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Product Description
Children of the Stones was an undisputed landmark in children's television. Jeremy Burnham and Trevor Ray's groundbreaking fantasy series, starring Iain Cuthbertson and Gareth Thomas and filmed largely in Avebury in Wiltshire, combined scientific fact and fiction with pagan mythology and rural folklore in its portrayal of a village held captive by the sinister power of its Neolithic stone circle.
Intelligent, atmospheric and genuinely unnerving, the series often cited by those who grew up in the Seventies as the most frightening thing seen on television was the result of collaboration between writers Burnham and Ray, producer Patrick Dromgoole (whose previous credits had included classic HTV series Sky and Arthur of the Britons) and producer/director Peter Graham Scott; classical composer and conductor Sidney Sager scored the series' chilling theme and incidental music. Unsurprisingly, Children of the Stoneshas gained a devoted cult following in the decades since its first transmission in 1977.
SPECIAL FEATURES
[] An in-depth booklet by Tim Worthington on HTV's fantasy television programming
[] A second disc showcasing HTV's cult shows with episodes of Sky, King of the Castle, The Clifton House Mystery and Into the Labyrinth
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
35 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
... it would probably all be like Children of the Stones.
This is perfection on a silver disc.
Very few old TV shows completely live up to fond childhood memories. Production values, fashion, acting styles have all changed so much. It's almost miraculous that this vaguely science fictional "young adult" equivalent of the Wicker Man stands up to repeat viewings now. It really does deserve that over-used title "a genuine classic".
The hero is a teenage boy whose astro-scientist dad is investigating the strange properties of the stone circle that surrounds a too-perfect English country village. He quickly notices that everyone except newcomers are just too spookily happy with their lot. He makes friends with the two other "normal" teens in the village, and a mad old tramp, but it's soon clear that the threat of becoming blissed-out zombies hangs over them all.
It's classically claustrophobic and suspenseful without being "old fashioned" (except, ironically, for the fashions). The race against time to discover the secret of the always-too-suspicious lord of the manor is even scarier because almost everything happens in daylight.
The golden age cast includes Iain "Budgie" Cuthberston, Gareth "Blake's 7" Thomas and Freddie "unsung genius" Jones. If you like this try to track down comedy series The Ghosts of Motley Hall, which has dated but now exudes period charm.)
Genuinely not for very young children. Ideal for middle aged post-youths.
This is perfection on a silver disc.
Very few old TV shows completely live up to fond childhood memories. Production values, fashion, acting styles have all changed so much. It's almost miraculous that this vaguely science fictional "young adult" equivalent of the Wicker Man stands up to repeat viewings now. It really does deserve that over-used title "a genuine classic".
The hero is a teenage boy whose astro-scientist dad is investigating the strange properties of the stone circle that surrounds a too-perfect English country village. He quickly notices that everyone except newcomers are just too spookily happy with their lot. He makes friends with the two other "normal" teens in the village, and a mad old tramp, but it's soon clear that the threat of becoming blissed-out zombies hangs over them all.
It's classically claustrophobic and suspenseful without being "old fashioned" (except, ironically, for the fashions). The race against time to discover the secret of the always-too-suspicious lord of the manor is even scarier because almost everything happens in daylight.
The golden age cast includes Iain "Budgie" Cuthberston, Gareth "Blake's 7" Thomas and Freddie "unsung genius" Jones. If you like this try to track down comedy series The Ghosts of Motley Hall, which has dated but now exudes period charm.)
Genuinely not for very young children. Ideal for middle aged post-youths.
33 of 34 people found the following review helpful
By Dhekelia
Format:DVD
You only have to read other reviews to see just how great this series was when it was first broadcast back in the seventies. I won't comment on the series itself as it goes without saying that it was absolutely superb. I'll comment more on this new 'Network' edition. This is a two-disc edition, with the entire series being housed on the first DVD and the second DVD gives you 'tasters' of other programmes that were made around the same era by HTV West. 'Sky' is featured on there, as well as 'King of the Castle' amongst others, and I already have the DVD of 'Sky' (again distributed by Network). The only thing I think that's a shame is that it doesn't feature the interviews with Peter Graham Scott and Gareth Jones that were featured on the previous 'Second Sight' single disc edition. However, I'm really pleased that 'Network' managed to get the distribution rights as the 'Second Sight' edition seemed to go out of print shortly after it first came out. At least it will have a much longer shelf life with 'Network', and they've released many other great programmes from the past. Get this DVD today and enjoy QUALITY TV - in the days when X-Factor and Big Brother had never even been heard of! Oh if only we could turn back the clock! Happy Day to all who read this! If you watch this series you will indeed all be happy ones!
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By M. Bond
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having vaguely remembered this spooky series form so long ago it was great to see it again and compare my memory with the original experience.
If you allow for all production styles of the time and that the series was aimed at children this remains a great piece of entertainment and a story I suspect could easily be remade in the same form in the future, or a movie?
If you allow for all production styles of the time and that the series was aimed at children this remains a great piece of entertainment and a story I suspect could easily be remade in the same form in the future, or a movie?
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
yesterday
Not as I remebered, but being young at the time it seemed different from what I remebered .But it was still a good bit of tv.A good yarn ,well told,inventive for the age
Published 1 month ago by fencingqueen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great story
This is a wonderful eerie story that I remember watching in my teens. My two 13 year old boys loved watching it with me and enjoyed it as much as I did when I was their age.
Published 1 month ago by Foz
5.0 out of 5 stars
spooky
there was a time when children's TV made well scripted intelligent and scary shows and this is one of them . Read more
Published 1 month ago by w bates
4.0 out of 5 stars
great series remember it fondly
Very good childrens tv series back in the day when drama ruled not cheapo reality rubbish .
Cracking story with some great character actors , held my interest right to the end... Read more
Cracking story with some great character actors , held my interest right to the end... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Ross Dear
5.0 out of 5 stars
Most frightening childrens tv programme ever !
Filmed during the legendary drought summer of 1976 and broadcast in 1977 - The Children of the Stones was and is the most frightening children's tv programme ever made. Read more
Published 2 months ago by succubilover
5.0 out of 5 stars
Children of the Stones DVD
I remembered this series from the '70's and thought I'd give it a go. Enjoyed it just as much as I thought I would!
Published 2 months ago by Sue Who?
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Well you know what these scientists are. Always looking for rational...
Back in the 1970s when they still made children's drama serials, ITV did a nice line in ghost stories and supernatural thrillers, and 1977's Children of the Stones is one of the... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Trevor Willsmer
3.0 out of 5 stars
Scary but slow
Nostalgia for the seventies with this cult series for children - good for its inclusion of science and technology, dramatically slow and frustrating where there is such a long... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mrs. S. Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Happy day!
I hadn't seen this series since ....... well, a long time ago, and I found it as enthralling now, even though I'm a little older! Read more
Published 5 months ago by Henderson R 166
5.0 out of 5 stars
nostalgic
as soon as i heard this being discussed on radio 4, i remembered how enthralled i used to be by it and rewatching it did not disappoint.
Published 6 months ago by rita green
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