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Ghost Stories from the BBC: Lost Hearts / The Treasure of Abbot Thomas / The Ash Tree (DVD)
Films by Lawrence Gordon Clark
As a Christmas treat in the late 1960s and 70s, the BBC produced adaptations of ghost stories based on the works of MR James, the Cambridge academic and author of some of the most spine-tingling tales in the English language, which were broadcast to terrified viewers in the dead of winter. This was a tradition that was briefly revived by the BBC between 2007 and 2010.
LOST HEARTS (1973)
When recently orphaned Stephen (Simon Gipps-Kent) goes to live with his uncle he is troubled by two terrifyting child spectres whose mischievous acts lead to a blood-curdling revelation. Based on a gory tale by masterful ghost story-teller MR James, Robin Chapman's dramatisation is a spine-chilling piece of atmospheric television which features a superb performance by Joseph O'Conor as the erratic uncle
THE TREASURE OF ABBOT THOMAS (1974)
Pride comes before a fall in John Bowen' adaptation of MR James' tale of a treasure hunt with a sticky end. Michael Bryant plays The Reverend Somerton whose self-assured intellectual arrogance masks a naked greed.
THE ASH TREE (1975)
Enlighted eighteenth-century nobleman Sir Richard Fell (Edward Petherbridge) inherits more than he bargined for when he comes into possession of a stately home dominated by a sinister old ash tree. David Rudkin's (Pendar's Fen) nuanced adaptation of MR James' short story about malevolent witchcraft features Barbara Ewing (Torture Garden, Brass) as the sorceress.
Special features
- Introduction to Lost Hearts by Lawrence Gordon Clark (2012, 11 mins)
- Introduction to The Treasure of Abbot Thomas by Lawrence Gordon Clark (2012, 11mins)
- Introduction to The Ash Tree by Lawrence Gordon Clark (2012, 8 mins)
- Fully illustrated booklet featuring newly-commissioned essays by horror writer Ramsey Campbell, Alex Davidson and Dick Fiddy
UK / colour / English language / DVD9 / Dolby Digital mono audio (320kbps)
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Booklet, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: As a Christmas treat in the late 1960s and 70s, the BBC produced adaptations of ghost stories based on the works of MR James, the Cambridge academic and author of some of the most spine-tingling tales in the English language, which were broadcast to terrified viewers in the dead of winter. This was a tradition that was briefly revived by the BBC between 2007 and 2010. These adaptations, which have a subtlety and style all of their own, have been a major influence on many contemporary British horror filmmakers and have come to be some of the most sought after British TV titles of all time by their legions of eager fans. Volume three in the BFI's BBC Ghost Stories features the DVD premiere of three M.R. James stories directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark: 1973's Lost Hearts, 1974's The Treasure of Abbot Thomas and 1975's The Ash Tree. ...Ghost Stories - Volume 3 ( Lost Hearts / The Treasure of Abbot Thomas / The Ash Tree ) ( Ghost Story for Christmas )
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
31 of 32 people found the following review helpful
By downkiddie
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The BBC's "Ghost Story for Christmas" arguably peaked in perfection here, with "Lost Hearts" and "The Treasure of Abbott Thomas" being spine-tinglingly good adaptations, with "The Ash Tree" not quite so successful, before giving up on M.R. James altogether in subsequent years, instead doing Dickens and then original stories.
"Lost Hearts" is wonderfully atmospheric. The cinematic production (like all these stories it was made on film on location, not videotape in the studio), the country house location and atmospheric folky music suit the story wonderfully. It's sometimes criticised for getting too gruesome too quickly (the titular "Lost Hearts" are quite literal), which goes against James's slow drip terror. The quality of the production does more than compensate for this however.
"The Treasure of Abbott Thomas" is possibly my favourite of all the productions. Michael Bryant is superb as the protagonist. Shopping channel presenter Paul Lavers appears as his young sidekick, together they make an effective on-screen team. The story is padded out slightly with non-Jamesian subplots, but on the whole this captures the spirit of M.R. James perfectly and is cracking television. Indeed, moving the action to a cathedral city in England from Germany and altering the ending makes it even more Jamesian than the story, if that's possible!
For me "The Ash Tree" was slightly disappointing. It is another superb production with a great cast (Edward Petherbridge and a young pre-Doctor Who Lalla Ward), but the adaptation didn't quite match the original story.... Read more ›
"Lost Hearts" is wonderfully atmospheric. The cinematic production (like all these stories it was made on film on location, not videotape in the studio), the country house location and atmospheric folky music suit the story wonderfully. It's sometimes criticised for getting too gruesome too quickly (the titular "Lost Hearts" are quite literal), which goes against James's slow drip terror. The quality of the production does more than compensate for this however.
"The Treasure of Abbott Thomas" is possibly my favourite of all the productions. Michael Bryant is superb as the protagonist. Shopping channel presenter Paul Lavers appears as his young sidekick, together they make an effective on-screen team. The story is padded out slightly with non-Jamesian subplots, but on the whole this captures the spirit of M.R. James perfectly and is cracking television. Indeed, moving the action to a cathedral city in England from Germany and altering the ending makes it even more Jamesian than the story, if that's possible!
