this will help us in reconstructing Marple's early life.
4:50 from Paddington
The murder of the unknown woman is many times specifically stated by the police as happening on 4 December. But what is the year? Here the passport of Cedric helps us: the stamp in it states: "IBIZA 3 Dec 1951", and he is revealed to return to England the exact date before the murder. So, 4 December 1951.
A Murder is Announced
"A Murder is Announced and will Happen on Friday, September 25th". The date is not like in the novel (the book one suits both 1949 and 1950, but is in October and does not suit the weather!). So, we have a Friday which is 25 September — is it 36? 42? 53? 59? 64? After-War setting is stated clearly, '59 is too late (McEwan does not seem eight years older here), so 1953 is perfect.
Series Two (2006)
The Sleeping Murder
The prologue happens in Delhi in 1933, then the story jumps 18 years forward — so, it's 1951 (Gwenda clearly states it's after WWII). I prefer spring settng, as suiting the weather as well as the least problematic to set it in this crowded year.
Note: Hornbeam already knows Miss Marple as a successful investigator — were there lots of unshown adventures? Let's remember that…
The Moving Finger
Watching closely at the envelope of the second letter to the Burtons, which Jerry brings to the police station, we notice an exact date! It's Friday, 19 September 1952. It confirms another date: 1952 on Colonel Appleton's gravestone. Notice: the letter comes exactly one week after the central event — Mrs Symmington's death, so we can date the murder to the day: 12 Sept. 1952.
By the Pricking of My Thumbs
This is hell. The opening scene is the search for the lost Rose Waters in 1926 (Tuppence tells that to Tommy on the phone). The caption "22 Years Later" sets the story to 1948 (cold weather supposes late autumn — November?). This suits the American presence in the UK. And now we clash to the dating discrepancies — and explain them. Q: Polo mints were just introduced in 1948. A: Mrs Lancaster was a very up-to-date old lady in matters concerning food. Q: Ada asks Tommy about his involvement in the construction of the UN building in New York, not completed before October 1952. A: She might have read the news about the START of construction, which really happened exactly in 1948. Q: These uniforms of US soldiers were introduced in 1950-s. A: And that's a production error, not connected with the script. :)
Note: Sir Henry Clithering, ex-Commissioner of Scotland Yard, is already a good friend of Miss Marple's, they've had times together. Were there some investigations before the War, when he wasn't already retired? A thing to remember…
Note to Mark Gatiss: Assistant Commissioner Japp seems to be assistant to Commissioner Sir Henry Clithering! Such a wasted opportunity of inner continuity nod in The Big Four…
The Sittaford Mystery
Prologue set in Egypt in 1927, then the story moves 25 years forward, to 1952. Weather is heavy winter; date in the newspaper of Trevelyan in the train is exactly 15 January 1952 (unfortunately, all the newspapers in the episode are from 15 January — a production shame, compared to Taken at the Flood!)
Note: Raymond West is in France at the moment; he owns a house in Dartmoor!
Series Three (2007-09)
At Bertram's Hotel
A tricky one! Tillie gets her money from "123" on 10th December (seen in her diary), but what is the year? There is a newspaper with this 10th December date, where the day of week is not clearly seen, but, eliminating the possibilities by the length of the word and the form of the first letter (does somebody have a better quality screenshot?), I deduce it as Friday. Thus (in this period) it is either 1948 and one of the first Marple's recorded cases — or 1954 and the last McEwan's one. And now I go controversial and state that I prefer the first alternative. There are two details: 1) the recollections of Inspector Bird, a veteran of WWII, about his experience, and, more importantly, 2) the overall suspicion of an ordinary Englishman towards anybody knowing German, thus implying that the war ended not long ago.
Note: Jane is a very young girl in 1891; she visits Bertram's then.
Ordeal by Innocence
Calgary departs to his expedition on 17 October 1949; he returns two years later, in 1951 (the banner states 1949-1951 as the years of the expedition) and the events start immediately. Thus, it is very late (weather!) in 1951, but, in order not to clash with 4:50 and to bring the expedition length closer to two years, I put this episode to November 1951.
Towards Zero
The police repeats many times over, that the murder happened on "Monday, 10th September" (prologue takes place in June). The possible post-war years are 45 (implausible!), 51, 56 or 62 (both too late for McEwan). 1951 is quite suitable — again; and we finally get 10 September 1951 as the murder date.
Nemesis
That is easy: the prologue is "Heart of England, 1940" and then "11 Years Later". Marple sees the necrologue of Jason Rafiel in a newspaper giving the date of Friday (Monday though, if we check the actual day!) 24 September 1951, which suits. Thus, it is late September 1951, just two weeks later TZ — busy year indeed!
