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This time around I thought about posting something about the Jack the Ripper fiction the case inspired. I’m calling this “Part I” because I’ll be returning to this mini-series at least two more times, and possibly more. This will be my attempt to extract the 1988 Michael Caine mini-series “Jack the Ripper” from the Royal/Masonic conspiracy theory it always seems to be lumped in with. There are plenty of R/M conspiracy movies out there, including “Murder By Decree” and “From Hell”, both of which I’ll talk about in later posts. Even though the Michael Caine mini-series has many of the principle characters as the R/M conspiracy theory it is missing key elements, as well as at least three characters. The mini-series does feature Sir William Gull, and John Netley, and has a cameo with Prince Albert Victor (Eddy), it’s missing important characters like Walter Sickert, Annie Elizabeth Crook, and her daughter (with Eddy) Alice Margaret. I’ll cover a review of the mini-series in a separate post, but the last 30 (roughly) minutes are the offending parts of the show. This is where the David Wickes theory (sane Gull understanding insane Gull) is presented. It flys in the face of sanity itself. I think he came to the case thinking Gull was guilty already, but rejecting the R/M conspiracy theory he had to come up with his own, and this is the result. I do find it interesting Wickes was one of the directors for the Barlow and Watt “Jack the Ripper” mini-series. That was where the Joseph Gorman “Sickert” theory which launched the Stephen Knight R/M conspiracy theory to begin with. Funny how things come full circle, huh? Bottom line is, dispite any similarities this movie/mini-series has with the Royal/Masonic conspiracy theory, this isn’t about that. It does present it’s own theory, which is equally nonsensical. Tell me what you think. |
Aug 03
August 3rd, 2010 at 6:34 pm
I should point out it’s no surprise David Wickes didn’t use the Royal/Masonic conspiracy theory, even though he directed the episode of the Barlow and Watt “Jack the Ripper” mini-series featuring Joseph Gorman “Sickert.” By the time of the Michael Caine mini-series the R/M conspiracy had been completely disproven due to the work of many researchers, chief among them Simon Wood, who should be aplauded for his work. With no R/M conspiracy to hang on to, but still wanting to implicate Gull he came up with this cock and bull story. Way to go, Wickes!
August 4th, 2010 at 6:00 am
The Caine movie combines elements of the royal conspiracy theory and the Dr Stanley theory. The makers cleverly circumvented a too drastic picture of Queen Victory as the head of a conspiracy, yet there are a number of elements that point to the royals, like the coach with the royal emblem, a physician (Gull) and medium (Lees) of the Queen, references to a possible death blow to the monarchy should P.A.V. have been involved and some sort of cover-up on Warren’s part regarding Gull, etc. I think it’s impossible to separate the royal conspiracy theory from its key figure Dr Gull, so it’s safe to say that the 1988 Caine movie is another take on it with a few twists (like Gull’s experiment, the “pair” theory, etc.).
August 5th, 2010 at 7:59 pm
I see no references to the Dr Sanley theory in the Caine mini-series. Dr. Stanley’s son died of syphilis and the doctor was trying to kill the prostitute who gave him the disease. The royal emblem on the coach was to prevent the coach from being stopped by the police, and therefore a red herring. And P.A.V. didn’t have a single line in the show, despite being on camera a couple of times. He was a peripheral character. Also, they do portray Warren as a seeker of truth, and therefore not part of the conspiracy. I wonder if you were watching the same movie. Was it perhaps “Murder By Decree” you’re thinking of?
August 6th, 2010 at 7:32 am
The Caine mini-series is full of references to powers beyond control of the police or goings-on behind the scenes, it’s just not as obvious as in From Hell which more or less closely follows the Knight/Sickert/Fuller-story. In one scene, Chief Superintendent Arnold (Edward Judd) tells Abberline that he can’t win against the kings and queens around the peasants, and then we have Warren’s intervention against Abberline who wants to bring Gull to court at the end of the movie:
Warren: How many people know the truth, civilians I mean?
