Kitchen Magic - Fanny Cradock (1963) Gas Council Film NEW TRANSFER

This is a new version of a film I originally uploaded in 2008.
A promotional film made by Film Workshop for the UK Gas Council. Now with extra footage!
BFI Database: The Bon Viveur team, Johnnie and Fanny Craddock, demonstrate their skill to a young wife who learns that cooking can be fun and how to present dishes attractively.
This vintage technicolor 16mm print has been cleaned and uploaded in much higher quality than before. The original version of this film had to be shortened to get the running time under the limit that was in place on KZbin at the time. For the first time on KZbin this film is presented complete. Part of the opening titles were receated as they were missing.
The copyright in this film belongs to The National Gas Archive.
Reuploaded after accidental deletion

[@phillgreenland2390]

That is the most pleasant and kind I've EVER seen Fanny Cradock!

[@brunswickboy22]

I keep waiting for her to snap and start yelling at Sarah.

[@carolineg1872]

This is just wonderful. A time capsule of camp.

[@lucyhurst2534]

And that’s just Richard.

[@carolineg1872]

@Tom Lowery Who the fuck cares? Any way, Fanny Craddock played up to her image, that's how she sold books and realized people wanted to see her Bette Davies on crack image. Therefore, that's camp.

[@simonjones7727]

@@lucyhurst2534 LOL!

[@5thdimensionliving727]

Mr and Mrs Craddock were incredible in this video 😊 such clear and coherent explanations 🙏

[@simonjones7727]

They were fun, weren't they? The act had been honed in public lectures and presentations for years. Wicked, really. In the austere 1950s the government encouraged frugality. Fanny and Johnny went on stage and showed how to cook classic French Haute Cuisine, the dishes enlivened with cream, wine, spirits and all sorts of luxuries and treats. It was, it turned out, exactly what everyone wanted!

[@5thdimensionliving727]

@@simonjones7727 Thank you 🙏 Amazing insights. I feel very fortunate to watch such great footage of the Craddocks via YT ✅

[@drstranger7430]

Coiffure, vintage accents, splendid outfits. What a different world

[@zeddeka]

"The past is another country. They do things differently there."

[@Knappa22]

“It’s no longer an omelette, IT’S A PUDD’N!” Fanny the unremitting battleaxe!

[@seikibrian8641]

I thought she said "It's no longer an omelette, it's a puck!"

[@HotVoodooWitch]

@@seikibrian8641 pudd'n.

[@ria1636]

Fanny's right though!

[@sjwhittingham4394]

My mum used to work for what was then "The Gas Board" in the 60s & a couple of times she met Fanny Craddock who was giving cookery demonstrations on new models of gas cookers. She said she swore like a trouper and bossed Johnny about something rotten.

[@jadeclothier8587]

Dont forget she was also a chain smoker

[@HotVoodooWitch]

She was kind of the Culinary Barbara Cartland, no? Do you guys miss the pre-metric/pre-decimalization days?

[@simonjones7727]

@@HotVoodooWitch More like the love child of Margaret Thatcher and Bette Davies in "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" (especially in later life) but close...

[@songplugger8330]

That was absolutely mesmerizing.

[@lifesprint5541]

Possibly the best video I’ve ever seen

[@simonjones7727]

What do you mean "possibly"? Nothing, absolutely nothing, competes with this.

[@JSDesignHK]

Brilliant. This is a classic!

[@bohdiisubaru6336]

Thoroughly enjoyed viewing this video, I'm a humongous Fanny Cradock fan 😁

[@simonjones7727]

It is superb isn't it? She just conveys so much fun.

[@stevebirch7175]

My Mum thought she was wonderful. Many a time we suffered her efforts...

[@nidhavellir]

Mother looks slightly more terrifying than Fanny.

[@PeteretePeter]

This is the most bizarre thing I have watched this year

[@simonjones7727]

"This year" or "Ever"?