Series Four (2009-11)
A Pocket Full of Rye
No precise dating; but the newspaper in the beginning is seen clearly; the event there concerning Belgian premier Van Houtte happened in late February 1953; thus "Nine Months Later" is early December 1953.
Murder is Easy
And the dating is easy as well: Wychwood Gazette of Miss Pinkerton gives 25 April 1955.
They Do It with Mirrors
A newspaper shown in the beginning is September of some year in 1950-s; the only date seen there clearly in one of the notes in, though, Monday 25 July, which happened only in 1955 from the whole decade. Thus, it is autumn (late September is good) 1955.
Why Didn't They Ask Evans?
Another straightforward one. The will of Jack Savage was signed on 19 February 1955, and the events are stated by the heroes to be circa six months after that. So, it's August 1955.
Series Five (2010-11)
The Pale Horse
Miss Stamfordis states that "Thyrza and I bought the freehold in April '47", which is "Seven — no, eight" years before now. So, it is again the inevitable 1955, seeming to host half McKenzie episodes! The date is no secret at all too: Father Gorman died on 5 March. Thus, 5 March 1955 and on.
The Secret of Chimneys
The "Grand Party" was held in Chimneys in 1932, and that is 23 years before. So, again 1955! It is summer weather, but no more identifications.
The Blue Geranium
No data. I set it in spring 1956 in order to move the story forward and leave the black hole of 1955.
The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side
Again, so many magazines and newspapers — and none of 'em dated! I set it much later than TBITL — in summer 1956.
Series Six (2013)
A Caribbean Mystery
Need it to happen before "Nemesis" because Rafiel is alive here, and give Marple some time to get know him better — so, I put it to summer 1949.
Greenshaw's Folly
No data — arbitrarily set it to February (filming dates!) 1957.
Endless Night
Unless proven otherwise, put it to April 1957, following the actual filming month.
Final Chronology
Ca. 1886 — Jane Marple born (allowing her to be both a young but not infant girl in 1891 and date Capt. Ainsworth in 1915).
1930-s — Marple solves some unknown cases for Sir Henry Clithering, who gets impressed and advocates her as an investigator.
1948
1) September — By the Pricking of My Thumbs. Meets Tommy and Tuppence.
2) December — At Bertram's Hotel
1949
3) July — A Caribbean Mystery. Meets Rafiel.
1950
1951
4) May — The Sleeping Murder. Is a well-known "expert" to the moment.
5) July — The Body in the Library
6) August — The Murder at the Vicarage
7) September — Towards Zero
8) October — Nemesis: Rafiel dead.
9) November — Ordeal by Innocence
10) December — 4:50 from Paddington
1952
11) January — The Sittaford Mystery
12) September — The Moving Finger
1953
13) September — A Murder is Announced
14) December — A Pocket Full of Rye
1954
1955
15) March — The Pale Horse
16) April — Murder is Easy
17) July — The Secret of Chimneys
18) August — Why Didn't They Ask Evans?
19) September — They Do It with Mirrors
1956
20) May — The Blue Geranium
21) July — The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side. Colonel Bantry dead; Marina Gregg owns Gossington Hall.
1957
22) February — Greenshaw's Folly
23) April — Endless Night. Miss Marple's final case.
Inspired by the amazing @pchronology 's Agatha Christie Poirot TV series timeline, I felt something like that could be done with ITV's Marple show as well. Unlike BBC version starring Joan Hickson, which is set in indeterminable "past", in the "space of British heritage" without particular information about the actual setting, the McEwan/McKenzie series provides us with calendars, newspapers, days of week corresponding to dates and months and even books published in the period, thus creating a probable and plausible landscape of early 50's. (Though there are some woeful mistakes with objects such as the loudspeaker in "Bertram's", which couldn't be found in actual Fifties!) Still, these are production problems and not the screenwriters'; as we will see, there are no problems with the actual scripting. Even more, though the separate writers tended to arbitrary settings, the whole storyline makes enough sense to be a plausible life of an actual person (unfortunately, performed by two not even remotely similar actresses over the years); we shall determine the birthdate, lifespan and highlights of Miss Marple's career using just the information from the TV series. (I wonder was it the decision of Stephen Churchett to control the whole production and settings of the stories to avoid the pitiful "1936 black hole" of "Poirot"?)
I shall first of all warn everybody that being a big fan of McEwan series I don't approve the recast of McKenzie at all; so the "new" series will be studied less closely and thus I might miss some even vital information from it; so feel free to inform me about these! Still, the "old" series will be studied quite extensively, I shall produce not just the years, but the months and sequence of the episodes!
