- Actors: Michael Hordern, Ambrose Coghill, George Woodbridge, Nora Gordon, Freda Dowie
- Directors: Jonathan Miller
- Format: PAL
- Region: All Regions
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: PG
- Studio: Bfi
- DVD Release Date: 17 Sep 2001
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00005NTKL
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 55,233 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
Special Features
English
Region 0
Introduction By Ramsey Campbell
Reading Of The Guide
Reading Of Original Story
Region 0
Introduction By Ramsey Campbell
Reading Of The Guide
Reading Of Original Story
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
41 of 45 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Much has been written in reviews here about the film so I won't dwell on it's specific content. I've never read any of M.R. James's stories so have nothing to compare this dramatisation with. I watched it last night as a recording made over Christmas from the BBC4 Ghost Story season and went to bed OK but woke up in the middle of the night, just beginning to realise the terror implicit in the story. I have had to have lights on ever since when I go around the house in the dark. I am almost 50 for heaven's sake! I was never really scared by cinema horror and ghost stories - far too contrived. This little story however leaves it all up to the imagination of the viewer - which is why I only realised the true horror late at night whilst I was no doubt dreaming about it and turning it over subconsciously in my mind. I mean, imagine never being able to sleep or rest without THAT THING always being there to haunt you? It makes my blood run cold! Michael Horden's acting was superb.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
From my husband Barry: I've been watching horror/ghost/sci fi films for over 50 years now and only this adaptation of the M R James story plus the original BBC TV Quatermass and the Pit have made me nervously go to bed and leave the light on. Forget CGI monsters, teen slasher flicks et al - no music, superb acting, stark black and white photography and an apparition that will truly raise the hackles and chill your marrow; this will put the wind up anyone who loves ghost stories. Come on BBC - put all of your Christmas ghost stories on one DVD at an affordable price (mine is a DVD transfer from an old VHS tape).
34 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
As a big fan of the ghost stories of M R James I would go so far as to say that this actually IMPROVED on the original story! Shot beautifully in black-and-white, every moment of the 40 minutes seems to have been crafted with great care and thought. Michael Hordern proves his acting salt to the hilt with his portrayal of the lonely middle-aged academic holidaying alone, talking to himself endlessly and comforting himself with food. He finds an old whistle whilst out for a walk and recklessly decides to blow on it. From then on he is haunted by strange figures following him along the beach, and appearing in his dreams, and rustling noises in his bedroom. His rendition of the eerie phrase "who is it who is coming?" is wonderfully spooky. I was delighted to see this had been released on video, now please PLEASE can we have all the old M R James adaptations from the 1970s released as well? BBC2 always used to show one late at night on Christmas Eve, but have unfathomably stopped in recent years, which doesn't make sense!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Soil yourself as I did!
This 1968 film adaptation of M.R.Jame's ghostly yarn is still very creepy today. I think it actually improves on the original story itself. Read more
Published 3 months ago by CLINT McGAVIN
A Short Masterpiece
A short masterpiece from director Jonathan Miller and actor Sir Michael Hordern.
I think that Miller deliberately lulls you with the first half of the film in order to... Read more
I think that Miller deliberately lulls you with the first half of the film in order to... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Oliver Twist
Brilliant Adaptation of the M.R. James classic
I would say that this is a superior screen adaption of M.R. James's best ghost story.
It captures the essence of the original story while tastefully avoiding the... Read more
It captures the essence of the original story while tastefully avoiding the... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Dedonno Jason Enzo
Excellent But Seriously Deviates from James
This is a splendid short film if taken in its own right (independently of the M. R. James story). The acting is first-notch, the direction extremely good, and the photography very... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Richard London (Thriller Fan)
A classic!
I saw this on TV when it first came out in 1968, and I didn't sleep a wink that night. I bought it on DVD about 4 or 5 years ago and it still scared me even though I knew what was... Read more
Published 20 months ago by A customer
An awful lot of Jonathan Miller, very little M.R.James.
Probably the weakest of any of the adaptations of these stories. Far too much of the director and almost nothing of the author. Read more
Published on 8 Dec 2009 by Ulrome
It isn't James (M.R. James, that is)
Although based on one of M.R. James great ghost stories, this production wanders far afield as a film, seeming badly in need of skilled editing. Read more
Published on 19 Nov 2009 by T. G. Gutheil
White Sheet Syndrome
If you described the denouement of this version of the story, you would hear yourself saying, "..and Michael Hordern wakes up to find a white sheet dancing on the bed next to him,... Read more
Published on 10 Nov 2009 by C. JONES
Not in the least bit frightening
I saw this on BBC television and it is not in the least bit frightening. In fact, the wires can be seen attached to the bedclothes which are supposed to be rising by themselves.
Published on 29 Oct 2008 by Mahogany Gaspipes
weak ending
This could have been so good if the director had stuck to the story instead of writing a version of his own.
M.R. Read more
M.R. Read more
Published on 24 July 2008 by S. L. Whitcombe
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