[@glamdolly30]

OMG this was AMAZING! Fanny was 53, coming up for 54 here and I think she's in her prime. She was so lucky to find Johnny, he was the perfect sidekick for her (he left his wife and kids for her). They met in the 1940s but lived in sin until they finally married in 1977 because Fanny was already married and couldn't get a divorce (I think her husband refused because he was Catholic). She changed her name to Cradock by deed poll and they just told everyone they were married. It would have been quite a scandal back then, had that skeleton ever come out! Fascinating woman and by all accounts, quite mad.

[@handsoffmycactus2958]

glamdolly20 lived in ‘sin’ ? What on earth

[@JM-bv4hc]

@@handsoffmycactus2958 That's exactly what I was thinking when I read that, lol.

[@handsoffmycactus2958]

J M I know it’s a saying but it’s just a bit strange to hear, even upon reflection of the past! It’s a weird thing to say if you aren’t joking

[@scottrogue946]

Is this 1930? Lived in sin 🤣🤣🤣

[@jimajams7080]

Already knew all this

[@ultravioletgaia]

I was just looking for some cookie recipes and ended up here

[@Goldi3loxrox]

I love this uk vintage little gem.

[@kendalson7100]

Awesome. Fanny and Johnny were incredible here!

[@kevincassidy1983]

When fanny speaks up I stand to attention. She's the boss

[@jdmollohan]

This is completely unhinged

[@Chillmax]

Fabulous, utterly fabulous, everything's better with Fanny! Lovely quality, thank you.

[@comawhite015]

The way she explodes out of the TV made me have to pause it cuz I was laughscreaming so hard

[@RenaissanceEarCandy]

I thought I was the only one 😂😂😂😂

[@PDXGregor]

That. Was. Amazing.

[@ria1636]

Thanks for the upload, this was such fun. Loved the outfits and if I still ate eggs I'd definitely make the omelette and soufflés they looked perfect. I'll try the trick with the tangerines/oranges they are still served filled with ice-cream in Indian restaurants.

[@emilywestwood7776]

love a bit of fanny!

[@sissybast3842]

Get rid of him Janet. He’s a Momma’s Boy. 😂😂😂

[@gordeaux2006]

Beautiful looking omelette!

[@melissam.4017]

This was better than " Bewitched"!

[@Nunofurdambiznez]

what a fun video!!! Thank you for posting this gem, 'twas very entertaining indeed !

[@ginseattle]

I had never heard of the "very famous French trick" of running softened butter through the beaten eggs.

[@salfordiandy4987]

Neither have I! As much as I love butter, there did seem to be rather a lot going in to that omelette.

[@HotVoodooWitch]

I've cooked classic omelettes for family and friends. They were horrified when they saw the amount of butter I use. Hey, it's FRENCH and the omelettes don't stick to the non-nonstick pan. No one complains when they start eating. Can't wait to include the "very famous French trick!"

[@ria1636]

@@HotVoodooWitch The omelette looked perfect and if I still ate eggs I'd definitely make as well.

[@samhaine6804]

i think youre supposed to cut COLD butter into small cubes, and then add then to the mixture

[@HotVoodooWitch]

@@samhaine6804 I suspect she knows what she's doing and she seems pretty specific.

[@NICKROBERTS23]

I still have those exact same scales in my kitchen cupboard!

[@stephmaccormick3195]

Well... that went to 11 rather quickly.

[@david15214]

Brilliant chips!

[@Alexander_Timonin]

wow! That took an unusual turn!

[@ChristopherSobieniak]

Fish fingers is serious business!

[@emilywestwood7776]

Gil Chesterton - the early years!

[@dangerman8625]

Fanny, and her Johnny craddock, this film reminds me of the Wizard of Oz.!

[@rogerlegends166]

HILDA WOULDN'T HAVE FIDDLED WITH FISH FINGERS

[@DIETRICHCICCONE]

Hilda wouldn't have fiddled with fish fingers...hoho

[@Jayrascali]

That cactus in the background at 10:48 looks JUST like the sort of item our fanny would buy for Johnny at the local Ann Summers 😳

[@HotVoodooWitch]

Fantastic!

[@simonjones7727]

Sweetie seems to be using Ruth Berolzheimer's "Culinary Arts Institute Encyclopedic Cookbook" in the opening scenes from the look of the section title pages.