Another disclaimer: some dates can well be debated; this chronology study represents just my personal feeling of "rightness"; other interpretations are possible!
And now let's finally go and talk about the actual dates. First we shall observe the sequence of episodes in air order; then rearrange them in the order of events. And there will be no episode overviews; at least, for now.
Series One (2004-05)
The Body in the Library
Conway Jefferson's family died in London during WWII, in an explosion caused by a V2 rocket; more, it is stated that in happened in autumn. V2's actually reached London only in Sept. 1944 through March 1945 with most severe devastations in Sept.-Nov. 1944; thus, the event is well dated in 1944. So, the caption "Seven Years Later" (oh, how many more of these captions we'll see over the series!) obviously sets the story in mid-1951. It is convenient for me to set it around July, before the following one, and the weather seems to be summer.
The Murder at the Vicarage
The setting is obvious: right at the beginning, on Miss Marple's table, we are clearly shown a calendar for August 1951 (want a production error? Check the actual August '51 calendar and compare it with the shown!) and a copy of Raymond Chandler's "The Simple Art of Murder", released a year before (not sure about this actual cover art; it's from the second edition and I couldn't trace the exact year and a possibility of its appearance in rural England). Still, the setting is obviously August 1951, and the continued theme of Captain Ainsworth's photo seems to set it as a sequel to TBITL.
More on Captain Ainsworth: we meet young Jane Marple in December 1915 (on-screen caption!) — a note to remember, because this will help us in reconstructing Marple's early life.
4:50 from Paddington
The murder of the unknown woman is many times specifically stated by the police as happening on 4 December. But what is the year? Here the passport of Cedric helps us: the stamp in it states: "IBIZA 3 Dec 1951", and he is revealed to return to England the exact date before the murder. So, 4 December 1951.
A Murder is Announced
"A Murder is Announced and will Happen on Friday, September 25th". The date is not like in the novel (the book one suits both 1949 and 1950, but is in October and does not suit the weather!). So, we have a Friday which is 25 September — is it 36? 42? 53? 59? 64? After-War setting is stated clearly, '59 is too late (McEwan does not seem eight years older here), so 1953 is perfect.
Series Two (2006)
The Sleeping Murder
The prologue happens in Delhi in 1933, then the story jumps 18 years forward — so, it's 1951 (Gwenda clearly states it's after WWII). I prefer spring settng, as suiting the weather as well as the least problematic to set it in this crowded year.
Note: Hornbeam already knows Miss Marple as a successful investigator — were there lots of unshown adventures? Let's remember that…
The Moving Finger
Watching closely at the envelope of the second letter to the Burtons, which Jerry brings to the police station, we notice an exact date! It's Friday, 19 September 1952. It confirms another date: 1952 on Colonel Appleton's gravestone. Notice: the letter comes exactly one week after the central event — Mrs Symmington's death, so we can date the murder to the day: 12 Sept. 1952.
By the Pricking of My Thumbs
This is hell. The opening scene is the search for the lost Rose Waters in 1926 (Tuppence tells that to Tommy on the phone). The caption "22 Years Later" sets the story to 1948 (cold weather supposes late autumn — November?). This suits the American presence in the UK. And now we clash to the dating discrepancies — and explain them. Q: Polo mints were just introduced in 1948. A: Mrs Lancaster was a very up-to-date old lady in matters concerning food. Q: Ada asks Tommy about his involvement in the construction of the UN building in New York, not completed before October 1952. A: She might have read the news about the START of construction, which really happened exactly in 1948. Q: These uniforms of US soldiers were introduced in 1950-s. A: And that's a production error, not connected with the script. :)
Note: Sir Henry Clithering, ex-Commissioner of Scotland Yard, is already a good friend of Miss Marple's, they've had times together. Were there some investigations before the War, when he wasn't already retired? A thing to remember…
Note to Mark Gatiss: Assistant Commissioner Japp seems to be assistant to Commissioner Sir Henry Clithering! Such a wasted opportunity of inner continuity nod in The Big Four…
The Sittaford Mystery
Prologue set in Egypt in 1927, then the story moves 25 years forward, to 1952. Weather is heavy winter; date in the newspaper of Trevelyan in the train is exactly 15 January 1952 (unfortunately, all the newspapers in the episode are from 15 January — a production shame, compared to Taken at the Flood!)
Note: Raymond West is in France at the moment; he owns a house in Dartmoor!
