After a very emotional evening on Christmas Eve consoling a friend I opened a bottle of sherry and settled down to watch the eagerly-awaited and new Ghost Story for Christmas, The Mezzotint.
Made by the MR James' superfan Mark Gatiss, who studied not too far from Moonbase at Bretton College, the Mezzotint was just half an hour but I enjoyed every minute. Characteristic of James' bent for haranguing indulgent scholars with all things creepy the Mezzotint didn't disappoint. Despite being sporadic, Gatiss has done a fine job continuing this noble tradition of televising a few of James' fantastic ghost stories at Christmas and I've enjoyed them all over the last ten years, jewels in the late night Christmas Eve programming crown across a hundred channels littered with dross.
By way of a masterclass in bringing James to the screen, Mezzotint was followed a little later by the likely prototype for the BBC Ghost Stories at Christmas series, Whistle and I'll Come to You directed by Jonathan Miller. Starring Shakespearian stalwart Michael Horden as a self-absorbed Professor holidaying in a guest house, the monochrome TV play was and is hugely impactive and the first time I saw it the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end! Hordern is simply brilliant as the mumbling don and along with the lonely Norfolk coastline the play creates an almost hypnotic und totally uncanny atmosphere. There is no music and there is no need for any. It must have been scary as hell back in 1968 when there were just three UK TV channels and many people still had coal fires burning in their parlours ideal for creating a room of flickering shadows as the sherry took its toll.
Did you and do you watch Ghost Stories for Christmas?
Saw The Mezzotint myself and liked it.
ReplyDeleteHave always enjoyed the BBC Christmas ghost stories, right back to the 70s.
Good one Mish, me too. I think my favourite is a Warning to the Curious. Have you got one?
DeleteShalken the Painter.
ReplyDeleteOh, and there was one set near a railway tunnel (Can't remember the title).
ReplyDeleteThe Signalman Mish.
DeleteLater on from last night's story the Beeb showed 'Vienna Blood', a Victorian whodunnit, set in old Europe. Excellent period stuff.
ReplyDeleteDidn't see that Mish. Will have to catch up with it on IPlayer.
Deletegoing to watch the Mezzotint and Whistle later tonight!
ReplyDelete