[@alexherbst9477]

Fanny could be a character played by Molly Shannon. "I like to kick! Stretch! Annnnd Kick! I'm FIFTY!"

[@joshybean1289]

I thought the exact same thing! I’m Fifty! Fifty years oldddd!

[@duncanb4835]

She missed the mincemeat and icing sugar from the omelette...how VERY DAAAARE SHE😡

[@darrenwelling7562]

Totally agree 👍 that pre heating an oven is utter tosh. My late grandfather was a chef in the army, my mum is a good cook and I'm not half bad if I say so myself he he, never ever preheated an oven, never ever been ill and food always perfect.

[@gaggymott9159]

POOR JANET!! 😕

[@montyf2165]

I miss homemade chips. Nothing compares to them.

[@manslayer1972]

So wish life was still like this.

[@Simon-zg1zq]

Definitely better than now! Life was simpler

[@robynd3632]

Me too! I was born in the wrong era!

[@HotVoodooWitch]

I like the current technology but things were a lot simpler then. I was just a kid when this was made but I still remember the way things were.

[@macflod]

HotVoodooWitch what were they like? What was good or bad about it?

[@HotVoodooWitch]

@@macflod the technology was much less sophisticated, so things moved more slowly and became obsolete less quickly. Money in the U.S. was worth more, most things were better made and much of it was made here. Things were far less in-your-face, at least in the Media. School children were held to standards--if you couldn't pass, you were held back. You were required to know how to read, spell, and do arithmetic. People knew the difference between "it's" and "its" and didn't think you pluralized words with an apostrophe. I could go on and on but you get the idea. And as previously posted, I REALLY like the current technology. But I'm glad I was brought up in a different time.

[@ceeemm1901]

Geez Jeremy Clarkson looks really young there...

[@FruityMat]

Did all ovens back then require manual lighting? 😮

[@simonjones7727]

Not all, but it was not uncommon based on my memories of the very early 70s.

[@janinefarnell8570]

I'm going to leave my omelette pan on a bead of gas for 48 hours😂 adding a nut of butter......

[@adamreadman9416]

Janine Farnell Hahahaha no wonder house fires were more common in 63

[@ria1636]

If you already have an omelette pan there's simply no need. It's only for an iron pan!

[@HotVoodooWitch]

"Knob."

[@simonjones7727]

I am watching how a chiffon sleeve hovers over that cauldron of smoking chip fat. But, yes, leave a naked flame on the hob on for two days as you go out to work and things. what could possibly go wrong?

[@queenofkingsbury]

Those were the days

[@davidhealey5207]

Anyone know who the young actress was/is.

[@dalymc]

King prawns and shrimps wrapped in sole- covered in oil and cooking sherry. Exactly what we ate in the 70's. Cheap cooking, so easily done.

[@doctorshawzy6477]

great fun

[@treasalynam8940]

She was a good actress, she shoulda done acting

[@ria1636]

She was indeed a woman of many talents.

[@Jayrascali]

This is like one of those old public safety videos… “why a carbon monoxide alarm is essential to prevent death and fanny induced delirium”…

[@sushicourier]

When all the homes took out (or were built new) their proper fires and put those horrible fake ones in.

[@weerobot]

The Legend...

[@ivanahavitoff7308]

Ive made fish fingers! Wifey needs some acting lessons

[@doctorshawzy6477]

good for fanny

[@frannieo1707]

Fanny is Queen.

[@rogerlegends166]

I love fanny

[@matthewjackknight453]

Anyone familiar with the music being used for the opening and closing credits?

[@mattcresswell5737]

Such a great find. Do you know anything about the cast i.e. Janet and Richard?

[@ephemeralfilm]

Sadly not, but if anyone else has any info I'd love to hear about it.

[@mrslaffeetaffee]

Since they couldn't act, they probably worked for the Gas Board.

[@simonjones7727]

@@mrslaffeetaffee Read the meters, probably.

[@lindajordan6753]

@@simonjones7727 I just watched this again and realized they're wearing way too much hairspray to be around those open flames.

[@simonjones7727]

@@lindajordan6753 How do you think Fanny Craddock lost her eyebrows? Chiffon near an open flame? A visit to A+E waiting to happen!