Abberline: Civilians… ah, the coachman and the girl. Why?
Warren: Netley won’t talk in case he’s just equally guilty. The girl can be paid. That leaves you, me and Godley, all serving officers holding the Queen’s warrant.
Abberline: What are you saying, Sir?
Warren: For the next 18 minutes I’m still commissioner of the Metropolitan Police…
Abberline: You’re not thinking of keeping this quiet…?
Warren: The man’s as good as dead, he’ll never stand trial, why cause more damage?
Abberline: Damage? He’s a killer!
Warren: He is also the Queen’s doctor and a brilliant scientist.
Abberline: He killed five women!
Warren: Listen to me, just listen to what I have to say. If you don’t agree you can talk to my successor but I warn you, his response will almost certainly be the same as mine. Sit down!
Shortly afterwards, a disillusioned and desperate Abberline meets Godley after leaving Warren’s office:
Godley: What it is now?
Abberline: Nothing.
Godley: Nothing??
Abberline: Why ruin the lives of two more women, innocent wife and daughter? Why bring medical science into disrepute?
Godley: Is that what Warren said?
Abberline: That’s what they’ll all say, the new Commissioner, the Prime Minister, maybe even the Queen herself if she gets to hear about it. Then the files will start to disappear and they’ll stamp the case unsolved.
Godley: He’s guilty!
Abberline: And he’s the Queen’s doctor. The implications, the scandal, the political upheaval… Think of the public good, George, think of the public good. What did you expect, my old friend?
Godley: Justice. That’s what I expect. Straight-forward, bloody justice.
Abberline: Then you should have let me shoot him.
I think that speaks for itself.
As for my Dr Stanley reference, I’m referring to the doctor character here, not necessarily the core of the story (revenge for a sick son, etc.). Maybe I should have worded it differently.
In short, the Caine mini-series may not be a typical example of the Royal Conspiracy theory but definitely borrows heavily from its elements. In the end, both Knight and the BBC series come to the same result: Gull was the Ripper and there were high-ranking people who abused their position to protect the ruler and her kingdom in a conspirative way. The fact that the Caine mini-series makes no references to Sickert and the royal child is not that important as other key elements are there.
August 6th, 2010 at 8:22 pm
I don’t doubt the seed of the story was the Royal/Masonic conspiracy. Remember it was the director of this mini-series that also directed the final episode of the Barlow and Watt mini-series featuring Joseph Gorman Sickert laying out the foundation of the R/M conspiracy. But since that theory had been discounted due to the researchers, such as Simon Wood, he had to come up with some other way to implicate Gull. The theory presented in the last 20 or so minutes is what he came up with. In the end there’s not enough of the R/M conspiracy in this mini-series to link the two. The only connection is Gull and Netley working together.
November 2nd, 2010 at 7:38 pm
BillyE,
You say the movie’s conclusion is ridiculous but you are suggesting the murderer (Gull) or his son, when confronted, would properly explain his motive. Murderers don’t usually give a good account of themselves. They’re not all Hannibal Lecter and, even if they were, they can lie or spout an acceptable theory.
An Englishman caught in the act of a sexual mutilation crime and his son cries Insanity. Consider the true motive as not given and it makes sense.
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:10 pm
Well, this suggests that Gull confessed to being Jack the Ripper. Of course, he never did. It was never even suggested until Joseph Gorman “Sickert” said so in the 1973 Barlow and Watt mini-series. This was a cock-and-bull story cooked up by David Wickes for this mini-series, which dispite it’s really bad solution is the best Ripper movie made to date.
November 24th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
I agree the movie is the best so far. But only the motive is bad.
If this was given as the confessed motive in a Dr. Neill Cream movie, would it make sense then? It would be no more true than his possible confession to being Jack the Ripper. But the solution (doctor over 40) is correct.
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