Character Relationship Map: Dr. Crippen

Characters

• Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen (played by Donald Pleasence) — protagonist

  Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen is the central defendant, accused of murdering his wife, Belle Crippen, and dismembering her body to conceal its identity. He conducts a secret love affair with Ethel Le Neve...

• Belle Crippen (played by Coral Browne) — protagonist

  Belle Crippen is Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen's wife, a singer and music-hall entertainer whose career has declined. After discovering his affair with Ethel Le Neve, she confronts him, threatens exposure...

• Ethel Le Neve (played by Samantha Eggar) — supporting

  Ethel Le Neve is Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen's typist and secret lover. Charged as an accessory after the fact, she shares his plans to leave England after Belle Crippen becomes an obstacle, worries abo...

• Dr. Rogers (played by Hamilton Dyce) — minor

  Dr. Rogers is a man at Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen's office whose attention toward Ethel Le Neve is noticed by Miss Curnow. His interest provokes jealousy and playful discussion between Ethel and Dr. Cr...

• Miss Curnow (played by Totti Truman Taylor) — minor

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Miss Curnow → Ethel Le Neve (Professional Workplace Observer)

  Miss Curnow notices Ethel Le Neve's attention from Dr. Rogers at Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen's office.

• Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen → Ethel Le Neve (Romantic Lovers)

  The prosecution states that Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen conducted a long affair with Ethel Le Neve, his typist. They also meet secretly in a hotel and d...

• Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen → Belle Crippen (Family Spouse)

  The prosecution describes their marriage as outwardly respectable, and Belle Crippen forces Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen to return to their shared home.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Miss Curnow → Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen (Social Observer)

  At Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen's office, Miss Curnow notices Ethel Le Neve attracting attention from Dr. Rogers and becomes part of the ensuing discussi...

• Ethel Le Neve → Dr. Rogers (Social Object Of Attention)

  Miss Curnow observes that Ethel Le Neve is attracting attention from Dr. Rogers at the office.

• Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen → Dr. Rogers (Conflict Romantic Rival)

  At Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen's office, Miss Curnow notices that Ethel Le Neve is attracting attention from Dr. Rogers, provoking jealousy in Dr. Hawle...

• Belle Crippen → Ethel Le Neve (Conflict Rivalry)

  Belle Crippen discovers that Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen is involved with Ethel Le Neve and threatens to expose the relationship.

Story Analysis

A murder case exposes a troubled marriage, a secret love affair, and an attempted escape whose final outcome remains unstated in the available account.

Plot Progression

1. The Trial's Dark Premise
2. A Dangerous Affair
3. Marriage Under Threat
4. Flight Across The Sea