WHISTLE AND I'LL COME TO YOU

Christmas Eve. A perfect time to curl up in front of the fire and read a good old fashioned ghost story. M.R. James was probably the numero uno when it comes to creating literary spine-chillers,and the small screen has been graced by several worthy adaptations of his work The BBC had previously broadcast a fine translation of WHISTLE AND I'LL COME TO YOU, starring Michael Hordern, which hit all the right notes. Now, we have a modern re-working of this tale and once again BBC did the honours, possibly resulting in a split between hard-line James buffs and those who were not averse to some significant plot revision.

Here, John Hurt takes centre stage as James Parkin; a recently retired academic who leaves his catatonic wife in a nursing home and travels to a coastal resort in search of a few days break. When Parkin finds an old ring on the seemingly deserted beach, all manner of strange sights and sounds come forth, installing an atmosphere of dread and a longing for life to be as it once was.
Consumed by guilt at having to leave his sick wife behind, Parkin is haunted by a body that has outlived its personality, which is probably even more frightening than any supernatrual manisfestation. Indeed, this is very much a tale for our times, highlighting the pain of having to let go, with the nursing home (like the hotel) boasting a single member of staff like some gatekeeper who has always been there.

I was surprised to learn this is the first ghost story featuring John Hurt's involvement and, as you might expect, he's perfect for the role truly conveying the air of a disturbed man.
While this particular version may upset some with its script liberties, I found WHISTLE AND I'LL COME TO YOU to be worthwhile viewing, and a nice companion to the previous, slightly superior take.

A WARNING TO THE CURIOUS

In 1971, the BBC had begun screening 'A Ghost Story For Christmas', with M.R. James' THE STALLS OF BARCHESTER CATHEDRAL setting the ball rolling nicely. Directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark, BARCHESTER made for a pleasing start to a series that would run for 8 years, and contained adaptations of other James classics including LOST HEARTS and THE ASH TREE. In 1972, Clarke returned with his take on A WARNING TO THE CURIOUS, which proved to be a more satisfying production than his earlier effort. Here, Peter Vaughan takes the role of Paxton; an antiquarian who arrives at a small Norfolk coastal town with one clear aim in mind. His mission concerns an ancient Norfolk legend which tells of the three royal crowns of Anglia which were buried in three different locations.. The story goes that so long as at least one of the crowns remains buried, no foreign army would ever invade. Now, only one crown remains and Paxton aims to discover it's whereabouts and retrieve it, hoping to at last make a name for himself in the world of archaelogical discoveries.
Befriended by doctor staying at the same hotel (played by Clive Swift), Paxton embarks on a perilous expedition, while ghosts from the past haunt his every step.

While Vaughan and Swift both turn in sympathetic performances, the real stars of this production are the photography and the air of unease created by Clark. The beautiful north Norfolk locale would otherwise provide an idyllic setting, but here, the normally serene beachs are transformed into a washed-out, eerie landscape where you can fully believe it possible for the dead to walk. Clark's direction is wonderfully ecnonomical and imaginitive here, punctuating a fear-filled 50 minutes with interior and exterior scenes of menace as ghostly figures appear and reappear with disconcerting regularity, while Paxton glances fearfully over his shoulder wondering whether this journey of discovery may turn out to be his last.

The Region 2 DVD, available on the splendid BFI label, was a most welcome addition to store shelves, though I'm sure that many punters would have appreciated a double-bill with the inclusion of another tale from this BBC series. The DVD also includes a 43 minute reading of James' story by Michael Hordern, who delivers a beautiful rendering of this classic tale. I've always believed that the stories of M.R. James work best in printed form, but these BBC ghost stories demonstrate that it was eminently possible to create spooky TV adaptations that would hit the spot for an audience used to looking long and hard for good old fashioned ghostly tales.

THE HAUNTING SEASON #4 M.R. JAMES

Outside, the cold wind is howling. Tree branches scrape across the window sill and the moon lights up a snow-covered lawn where a procession of footprints lead to the front door. Inside, it's warm. A roaring log fire, one glass of mulled wine on the table alongside a plate of mince pies. All is quiet now, save for the sound of a ticking clock which will soon be drowned by the chimes of midnight. It's late but still time for one more story before bedtime. One more tale from the master of the classic ghost story.

Montague Rhodes James was born in 1862 near Bury St Edmonds. He was educated at Eton and Kings College, Cambridge and elected a fellow of Kings in 1887. From 1913-15, James was vice chancellor of Cambridge University and was appointed provost at Eton college in 1918. During his time at Cambridge, James would gather together his friends and colleagues and entertain them by reading a series of his ghost stories, making those winter's evenings seem a good deal darker. Today, those blood-curdling tales seem more popular than ever, with DVD's, audio CD's and TV productions introducing James to a new generation of admirers. For me, his magic works best on the printed page and his book "Collected Ghost Stories" is essential reading for any dedicated fan of supernatural fiction. Here' you'll find 30 tales which serve as a warning to the curious of the dangers involved in the pursuit of knowledge. The author specialised in medieaval manuscripts supplemented by decoration, and also biblical texts of uncertain authenticity where the authorship was in question. In James' stories, the central character is usually a scholar who arrives at a historic building with the aim of deciphering ancient manuscripts; an action which invariably awakens dark forces. James' work succeeds on a number of levels: He's an absolute master at manufacturing tension, taking what first appear to be mundane characters and prompting us to become immersed in their work, before moving on to shake us with lovingly applied descriptions of things/beings we'd rather not know about. For sure, our local church has never seemed the same again after reading 'The Stalls Of Barchester Cathedral' and olde worlde English hotels have often brought to mind his 'Number 13' ; a story where something is most definitely rotten in Denmark as a trio of petrified men play unwilling hosts to unearthly cries that eminate from a room that doesn't exist. (un)Fortunately for us, James insisted his ghosts be largely malevolent types rather than spirits who are driven by the forces of good, and the pacing of his tales ensure their appearances hit home with real menace. Check out 'The Wailing Well': a story of boy scouts who witness the most hideous of ends for one of their number who dares to encroach within an off-limits area known as 'The Red Ring'. Many of James' stories have been translated into TV productions. WHISTLE, AND I'LL COME TO YOU' and A WARNING TO THE CURIOUS are both available on BFI DVDs, and Christopher Lee's 'Ghost Stories For Christmas' on the BBC featured Lee reading 'The Ash Tree', 'Number 13', 'A Warning To The Curious' and 'The Stalls Of Barchester'. My own favourite TV production was first broadcast on BBC2 in 1986. Here, Robert Powell gave beautiful readings of 'The Ash Tree', 'Wailing Well', 'Oh Whistle, And I'll Come To You, My Lad' and 'The Mezzotint'; the latter being a story that has often compelled me to fearfully glance back at many of the paintings I come into contact with. Ultimately, I think James greatest strength was his ability to transform everyday places of learning into palaces of the damned. Just imagine sitting down in a library whose silent population decreases as the hours go by. Where shadows lengthen and even the tiniest sound takes on enormous magnitude.

James understood the meaning of fear, and his stories still send those icy shivers down the spines of his readers.