For me "The Ash Tree" was slightly disappointing. It is another superb production with a great cast (Edward Petherbridge and a young pre-Doctor Who Lalla Ward), but the adaptation didn't quite match the original story.... Read more ›
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
[See my review of Volume 1 for general comments on this series.]
Three more of the long-awaited best. Lost Hearts is, gorily, a literal title worthy of Poe, telling the story of an aging recluse who seeks immortality by killing orphan children. This profane brutality, of course, comes back to bite him. The Treasure of Abbot Thomas, well-guarded and hidden for centuries, is sought by a rather bumptious antiquary, well played by Michael Bryant; this production brings out James' contempt for the cocky (this story and Whistle and I'll Come to You), in contrast to his sympathy for the underdog (as in A Warning to the Curious). The Ash Tree is performed and produced well, but it is one of James' weaker stories.
Stop press 1 Aug 2012 - belated release of a fifth disc, with the two remaining MRJ stories, but also all five discs as a box set.
Three more of the long-awaited best. Lost Hearts is, gorily, a literal title worthy of Poe, telling the story of an aging recluse who seeks immortality by killing orphan children. This profane brutality, of course, comes back to bite him. The Treasure of Abbot Thomas, well-guarded and hidden for centuries, is sought by a rather bumptious antiquary, well played by Michael Bryant; this production brings out James' contempt for the cocky (this story and Whistle and I'll Come to You), in contrast to his sympathy for the underdog (as in A Warning to the Curious). The Ash Tree is performed and produced well, but it is one of James' weaker stories.
Stop press 1 Aug 2012 - belated release of a fifth disc, with the two remaining MRJ stories, but also all five discs as a box set.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By Roobarb
Format:DVD
For me, this is the pick of the bunch. Three great adaptations picking up effortlessly from where the series began. Despite being a huge fan of all the films, it's The Treasure of Abbott Thomas which I watch again most often, a brilliantly acted slow-burner leading to a great underground sequence of cloying horror, and ending with a real chill. The films look great, though clearly of their time, and at long last I can finally see exactly what's going on during the creepy climax of The Ash Tree, having only ever seen it on a poor quality bootleg. Each film is preceeded by an insightful interview with director Lawrence Gordon Clarke, and the DVD is packaged with a comprehensive booklet.
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This was even better than I'd expected. Along with The stalls of Barchester and A Warning to the curious it was part of a birthday gift and the recipient was delighted. it arrived in plenty of time so I was very pleased.
By c green
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I always used to watch the Christmas ghost story and thought I would give it another go this year.It didn't disappoint
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I first heard about these stories only recently- around october- so I thought I'd check them out. Resisting the temptation to buy the boxset-which was going for silly money on ebay with dozens of bids, I instead plumped for sensible and reliable amazon. Dipping my toes in first with 3 stories, these well written tales from the legendary MR James were written over 100 years ago yet still resonate today (like all good writing). i was too young to remember these being on (as I wasn't born when the BBC started showing these on Christmas eves in the early 70s) and am pleasantly suprised. The emphasis is on slow,deliberate build up, and compared to today's 100 mile an hour/fast cutting/fancy editing tv can take a while to get used to, but stick with it, it's worth it. I won't spoil the stories for those of you who are thinking of purchasing this dvd, but all the tales are unexpected in their unfolding. The best in my opinion is the Ash tree which stars Barbara Ewing as a witch. Well worth a tenner (or so) of any ones money. I think I'll come back to this series in the not to distant future.
By History Man
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Really creepy and atmospheric brought back memories of "A Ghost Story For Christmas".
Well acted especially Lost Hearts and The Ash Tree.
Well worth buying.
Well acted especially Lost Hearts and The Ash Tree.
Well worth buying.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I waited eagerly for this release, having been a fan of the BBC Ghost Stories for many years. The three stories on this disc are all excellent examples of them - in fact Lost Hearts is one that caused me considerable disturbance when I first watched it many years ago. The special effects have not held up well for the most part, but since those were kept to a minimum in all three tales, it doesn't detract too much from them (and the sound effects in 'The Ash Tree' are superbly unsettling). What makes these dramas special is the carefully crafted storytelling, and that is timeless. None of them stick exactly to James' originals, but the divergence is clearly due to the television medium needing more visual impact and less exposition. 'The Treasure of Abbot Thomas' moves furthest from the source and in my opinion weakens the effect by making the main character far more unsympathetic, but it still tells a good tale.
The dvd is accompanied by an excellent booklet about the stories and the making of the dramatisations, but there are very few extras; all you get is an optional introduction for each one from the director. That was a bit of a letdown after the earlier release, Stalls of Barchester Cathedral, had the wonderful bonus of the Christopher Lee readings. And there does not seem to have been much done to improve the picture and sound quality. But you do get three first-class horror stories for your money, and it seems ungrateful to demand more. Well worth investing in for any lover of classic horror.
The dvd is accompanied by an excellent booklet about the stories and the making of the dramatisations, but there are very few extras; all you get is an optional introduction for each one from the director. That was a bit of a letdown after the earlier release, Stalls of Barchester Cathedral, had the wonderful bonus of the Christopher Lee readings. And there does not seem to have been much done to improve the picture and sound quality. But you do get three first-class horror stories for your money, and it seems ungrateful to demand more. Well worth investing in for any lover of classic horror.
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