[@faithoffaith]

Anyone know the names of the actors?

[@1234j]

Some of my mum's friends still use Fanny's hairdo.

[@SimonLeicester]

Thank goodness M&S invented ready meals so people didn’t have to eat Fanny’s

[@C-Rex1]

Camper than a row of tents

[@1234j]

16:10 is Johnnie wearing a rimless monocle?

[@simonjones7727]

Yes, and a Broderie Anglaise French Lace edged basque underneath his suit.

[@madabbafan]

The start made me shudder, not knowing the difference between an ounce and a pound.

[@zeddeka]

Thankfully we don't really use either any more!

[@madabbafan]

@@zeddeka you may not, I still do.

[@HotVoodooWitch]

@@madabbafan +1. And I don't understand why metric is a "thankfully." I use both U.S. Standard and metric and for the most part, I prefer the former.

[@SimonLeicester]

What on Earth was Jonny making?

[@neilpower60]

That parcel thing looks rank

[@EnigmaticRPG]

Brown the butter?! I was taught that if I let it brown that I'd fucked up! Also, don't scramble the omelet, just let it cook... I'll never be a decent housewife, but also who the fuck knows, since no two cooks seem to agree on anything >:T EDIT: BULLSHIT; cooking isn't fun at all wtf

[@HotVoodooWitch]

I don't brown my butter, either. But the "just let it cook" method results in a very different type of omelette.

[@Nunofurdambiznez]

She didn't say let it brown completely..she said let it brown AROUND THE EDGES.. gives the omelette a very delicious nutty flavor overall.

[@doctorshawzy6477]

impossible today

[@charleskristiansson1296]

Real English as it used to be spoken

[@terrydawson1153]

Real English? I think you mean Received Pronunciation.

[@pw0000]

Comments like these are pretty silly. "Real English" is from the Middle Ages, like the 1400s, so what your "Real English" sounds like is nowhere near the "Real English" from centuries ago. Language evolved, so should you.

[@edwardalexander9486]

Hilarious!

[@williama7124]

Vintage Meme 3:07

[@adamreadman9416]

This is camp as tits :D love it

[@aryarathne2479]

Bianca del rio must have copied from her.

[@davids8449]

Lovely times as I can well remember....... today's world is indeed horrible.....

[@C-Rex1]

I too miss the days when Fanny Cradock would break out of my mirror

[@Demun1649]

Gas council? Electric lights, and electric fires.

[@user-wu8ey2sd9m]

Hilarious 😅

[@paulkleschick5124]

What a fanny

[@lnteIIigence]

I don't get the things that guy was making. Putting oil, alcohol and cream on prawns that haven't been taken out of their shells? What a mess that would be to eat!

[@zeddeka]

Very much the 1960s. Where people had gone through the war and led such drab lives that pretty much nobody knew what was good food or not - it was all about appearing adventurous and exotic.

[@HotVoodooWitch]

@@zeddeka plus I doubt anyone would've eaten it if it didn't taste good.

[@simonjones7727]

@@zeddeka Yes, that's perfectly put. People went mad for anything rich and exotic. It wasn't necessarily about the taste or mouth feel. That came later.

[@user-wu8ey2sd9m]

Fish fingers hahahahaha

[@Slarti]

Goodness me, Fanny Craddock made revolting food - no wonder everyone was slim back then, the food was too disgusting to eat!

[@applemask]

That's a nasty condition.

[@tomonastick]

hows it wonderful, when the woman is being put down????

[@jeremynv89523]

I think it depends on the woman. A lot of women are perfectly happy in that role.

[@HotVoodooWitch]

@@jeremynv89523 and should be supported for their choice.

[@Nunofurdambiznez]

Would you be f&cking happier if the roles were reversed and the MAN was being put down??

[@MultiKm1]

@@Nunofurdambiznez Yes.

[@nathanjustus6659]

@@Nunofurdambiznez just look at any pop culture and you’ll see it.

[@jennifercurtis6071]

What overpaid madness!!!

[@Dianaemanuel]

Does anybody know who the young lady is in the film?