Series Three (2007-09)
At Bertram's Hotel
A tricky one! Tillie gets her money from "123" on 10th December (seen in her diary), but what is the year? There is a newspaper with this 10th December date, where the day of week is not clearly seen, but, eliminating the possibilities by the length of the word and the form of the first letter (does somebody have a better quality screenshot?), I deduce it as Friday. Thus (in this period) it is either 1948 and one of the first Marple's recorded cases — or 1954 and the last McEwan's one. And now I go controversial and state that I prefer the first alternative. There are two details: 1) the recollections of Inspector Bird, a veteran of WWII, about his experience, and, more importantly, 2) the overall suspicion of an ordinary Englishman towards anybody knowing German, thus implying that the war ended not long ago.
Note: Jane is a very young girl in 1891; she visits Bertram's then.
Ordeal by Innocence
Calgary departs to his expedition on 17 October 1949; he returns two years later, in 1951 (the banner states 1949-1951 as the years of the expedition) and the events start immediately. Thus, it is very late (weather!) in 1951, but, in order not to clash with 4:50 and to bring the expedition length closer to two years, I put this episode to November 1951.
Towards Zero
The police repeats many times over, that the murder happened on "Monday, 10th September" (prologue takes place in June). The possible post-war years are 45 (implausible!), 51, 56 or 62 (both too late for McEwan). 1951 is quite suitable — again; and we finally get 10 September 1951 as the murder date.
Nemesis
That is easy: the prologue is "Heart of England, 1940" and then "11 Years Later". Marple sees the necrologue of Jason Rafiel in a newspaper giving the date of Friday (Monday though, if we check the actual day!) 24 September 1951, which suits. Thus, it is late September 1951, just two weeks later TZ — busy year indeed!
Series Four (2009-11)
A Pocket Full of Rye
No precise dating; but the newspaper in the beginning is seen clearly; the event there concerning Belgian premier Van Houtte happened in late February 1953; thus "Nine Months Later" is early December 1953.
Murder is Easy
And the dating is easy as well: Wychwood Gazette of Miss Pinkerton gives 25 April 1955.
They Do It with Mirrors
A newspaper shown in the beginning is September of some year in 1950-s; the only date seen there clearly in one of the notes in, though, Monday 25 July, which happened only in 1955 from the whole decade. Thus, it is autumn (late September is good) 1955.
Why Didn't They Ask Evans?
Another straightforward one. The will of Jack Savage was signed on 19 February 1955, and the events are stated by the heroes to be circa six months after that. So, it's August 1955.
Series Five (2010-11)
The Pale Horse
Miss Stamfordis states that "Thyrza and I bought the freehold in April '47", which is "Seven — no, eight" years before now. So, it is again the inevitable 1955, seeming to host half McKenzie episodes! The date is no secret at all too: Father Gorman died on 5 March. Thus, 5 March 1955 and on.
The Secret of Chimneys
The "Grand Party" was held in Chimneys in 1932, and that is 23 years before. So, again 1955! It is summer weather, but no more identifications.
The Blue Geranium
No data. I set it in spring 1956 in order to move the story forward and leave the black hole of 1955.
The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side
Again, so many magazines and newspapers — and none of 'em dated! I set it much later than TBITL — in summer 1956.
Series Six (2013)
A Caribbean Mystery
Need it to happen before "Nemesis" because Rafiel is alive here, and give Marple some time to get know him better — so, I put it to summer 1949.
Greenshaw's Folly
No data — arbitrarily set it to February (filming dates!) 1957.
Endless Night
Unless proven otherwise, put it to April 1957, following the actual filming month.
Final Chronology
Ca. 1886 — Jane Marple born (allowing her to be both a young but not infant girl in 1891 and date Capt. Ainsworth in 1915).
1930-s — Marple solves some unknown cases for Sir Henry Clithering, who gets impressed and advocates her as an investigator.
1948
1) September — By the Pricking of My Thumbs. Meets Tommy and Tuppence.
2) December — At Bertram's Hotel
1949
3) July — A Caribbean Mystery. Meets Rafiel.
1950
1951
4) May — The Sleeping Murder. Is a well-known "expert" to the moment.
5) July — The Body in the Library
6) August — The Murder at the Vicarage
7) September — Towards Zero
8) October — Nemesis: Rafiel dead.
9) November — Ordeal by Innocence
10) December — 4:50 from Paddington
1952
11) January — The Sittaford Mystery
12) September — The Moving Finger
1953
13) September — A Murder is Announced
14) December — A Pocket Full of Rye
1954
1955
15) March — The Pale Horse
16) April — Murder is Easy
17) July — The Secret of Chimneys
18) August — Why Didn't They Ask Evans?
19) September — They Do It with Mirrors
1956
20) May — The Blue Geranium
21) July — The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side. Colonel Bantry dead; Marina Gregg owns Gossington Hall.
1957
22) February — Greenshaw's Folly
23) April — Endless Night. Miss Marple's final case.
